Power off LCD: directly via power button or OS's Power Options function?

[symbol]

My control panel "Power Options" setting is set to "Turn Off Monitor" after 30 minutes of PC inactivity (no keyboard/mouse movements). Is it better to turn the LCD off directly (ie, clicking the LCD's power off button) instead of letting Windows do it via the "Power Options" function? I have a Dell 1704 LCD, and once the power options kick in the LCD screen turns black, but the illuminated power button turns from green to orange.

Perhaps it's better, for the health of the LCD, to turn it off for real instead of the orange, semi-off position? Does it matter?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

It the light is amber, I think it's just putting it in stand-by mode.

I don't think it matters too much is the thing is in stand-by mode a lot, but I'd just turn it off when you're not using it. If nothing else, it gats you 30 minutes of screen life every time since you don't just wait for the thing to go on stand-by.

 

[symbol]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
If nothing else, it gats you 30 minutes of screen life every time since you don't just wait for the thing to go on stand-by.

Thanks, but would you please rephrase/clarify that last sentence?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: symbol

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
If nothing else, it gats you 30 minutes of screen life every time since you don't just wait for the thing to go on stand-by.

Thanks, but would you please rephrase/clarify that last sentence?

I just mean that in a situation like you're going to bed at night, instead of just leaving and letting the monitor wait until 30 minutes of inactivity goes by before going into stand-by, just turn it off.

Monitors don't have an unlimited lifespan so I meant basically if you can save at least 30 minutes every day, it can add up.

I have a CRT and I turn it off whenever I'm going to be not using it for the following 10 minutes.

 

[corkyg]

One puts the LCD in standby mode with the amber light. A complete power off is just that - no light at all. Either one saves time on the LCD's backlight tube - which does have a finite life, and is a costly repair.

My rule is to let Power Options rule for short standby periods, but to physically hit the off switch for extended periods of time. The reson for the latter is, in my prolonged absence, there are things which can bring it out of standy mode.

BTW - even with the power switch OFF, the system will still go into standby mode, so that when you return and hit the power switch, you will then get an amber light and black screen until you hit a key or move the mouse.