Turn Off Multiple Monitors & Video Cards?

[rdav]

Equipment.
We are building a rig which will have eight ACD 23" monitors running off a Mac Pro (2009) 8-core via four video cards. Currently at three monitors and one video card. The setup is for a specialized use, but is also to be used for more standard applications that do not need all those screens.

Problem.
The current setup already uses about 395W and this will increase with more monitors and video cards. Is there a way to turn off all but one (or two) ACD monitors (and the unused video cards) when not required? The latest Display page in OS-X 10.5.7 System Preferences has removed the option to turn off a monitor (and not the Mac Pro itself) via the side button. Tried turning off the power supply, but this is bad for the monitors, is impractical and causes other problems. No rear-monitor USB2 or Firewire400 ports are used (for now).

Solution.
Any ideas?

 

[Tallest Skil]

You cannot selectively turn off a monitor. You can unplug it.

Oh, and you're not providing power over your monitor connection. That's what the power cable on each monitor is for.

 

[macuser154]

Oh, and you're not providing power over your monitor connection. That's what the power cable on each monitor is for.

He isn't talking about that. Monitors that he doesn't need but are on waste electricity.

 

[rdav]

Monitors / Manual Unplug.

Thanks for your response.
I realize that I can manually unplug the power cable for six monitors (as per the post) but this is an impractical solution and may damage the monitors. And yes, I understand that the DVI cable is for signal, not power.

You cannot selectively turn off a monitor. You can unplug it.

Oh, and you're not providing power over your monitor connection. That's what the power cable on each monitor is for.

 

[rdav]

Yes, the unused monitors waste energy.

Exactly, thanks.
Estimated at about 420W for the six unused monitors, plus the three extra Video Cards 225W. Approx 650W extra (wasted).

He isn't talking about that. Monitors that he doesn't need but are on waste electricity.

 

[gugucom]

You can put the power supply of the unused monitors on a master switch and switch them manually of from a central point.

 

[jimmypopjr]

this actually reminds me. Anyone have an anecdote about the first electricity bill they got after getting a mac pro?

I haven't gotten the bill yet, and I'm nervous to see what the damage is. It was powered off for a whole week, and when it's not converting video I try to power it down as well, but I know this thing sucks up a whole lot more than my mac mini did.

 

[rdav]

Mac Pro / Juice?

In theory, the latest Mac Pro (2009) models use a lot less juice than the older ones. Are Macs generally more power-hungry than PCs?

Quote: "Power usage is amazingly good for this class machine. Past Mac Pros would hit the 550 watt range under full load; the MP09 maxes out at about 350 watts under the most severe load."

this actually reminds me. Anyone have an anecdote about the first electricity bill they got after getting a mac pro?

I haven't gotten the bill yet, and I'm nervous to see what the damage is. It was powered off for a whole week, and when it's not converting video I try to power it down as well, but I know this thing sucks up a whole lot more than my mac mini did.

 

[TerrapinStation]

10.5.7

Display page in OS-X 10.5.7 System Preferences has removed the option to turn off a monitor (and not the Mac Pro itself) via the side button.

Hey rdav.
Just checked sys prefs>displays>options, and there is an option to tell the power button what to do.

I use 30" and 23" ACDs and use the power buttons all the time.
Not an easy solution if you're running 8 displays, but the option is there in 10.5.7.

 

[Andrew Henry]

this actually reminds me. Anyone have an anecdote about the first electricity bill they got after getting a mac pro?

I haven't gotten the bill yet, and I'm nervous to see what the damage is. It was powered off for a whole week, and when it's not converting video I try to power it down as well, but I know this thing sucks up a whole lot more than my mac mini did.

Mine actually went down, but then again it also switched from winter to summer and i have electric heaters

 

[Tesselator]

I'm not sure what the question is. I assume you already know:

How to turn on and off the monitors
And that an installed PCIe card is always powered on,

So I'll assume the question is about telling OS X not to stretch the desktop across the monitors that are turned off and limit space to however many are turned on.

OS X auto detects "monitor-present" during startup. If having them off still registers with OS X as "monitor-present" then what about a cheap-o AB switch on each monitor? I think they're about $30 each.

If you're using HDMI there are no Power Button behavior options in prefs.

 

[Kosh66]

You can put the power supply of the unused monitors on a master switch and switch them manually of from a central point.

Yeah that would be best. Just put 7 of the 8 (or 6 of the 8) monitors on the same powerbar and hit the powerbar button. As for the installed cards, there is nothing you can do, as all installed cards are powered. But isn't there a power feature in the new GPUs where they use less power when not doing heavy 3D work.