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Turn off the macbook display with external monitor

T

tiagozc

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Feb 18, 2009
2
0
Hi

I know that the web have a lot of tips similar to this that i will ask, but i couldn't find no one exactly with what i want :confused:

I bought a new monitor, and mini-dvi adapter, an external keyboard and mouse to plug on my macbook

I would like to know how to turn off the macbook display without having to close it. I want to know that because if i don't close the macbook, both displays are on. If i close the macbook, the computer goes to sleep and then i press some keys on keyboard and the mac wake. In that point, if i open my macbook the display is turned off like i want. But i don't want to have to close the macbook all the time, and i don't want to leave the macbook closed because closed the temperature goes high.

Summarizing, i would like to know how to turn off the macbook display without having to close and open the macbook all the time.

Thank you a lot...
 
Just turn down the brightness with the macbook's keyboard (F1)

Unlike most PC's, macbook backlights will shut off completely when dimmed all the way down.
 
Any particular reason you want to turn the macbook display off? Having dual screens is fantastic.
 
I recommend InsomniaX.
It lets your macbook not go to sleep when closed. Just use InsomniaX to sleep both screens, close your macbook (still necessary, but it wont sleep!) wake your screen by using an external mouse or keyboard (only external monitor will wake) and open your macbook again.
If you don't want to install this Software, just close your macbook immediately after pushing the start button and wait until it has started before opening it again.
Both are not perfect solutions, but it works fine for me.
 
ctrl+shift+eject completely turns off the display, if that's what you want. If you just wanna lower the brightness, then you could but the display is still on.
 
Yep, Shift + CTRL + Eject (DVD eject button) is the answer. You can turn off your monitor whenever you want. Sometimes I do this if I go to the toilet at the library or something. I don't want to put my computer to sleep because I'm too lazy to type in my password.
 
Again running the computer in clamshell mode will not cause any damage to your computer. The MacBooks have been designed for just this application.
 
If you close the internal display, then wake the computer, it will only power up the external; then you can open the internal display again, but it won't be detected automatically. Just don't choose "Detect display" in the Display prefpane at this point.
 
Hi

Thank you for all your answers

answering you:

- ctrl+shift+eject button i can't use because this put both screens to sleep
- clamshell mode is similar to what i want, but i can't leave the macbook closed because the temperature goes up
- having both screens is fantastic but i notice a difference of performance
- if i down the brightness the display still turned on consuming performance

what i want is similar to clamshell mode but with the macbook opened and without having to close and open the macbook all the time that i turn it on (but i think this is impossible)
 
The temperature *should NOT* be going up...as the laptop does not dissipate heat through the keyboard side or the monitor.

If you don't believe me, think about it. You can burn your lap with your Macbook but not your wrists.

The heat is channeled through the bottom and rear edge vents of your computer, AWAY from the screen and keyboard. The MacBook's and especially MacBook Unibodies have been specifically designed this way for clamshell mode.
 
insomniaX works like a charm and I haven't notice the temperature go up when using the MacBook in clamshell mode.
 
For the temperature issue, you could try bumping up the minimum fan speed with smcFanControl. Setting the minimum fan speed up to 4000rpm from 2000rpm keeps things a bit cooler without any noticeable noise increase. :)
 
I find that if I have my MB in sleep mode (closed), plug in my monitor and a USB (it will power on the machine), and then open the MB the external monitor will be on and the MB screen will be off. You can turn it on again by using Detect Displays.

The other easy way is just to turn down the LCD as mentioned before.
 
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