What is Better for Monitor? Blank Screensaver or Sleep?

[bggy]

Hello, I'm new to mac (iMac) and I was wondering whether it would be better for screen-life to use a blank screensaver (downloaded from web), or to put the monitor to sleep.

I think LCDs create black by putting pigment in front of the light source, so the backlight is still on with a blank screensaver, but perhaps the pixels aren't getting a workout by shifting colors.

Putting the monitor to sleep might stress the monitor by cycling on-off?

Thank you!,
John

 

[Tallest Skil]

Forget screensavers, just have the display go to sleep.

Screen savers are a trifling relic left over from the days of the CRT display. Since leaving an image up on a CRT for a prolonged time caused burn-in, screen savers were created to "save" your screen from this burn-in; they made images constantly move.

Now, with the proliferation of LCD monitors, screen savers are no longer necessary, and are in fact detrimental to the life of your display. Since LCDs are not subject to burn-in, the only thing a screen saver does is wear down the life of your monitor's backlight.

The best thing to do is simply tell your display to turn itself off before going to sleep instead of using a screen saver.

The Mac You Know™

 

[emt1]

Screen savers were stupid from the beginning. Just let it sleep.

 

[bggy]

Sweet, thank you. What monitor and computer sleep times do you guys like?

 

[KnightWRX]

Screen savers were stupid from the beginning. Just let it sleep.

You're probably too young to remember pre-multisync monitors without any kind of sleep function.

The only option on those was to power it off.

Now, with the proliferation of LCD monitors, screen savers are no longer necessary, and are in fact detrimental to the life of your display. Since LCDs are not subject to burn-in, the only thing a screen saver does is wear down the life of your monitor's backlight.

Actually, even today, the best option is sleep. Where I work, in the monitoring department, they have LCDs running 24/7 with static monitoring screens up. Those have terrible burn-in after 6 months. They don't use cheap stuff either, some higher end HP LCDs.

 

[pprior]

You're probably too young to remember pre-multisync monitors without any kind of sleep function.

The only option on those was to power it off.



Actually, even today, the best option is sleep. Where I work, in the monitoring department, they have LCDs running 24/7 with static monitoring screens up. Those have terrible burn-in after 6 months. They don't use cheap stuff either, some higher end HP LCDs.

Agree on both items. Whoever states LCD doesn't get burnin hasn't used them much. I use multiple LCDs at work with static desktop items and burnin is obvious after less than a year.

And don't hate the flying toasters... There were times where computers didn't have "sleep" you know.