Skip Links

Network World

  • Social Web 
  • Email 
  • Close

Watts down: Monitors burn no juice on standby

By Glenn Fleishman , PC World , 05/01/2008

Fujitsu Siemens Computers will release LCD monitors this summer that use no power during standby mode, and charge the same price for their existing monitors. Standby mode typically consumes very little power with LCD monitors; an EPA Energy Star qualified monitor must use 2 watts or less in standby and 1 watt or less in off mode. Two watts can add up, however: that's nearly 9 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year, which can cost as much as one or two bucks, depending on your electricity prices.

You may ask: why does a computer pull power in standby or off mode, anyway? Isn't "off" off? Of course not. Just as in Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, where the eponymous guide's power-down feature changed at one point to "Mode Execute Ready," so, too, does all our electronic equipment that doesn't have a satisfying power switch clicker await our instant bidding. In off mode, monitors anticipate that you'll press the soft switch--a software controlled button--to turn them on; in standby mode, they're listening for signals from the computer to spring to life.

Fujitsu Siemens says that their monitor uses a simpler circuit that detects a signal from a computer, and that's brought their standby usage down to zero; the circuit is activated by the signal.

Five to 10 dollars over the lifetime of an LCD (perhaps five years) isn't enough to spend more for the feature. But companies that can include a zero-watt option may be able to shift firms spending the same dollars on their products instead of competitors.

Partner Content

Explore the Ultrium Edge

The powerful tape technology can address data security with tape encryption as well as long term data protection.

Find out more

Disk and Tape Square Off

Discover what disk and tape really cost -- and which solution provides lower total cost of ownership and optimizes energy use for your organization

Download the White Paper

Don't Fall For The Myths

The Clipper Group explores the truth behind the myths of tape, digging into the misconceptions in the disk vs. tape debate.

Download the White Paper

Will You Add Tape Too?

Over two thirds of disk-only users look to add tape back into storage infrastructure according to recent survey.

Download Survey Information

Comment
Login
Forgot your account info?
Add comment
Anonymous comments subject to moderator approval. Register here for member benefits.
Have a NetworkWorld account? Log in here. Register now for a free account.

Videos

rssRss Feed
Save The Date!
What They Are Saying

Dear Nurse: Putting aside your rudeness I will agree: The Museum of the American Cocktail is, as far...- Mark Gibbs

Join the Discussion