The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Screen power draw monitor

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by MonsterMaxx, Sep 27, 2007.

  1. MonsterMaxx

    MonsterMaxx Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    13
    Messages:
    540
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Is there any way to monitor the power the screen is drawing?


    I've been wondering if it takes more energy to display a white screen than it does a black screen.

    Like...would choosing a pure black background save any power.

    I doubt it makes any difference, but I'm sure curious.

    Suppose I could just fire up the lappy, turn off power mgt for the screen and time how long it lasts with a bright white screen and with a pure black one and see...
     
  2. John Ratsey

    John Ratsey Moderately inquisitive Super Moderator

    Reputations:
    7,197
    Messages:
    28,841
    Likes Received:
    2,166
    Trophy Points:
    581
    I believe that the main power drain on an LCD panel is for the backlight and this uses the same power whether the display is black or white. Black just blocks more light coming through.

    However, if you want to measure the power drain then you can try running your notebook on battery and watching the battery power drain under different conditions. Various applications will report the battery power drain. I use RMClock because I already have it running.

    John
     
  3. NotebookYoozer

    NotebookYoozer Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    83
    Messages:
    536
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    haha

    i hear this every once in a while

    it's 100% myth
     
  4. leaftye

    leaftye Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    135
    Messages:
    283
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Hard to break those ties CRT's.....