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.

    Screensavers on lcds

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by gecko, Oct 4, 2005.

  1. gecko

    gecko Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    50
    Messages:
    313
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I was browsing my screensaver collection, and I realized.
    Do screensavers help or hurt lcds?
    I mean they were designed to prevent burn in on old CRTs. But I haven't seen any data on what they do for lcds. Would running a screensaver help extend the lcd life?
     
    gecko, Oct 4, 2005
    #1
  2. coriolis

    coriolis Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    2,319
    Messages:
    14,119
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    455
    I usually just close the lid if I were to be gone for a period of time but want the lappy running...

    I'm pretty sure it doesn't hurt the LCD, unless it has a stationary screensaver....
     
    coriolis, Oct 4, 2005
    #2
  3. Brian

    Brian Working at 486 Speed NBR Reviewer

    Reputations:
    947
    Messages:
    8,970
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    205
    In theory, they're worse than turning the LCD off, because there's only a certain number of hours the pixels in your display will operate. The reality though is that the LCD will outlast the useful life of the machine, so do whatever makes you happy.
     
    Brian, Oct 4, 2005
    #3
  4. qwester

    qwester Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    366
    Messages:
    2,755
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    And to add to brian, also the light bulb in the lcd has a life rating which I guess is shorter than a pixel's but that's still pretty long too.

    I have my lcd set to turn of after 5 or 10 mins, since I do tend to leave my laptop on while not using it. Streaming radio or just playing MP3s.
     
    qwester, Oct 4, 2005
    #4
  5. DownByFive

    DownByFive Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    426
    Messages:
    153
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Yeah, I prefer to have my screen turn off after ten minutes rather than use a screen saver...
     
    DownByFive, Oct 4, 2005
    #5
  6. wicker_man

    wicker_man Notebook Enthusiast NBR Reviewer

    Reputations:
    39
    Messages:
    17
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I don't think it would damage the display.

    I leave my laptop on around 10-15 hours a day continually.

    You can just have a screensaver to make your display look more interesting when you are not using the laptop or for security.
     
    wicker_man, Oct 4, 2005
    #6