Microsoft: Let PCs nap

A correction was made to this story. Read below for details.

Microsoft announced Wednesday that people looking to save energy and reduce the environmental impact of their computer should turn off their screensavers. A Windows Vista PC running a screensaver consumes more energy than a PC in "Sleep" mode, according to a statement from Dean DeWhitt, the director of Microsoft's Windows Kernel team. In fact, the screensaver-running PC consumes the same amount of electricity as a 100-watt lightbulb left on around the clock for one year. That is about $80 in power that releases about 1,350 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere, according to Microsoft.

Microsoft got the energy statistics on PCs from U.K.-based PC Pro Labs, which conducted an independent study on the energy consumption of Windows Vista vs. Windows XP computers in a work environment. Vista includes a "Sleep" mode, like on Apple computers, which pauses a PC for energy savings, but also allows users to "awake" the monitor and machine instantly to resume use. It is a modified combination of the "Standby" and "Hibernate" modes that were on previous versions of Windows platforms. Microsoft said the new mode could be useful to large organizations that require users to leave their PCs running, so that security patches and updates can be applied during non-business hours.

 

Correction: This story incorrectly described Microsoft's recommendation to turn off screensavers. It is Windows Vista specific. Vista's "Sleep" mode is a modified combination of the old "Standby" and "Hibernate" modes on previous Windows platforms.

[SteamChip]

LOCKS UP the cpu

With todays security software added and all the toy gimmick programs From the oem or added often unknowingly) loading in the background when a typical consumer CPU boots, sleep mode is more like "coma" mode," meaning when one often tries to wake it up, it won't and it will be locked, requiring a reboot.

I have BANNED sleep/hibernation mode from my cpus, they are either on or off.

[Lee in San Diego]

Just put the monitor to sleep

Just put the monitor to sleep after a certain period of inactivity. Set
the computer to sleep after a longer period, a few hours or
whatever suits your needs.

[ikswortso]

sleep?...nah...

I find this is best.....hit the MS key..(flag) and the letter L at the same time....(make sure you have no programs running...)...and then hit the power switch on your monitor.
In the morning...I hit my monitor power button..and wiggle my mouse...ô¿- type in my password...and it takes 10 seconds....saves power...and is safe from the kids trying to get on my puter. oh...this works best if you have your user name password protected.

[close5828]

Cool

I have hibernate enabled on my notebook and Sleep-only on my desktop--both work fine.

[mjm01010101]

let them nap and crash indeed

I recently built a new system with Vista. When my PC suspends, hibernates, or even the LCD sleeps, I cann't recover the system. The primary display (of two) stays asleep, and the only way I can recover the screen is to remote desktop to the machine and reboot the box. (Or remotely reboot the box, but sometimes I have apps open.)

For this reason, Vista is the first OS I've ever had to completely disable Power management on.

My specs, for anyone that cares:
ASUS P5B deluxe, latest BIOS
Geforce 8800 GTS.
2 G RAM
All drivers and hotfixes up to date per Microsoft/Asus/Nvidia's site.

[Kevin Cotham]

interesting

Interesting, "sleep" has worked perfectly on every Macintosh I've
owned since 1998.

Why is this big news? Doesn't XP have a "sleep" mode? Don't
people know about putting the computer to sleep to save power?

[krushyou]

Sleep

I bought a brand new laptop with Vista Home Prem installed

2gb ram
Nvidia 7600 256 MB
core 2 duo processor 1.6
and it has no issues with hibernating.

I get resuming windows....then enter username and password.

[herby67]

Broken computer

Obviously you have somethign wrong in your computer. Vista power management works GREAT on my machine, and sleep mode is fantastic (I resume from sleep in about two seconds, and can logon in five).
Probably you have some odd driver (and I don't blame you, there are many drivers that are lacking) but I would suggest you keep an eye on new drivers to see if a new one pops out that solves the issue.

[ikswortso]

shhhh...pc is asleep....

I find this is best.....hit the MS key..(flag) and the letter L at the same time....(make sure you have no programs running...)...and then hit the power switch on your monitor.
In the morning...I hit my monitor power button..and wiggle my mouse...ô¿- type in my password...and it takes 10 seconds....saves power...and is safe from the kids trying to get on my puter. oh...this works best if you have your user name password protected.

[danno3]

I donate CPU time

I only set Windows to turn the monitor off after 30 min of inactivity. Monitors, especially CRT's, use up as much or more than a typical desktop computer.

I keep my computer on 24/7, since I donate unused CPU time to the Folding project (details at folding.stanford.edu, join team #45623 - team Danno) in which millions of computers worldwide can contribute to solving important problems, such as finding cures to diseases. It does not slow down your computer, just puts idle CPU time to good use.

[herby67]

Good alternative but...

Keep in mind that such projects are indeed power hogs. A CPU doing intensive calculation can burn lots of energy, way more than your monitor does when active.
For older CPUs that's not much of a difference unless you compare with sleep mode, since they do not consume as much power when working, and they don't save much when idling.
But for a last generation CPU, number crunching power consumption is staggering, while idle consumption is an order of magnitude lower even if not sleeping.
So keep in mind you are not donating idle CPU but active power consumption. You ade donating money on your electricity bill. Which is a great think, but only if you know you are doing it.

[Siegfried Schtauffen]

Mistake in story

The story says...

"Vista includes a "Sleep" mode, like on Apple computers, which enables a PC to hibernate for energy savings..."

Most Apple computers are not capable of hibernation, only suspend. The diference? Hibernation zero power, suspend some power. Only the newer laptops are out of the box capable of this standard Windows and Linux feature. Some of the newer destops can as well but this requires a hack...

http://matt.ucc.asn.au/apple/machibernate.html

[aabcdefghij987654321]

The problem is SPAM

I have to leave my computer running 24/7 to filter all the #@%$ing spam I get. Otherwise it takes me 15-20 minutes in the morning before I can get to the legitimate email messages. So sleep mode won't work.

[Siegfried Schtauffen]

My solution

Set your computer to resume every four hours and re-hibernate if not used 30 minutes later. Many programs can easily do this for you.

[Ilgaz]

PCs can "NAP" since MS-DOS,Desktop PCs shouldn't sleep every 10 minute

Who are writing these articles?

Even MSDOS had sleep capability if you added power.exe to
config.sys. It is called "advanced power saving" and it is there
since 386s.

Windows managed to hide PCs own power saving system from
the user very effectively. If they defaulted the ATX power button
to "Sleep" instead of displaying a stupid menu, PC people could
get used to sleeping their computer when not in use for long
time.

Yes, Desktop PCs aren't designed for short periods of sleep/
wake up. The hard disks and display actually goes top watts
when they are firing up.

Of course don't use a CPU killer as "screen saver". Use a simple
screen saver or even "windows logo". Set your monitor to sleep
(stand by) after 20 mins of idleness. Set your computer to sleep
after 1 hour of idleness UNLESS you are connected to a corparate
LAN, if it is the case: Ask your IT department for their policy.

Shame on you CNET, you are making me write on a Quad G5
Mac. :)

[timr999]

PC Naps....

I would suggest when not using the compuer then block any internet activity with Zone Alarm Free or Kerio firewall. This shuts off your connection with the net yet allows the computer to stay on. You have to just simply click the taskbar icon and select Block Internet activity. The when you come back later to use your machine, then just click to once agin open your connection.

[disco-legend-zeke]

se SHIFT key for wakeup, not mouse wiggle.

I have found that using the shift key does a better job of waking a sleeping computer than the old mouse wiggle, which worked fine until Vista came along.

[mjm01010101]

Please Enter the Subject!

Oh I'm perfectly aware it's likely a driver problem, and it's likely the Nvidia Drivers. That doesn't absolve Vista from not being absolved of the blame as well. XP's drivers work fine on this system. I'm just saying, those that build their own PC's had better be prepared for early adopter issues.