Set up computers to save

A computer’s power management feature can be set up to go to sleep or standby. Here is a power management set-up guide for Windows, OS X and notebooks.

Set-up: Windows XP and 2000
  1. Right click on the desktop, and select Properties.
  2. Select Screen Saver tab.
  3. Set Screen Saver to None. If you select a Screen Saver option the computer will not revert to sleep or standby and will remain on full power.
  4. Click on the Power button (You can also navigate to this section by clicking Start > Control panel > Power options).
  5. Adjust as follows and then click OK:
    System standby: After 15 min. (equivalent to ‘sleep’)
    System hibernate: Never
    Turn off monitor: After 5 min. (or other period that suits you)
    Turn off disk drives: After 5 min. (or other period that suits you)
NB. The Help function in Windows XP can also guide you through the power management set-up. Click on Start, select Help and Support. Search for a power management scheme.

Set-up: OS X
  1. Click on the Apple icon in the top left-hand corner.
  2. Click on System Preferences.
  3. Under Hardware, click on Energy Saver
  4. Click on Power Supply and optimise the settings to Better Energy Savings
  5. Opt for the pre-customised settings or alternatively move the pointer forwards or backwards to set the time interval for sleep for both the computer and monitor to suit your own particular requirements.
  6. If you have a MacBook and want to optimise the battery time, you can use the same window and click the settings for Battery and optimise it to Better Battery Life.
Notebook set-up
Notebook computers have special processors that can adjust processor power according to demand. Setting up the power management correctly gives you optimal savings.

Power management on notebook computers with Pentium M-processors can instruct the processor to manage performance as required, both when the computer is plugged in and running on battery power.

Choose 1 of the following power management schemes:
  • Notebook
  • Presentation
  • Minimal power management
  • Maximum battery
Note that processor power decreases is as demand decreases. Choose one of the other power management schemes if have problems with particularly demanding programs. Choose a power management scheme before, for example, you set up system standby

Page last updated 06.10.2008

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