Sounds more like a driver inconsistency, where the driver is that for the videocard (OpenGL) or for the monitor.

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It's not a driver issue. 1 machine is Intel Q45 based, 1 is Intel 965 based, and the third has an Nvidia Quadro FX3800. This happens on Windows 7 Pro x86 & x64. Using built-in Windows screensavers allows the displays to sleep. Using the WCG/BOINC screensaver does not. I've tried the WCG-branded 6.2.28, BOINC 6.10.17, 6.10.18 & 6.10.24. All exhibit the same behavior...the monitor will not turn off when BOINC is the screensaver. It works fine on Windows Vista, not on Windows 7.

Using built-in Windows screensavers allows the displays to sleep.

That's why I said "driver for the videocard (OpenGL)". Most Windows screen savers are DirectX-3D based, not OpenGL based.

One simple example: In 95% of the cases, if you use the Windows supplied drivers for your videocard, you will not have OpenGL support. This is because Microsoft doesn't make or officially support OpenGL, they only make and officially support DirectX.

All the BOINC versions you mention use the OpenGL1.1 screen saver code. As far as I know, all the WCG applications which show the actual WCG graphics and screen saver, are OpenGL1.1 based.

So check your videocard drivers. Update them if necessary.

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None are using stock Windows drivers. They all have the latest available version from Intel and Nvidia...and, an Nvidia Quadro card is targeted at OpenGL apps.

I understand that BOINC uses OpenGL and Microsoft's screensavers are DirectX; however, an OpenGL screensaver shouldn't prevent Windows from turning off the display.

I tried the suite of OpenGL screensavers from http://www.reallyslick.com/, and using them, the display turns off.

Even if the drivers had no OpenGL support, it still shouldn't prevent the LCD from entering powersave mode.

So it again appears to be a BOINC/WCG screensaver + Windows 7 issue.

Yes, you're right. I missed that one. :-)

I'll forward this thread to the developers and Kevin of IBM/WCG.

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Is this limited to Windows 7? Have you got the possibility to test on other/older Windows versions?

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Is this limited to Windows 7? Have you got the possibility to test on other/older Windows versions?

See Message 29350 - Posted 10 Dec 2009 22:21:14 UTC - in response to Message 29348 ;-)

...It works fine on Windows Vista, not on Windows 7.

Gruß,
Gundolf

It is limited to Windows 7. We currently have 1000+ machines w/ Vista & WCG-branded BOINC client 6.2.28 with the screensaver + powersave working.

We will be rolling out Windows 7 to some labs this Winter. We like to show off our WCG support by using the screensaver, but we also like to save $ on energy costs.

OK, the BOINC developers are looking into it and trying to reproduce the problem.
The WCG developers have the problem that they do not have Windows 7 at this time, but are willing to purchase it.

I don't think I asked or that you said already, but does this happen on a variety of LCD screens, or are they all the same brand and model? Could you give (a small example list of) the brand(s) and model number(s) it happens on?

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There are free trials of Windows 7 from Microsoft, so for this testing they wouldn't even need to purchase it.

We are a hardcore Lenovo shop @ Marist, so here's what I've tested on so far:

Win 7 Professional 32-bit:
ThinkCentre USFF 7479A8U w/ ThinkVision LCD 4422HB6, Intel driver 15.​16.​2.​1986
ThinkCentre USFF 8807AD8 w/ ThinkVision LCD 4434HB6, Intel driver 15.​​12.​​75.​​4.​​1930

Win 7 Professional 64-bit:
ThinkStation S20 410557U w/ 2x ThinkVision LCD 4422HB6 & 1x ThinkVision 4433HB2 driven by a Nvidia Quadro FX3800 & Nvidia Quadro FX3500, Nvidia driver 8.16.11.9100 (release 191.00)

My settings are:
BOINC - do work after 10 minutes of idle time
Screensaver - turn on after 11 minutes
Display powersave - turn off after 20 minutes

In all the above scenarios, the BOINC/WCG screensaver just stays on indefinitely.

You're saying it works OK with 6.6.28? Did you mean .28 or was that a typo for .38?

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It does NOT work ok with any client version I've tested on Windows 7.

It does work ok on Vista.

6.2.28 is not a typo, it's the latest available WCG-branded BOINC client available on worldcommunitygrid.org.

Have you only tested against the WCG screen saver or does this happen on other BOINC projects?

-Uplinger
World Community Grid

Excuse me, I seem to be misreading a lot in this thread. ;-)
All information passed on to the developers. Either I will let you know if there are more questions or for you to try something, or one of the developers themselves will.

Edit: Like Uplinger - WCG screen saver developer.

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Have you only tested against the WCG screen saver or does this happen on other BOINC projects?

The only BOINC project we run is WCG. Do you want me to test w/ another project?

Yes, please try testing with seti@home to see if you encounter the same results. I would imagine so, but I would like to rule out that it is caused by a single project.

-Uplinger
World Community Grid

Also request from the BOINC Developers to test on a project that doesn't have a graphics application. Something like Collatz.

Test with both 6.2.28 and 6.10.24 on one of the affected machines.

That’ll tell us if it is the act of opening up an OpenGL based window that prevents the monitor from going into power save mode or something in the initialization of the WCG graphics apps.

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Tried seti@home on 6.2.28 & 6.10.24. Same results as WCG screensaver...the display does not turn off after 20 mins.

For:

Also request from the BOINC Developers to test on a project that doesn't have a graphics application. Something like Collatz.

You want me to run this with the same settings?

You want me to run this with the same settings?

I think to try it with the BOINC screen saver (the built-in one) and without any screen saver set. So just run with screen saver set to BOINC and with it set to (None).

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Collatz results:

6.2.28 WCG-branded:
With the screensaver set to "World Community Grid," the LCD turns off after 20 mins. It appears this screensaver is just the WCG image + text.

6.10.24 BOINC:
With the screensaver set to "BOINC," the LCD appears to eventually turn off, but not at the time it's set to (more like 30-35 minutes). It appears that this screensaver showing the BOINC logo & Collatz stats is OpenGL based.