[mkuehn]

I've got an iMac DV/SE that I run as a web server, and the monitor will sleep, of course, but I'm wondering if there is a way to turn it "off" instead of simply placing it in sleep mode while the computer is running unattended? Because while the monitor is sleeping, it is my assumption that it is still consuming a fair amount of electricity, whereas if I could simply shut it off, I wouldn't be wasting that electricity. I've read another post here that said that these machines were not necessarily built to run headless like this, and so the monitors only sleep. Can you confirm/deny?

One idea I have is to open the case, disconnect the CRT cable from the mobo, and simply use the VGA out port (since all it does is mirror anyway) to drive another monitor that I can turn on and off at will. Might that work?

Also, how many watts/hr will the monitor itself use both in sleep and in awake mode? The specs for this machine mention 150 watts, but I assume that's for the whole shebang, not just the display.

Thanks,
Matthew

[galarneau]

I remember reading that the convection cooled iMacs actually need to monitor to run to create a flow of air over the CPU heatsink.

The rising hot air from the CRT pulls in air through the bottom of the machine, so turning off the CRT might make the CPU overheat.

If you were to disconnect the internal monitor cable, I would definitely look into attaching a small fan to the CPU heatsink just to be safe (or just put a thermometer on it to see if it will, in fact, run too hot)