As a follow up to a past Tech Tip we did on computer monitor sleep modes (inSync 1/8/2001) an avid inSync reader has supplied us with the following detail you may find interesting.DPMS (which stands for Display Power Management Signaling) is part of the EnergyStar standard. All modern monitors support it. It allows computers (by turning off one or both video sync signals) to set a monitor to one of four states:§Normal: both sync signals on - normal operation§Standby: horizontal sync signal off, vertical sync signal on - screen is blanked, but all other functions are active. There is very little power savings - this is meant only to prevent burn-in.§Suspend: horizontal sync signal on, vertical sync signal off - the monitor is effectively off, but the filament on the picture tube is kept heated, so you can quickly get a picture when set back to "on" mode. Power consumption is reduced greatly (typically less than 15 Watts).§Off: both sync signals off - everything is off, except for one circuit that monitors the sync signals so the monitor can power-on when they are restored. Power consumption is almost eliminated (typically less than 5 Watts).Note that it is the absence of sync signals that causes a monitor to go into the "off" state when the computer it shut down or put to sleep. Most computers these days can set monitors into one or more of these states via software. Usually this is part of a screen saver program of some kind, although there are also standalone programs that will do it.