Ubuntu – Monitors do not turn off (enter powersave mode) after screen blanking

lock-screenmultiple-monitorspower-managementscreensaver

Ubuntu 1904, both X and Wayland. AMD 2400G, ASUS motherboard with 3 screens: HDMI,VGA,DVI.

When I leave my computer, it will blank the screen after the timeout, then my 3 monitors will fall asleep, but they will wakeup after 10 seconds or so, and never enter power save mode again. They will keep showing the lock screen.

So it is a costly affair, burning 100 Watts, and shortening lifespan of my screens.

Also when I turn off my screens manually:

xset dpms force off

They turn off, and wake up after 10 seconds.

Could be this bug 1292041. But I doubt because it's is also happening when powering off the screens with xset.

How do I get my screens to enter powersave mode?

Best Answer

WORKAROUND

Change the setting of your monitor from input select: auto to a fixed input, e.g. hdmi.

Here, with a AOC Q3279VWFD8 (WQHD):

OSD -> extra -> input select -> hdmi (was auto)

That fixed my problem, also that setting prevented my other monitors from entering powersave mode (turning off). It seems a monitor can poll the graphic card through HDMI (CEC?), preventing powersave mode. Probably cable type plays a role as well.

Still I consider this a bug, IMHO powersave mode should work with default settings of monitors.