How to set idle time period before entering sleep mode?

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Level 1

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How to set idle time period before entering sleep mode?

I just bought a new Mac Pro (late 2013) this week. Nice computer! I was thinking to get a Mac Mini but my wife approved the budget for Mac Pro. :-)

How do I set the idle time period before entering sleep mode? On the Energy Saver System Preference, it only allows the setup for turning display off. I did some search on the net and found some Macs have two settings, one for the display and one for the system. However, mine only allows the setting for the display.

Thanks.

Posted on May 28, 2014 1:47 PM

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Answer 1

vett93 Author

Level 1

27 points

May 28, 2014 2:30 PM in response to Ralph Landry1

That is exactly the problem I have. On the Systems Preference > Energy Saver on my Mac Pro, there is only a setting for the time for the display to turn off. There is no setting for the computer to enter sleep mode.

I contacted AppleCare. They told me that it is normal. According to this guy, Apple will decide when to put a Mac Pro into sleep mode. I don't get to choose. This just sounds odd to me......

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Answer 2

vett93 Author

Level 1

27 points

May 28, 2014 2:43 PM in response to Ralph Landry1

This is not what I want. I use this Mac Pro as a server as well. I use a few software clients that can wake up the Mac Pro and perform certain tasks. Then I need the Mac Pro to enter the sleep mode after a period of time chosen by me.

Has Apple really taken away the ability to program system idle time period for entering sleep mode?

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Answer 3

vett93 Author

Level 1

27 points

May 28, 2014 1:55 PM in response to Ralph Landry1

Thanks for the quick comment. On the Apple down drop menu, it allows one to put the Mac Pro into "Sleep". So apparently, it has a sleep mode.

I am more familiar with Windows OS. It allows one to turn off display, spin down HDs, and enter sleep mode independently. Does Mac Pro allow that? I plan to get some external HDs for my new toy too.

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Answer 4

May 28, 2014 2:09 PM in response to vett93

In Systems Preferences > Energy Saver there is a slider for setting the time for the computer to enter sleep mode and for the display to enter sleep mode.

You can also over ride those by clicking Sleep at the bottom of the login page or from the menu bar pull down under the apple.

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Answer 5

May 28, 2014 1:51 PM in response to vett93

The other setting you saw is actually for the hard drive, time until it spins down to conserve energy. Since the Mac Pro does not have a hard drive there is no setting associated with the SSD?

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Answer 6

May 28, 2014 2:34 PM in response to vett93

Oh well, you still can click Sleep and put it to sleep when you want to do.

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Answer 7

May 28, 2014 3:16 PM in response to vett93

That may be required to get the EnergyStar rating.

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