>Also, is it just in the monitor, or does the pizzabox need to send
>some kind of signal (DPMI? what is it called?) to the monitor.
>Finally, if it does, is this signal generated by hard/firmware or
>does software like X need to be configured.

The signal is sent by not sending either a horizontal or vertical sync
signal (different combinations cause different levels of power saving).

A quick test to see if it still works on your monitor would be to turn your
computer off, but leave the monitor on.  If "power saver" turns on, then
your monitor is fine.

--Ken