You leave YOUR computer On or OFF?

[NJC]

A few more opinions of leaving 'puter on:

Nay:

http://computer.howstuffworks.com/question328.htm

Mostly yay:

http://www.pcguide.com/care/care/gen/powerOnOff-c.html

Neither good nor bad:

http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000390.htm

 

[Matt_S]

My computer gets turned off at night. Personally, I find that saving energy is more important than any potential longevity improvements. In 99 cases out of 100, people won't keep a PC long enough to realize that extended longevity, if it indeed exists. I find this argument from the howstuffworks.com site very convincing: no one leaves their TV on, yet TV's have many of the same componentry as PCs and probably experience more severe thermal cycling. It's silly to have your monitor on power saving mode all the time and, at the same time, let the processor keep cranking away. At least set it to enter Suspend or Hibernate mode.

 

[UncleS2]

I switch on my computer anywhere from mid-morning to early evening, & turn it off at night. Sometimes I'll go a day or more without turning it on at all. Your routine may vary.

 

[ryansride2017]

"(I have a Kill-A-Watt plug meter, so it's easy to test power usage of various appliances). "

Where can I get one of those?

 

[Bret Chase]

I just leave mine on all the time, unless I'm going away for more than one night. I turn the monitor off when I'm not sitting in front of it.

 

[alreadygone]

Ditto, Bret Chase.

Bob

 

[mormit]

Thermal cycling (cold starts) are bad for cars too so I hear. I might start leaving my old 85 Volvo wagon idling all night otherwise it might not make it for the next 275,000mi.

FWIW: I just turn my computer off when I'm done so my home PC might see one or two occasionally three power ups on any given 24hr period. Never had a computer problem. I'm on my third home PC. They last me about 7 years with no issues. My previous maching from 1999 with Win98se is running fine as a loaner to my brother-in-law.

Leaving it on is an old carryover from twenty years ago.

 

[beercollector]

When I got a laptop, my brother said that it's easier on the power supply and everything to just close it instead of shutting it down. He totally surprised me by discussing voltage/currant draw; he's an art student who isn't into technical stuff at all unless it involves bikes or computers.

I remember hearing from "computer people" years ago that plugging/unplugging USB connections while the computer is running can cause damage since they do involve current and not just data transfer. Whether it's true or not, I have the habit of closing the laptop before making connection to USB accessories.

The computers at work are almost always left on 24/7. 30 something computers have an effect on the power bill for sure, but people just won't shut them down. We hired someone to come by at night just to shut the computers down, but then some of them wouldn't start back up the next morning for no particular reason. Now I'm just considering sending the electric bill to the folks who leave the computers running, problem solved!

 

[brianl703]

Quote:

---

When I got a laptop, my brother said that it's easier on the power supply and everything to just close it instead of shutting it down.

---

I don't think so, as closing the laptop while it's still on reduces the ventilation it's getting and will cause it to run hotter.

 

[oldmaninsc]

Quote:

---

Off at night, on again in the morning.

Thermal cycling is bad? How long does anyone keep their computer for anyway? If you're BITOGing from your Apple II, then sure, keep it on to help longevity. Otherwise you're just wasting energy.

---

I've been building computers for at least 10 years. Most people "outgrow" their computer long before the computer dies (with the possible exception of the hard drives)

Personally I turn mine on in the morning, and off when I go to bed.

 

[Razl]

USBs were designed in mind to be plugged in will running. That's usually the easiest way for the OS to "find" the devise you're plugging in. Think about how inconvenient that would make USB memory drives if your statement was correct.

Many people have the bad habit of plugging/unplugging the monitor's VGA cables from the computer. Unlike USBs, it was not designed to be operated like that.

 

[D189379]

Computers turn off?

 

[Racerjk]

I put my laptop in standby when I'm not using it.

Opinions?

 

[Crashbox]

I leave mine on continually except during thunderstorms (I don't trust my UPS to handle a million-plus volts) and significant absences from home. Methinks that spinning the hard drives up/down repeatedly ain't good for them.

 

[mechtech2]

I turn it off, and switch off the power on the power strip.

 

[T-Keith]

Just because it has a 350watt power supply does not mean it is consuming that much. Many modern computers have power saving features(AMD processors have had them for years) and they use a relatively small amount of power. Starting and shutting down the computer usually turns everything up for a short while and may end up costing you more, especially if you use your computer several times a day.