Pro's VS Con's

[Jennifer]

Hi all I was just wondering the pro's and con's of turning your computer off and on througout the day. Is it just better to leave it on?
I turn mine on in the morning and turn it off at night. Any ideas on what's best.

just curious
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Jenn...

[hiredgoonz]

Everybody has an opinion on this...but here's my take on it:

When you turn an electronic device on and off, it is subjected to a far greater stress than when it is just running...that said, it obviously doesn't make sense to let your computer stay on 24 hrs a day if you're not going to be using it...

So what I do is only turn it off if I know I won't be using it for a while, most nights I turn it off and then back on the next day after work, but I usually leave it on all weekend...

Parts will eventually wear out from use, but since power cycling is kinda hard on components, it's probably worse to turn it on and off several times a day than it would be to just leave it on...

I generally turn mine off a couple times a week, but have left it on for weeks at a time...

I guess my point is to turn it off only if you won't be using it for a while...if you're going to use it throughout the day, just turn it off at night, but don't worry about it too much, it will most likely be out of date before it wears out... http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

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When all else fails, read the instructions.

[Paleo Pete]

It's mostly a matter or preference, but I wouldn't turn one on and off several times a day for reasons already covered. I leave mine on 24/7 and have had no trouble with it. Except during thunderstorms, which have cost me 2 modems, 3 cordless phones, 2 answering machines, battery charger for cordless drill, and I have to use a printer card on this motherboard since lightning took out LPT1 somehow...A surge protector on your phone line wouldn't be a bad idea...or unplug it during storms.

Will it hold up? This motherboard and hard drive are 4 years old, sound card is 6 years old, floppy at least 3, memory and CD ROM came out of a used Compaq, about 5 years old. I bought the video card used 4 years ago. All of it has been running constantly for at least 2 years, motherboard, CPU, hard drive and sound card for 4 years or more. It still works perfect.

I also know people who turn their machines off every night, with no problems that I know of that could be related to shutting down nightly. So that works fine too, as far as I can tell.

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So many idiots, and only six bullets...
Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

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[Stealth]

Well here's my take http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif I usually turn mine on first thing in the morning, catch up on e-mail etc...turn it off when I go to work, turn it on when I get home and turn it off again when I go to bed. So that's twice in one day.
I think if one were to leave it on through out the day it would be a good idea to have a UPS or some type of Surge Protector, just incase of temporarily or intermittent power failure's.
Again this is just my take,
Stealth

[mjc]

I basically have no choice, I leave the computer it must be shut down...my kids have made a mess out of it one too many times to leave it on....

If I could I would leave it on 24/7, reboot periodically and let run until it dies...

Your average IDE hard drive is warranted for three years, most other components for a year, and I read somewhere that the average "lifespan" of a computer is about 2 years...all of which has figured into a certain amount of running time and downtime (off)...I have a machine that is over 8 years old (a 386) that runs perfectly and for its entire life has been on and of several times a day...so basically I see it as a matter of your personal preference.

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mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.fortunecity.com/skyscraper/highrise/11/index.htm)

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.

[sea69]

mjc !!

I have found (and use) a little app called "SecLock", it is FREE and unobtrusive (completely)

One thing that has always bothered me with win9x OS is the lack of security. I have searched and tried numerous programs promissing all types of things... through the LONG trail and error process of 'weeding out' all the ones that are worthless, I found SecLock (http://www.topqualityfreeware.com/sfu.shtml).

This will very much slow down even someone that knows winblows OS.. (almost nothing is foolproof, but this definetly will take alittle work to get past)

I'm not sure how it would work on NT or win 2k...this initiates on boot or from the taskbar and LOCKS the desktop to show nothing. No icons, no start button, cannot contrl, alt, delete.

Upon reboot.. it loads (if you allow it to) password needs to be entered before you can use windows.. also inhibits the mouse to a defined area (in where you enter the password)

If anyone attempts to circumvent the LOCK, it will advise you when you enter your password as to when this occured.

http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

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sea1_69@hotmail.com

homepage (http://www.seanweb1.homestead.com/3.html)


[This message has been edited by sea69 (edited 07-01-2001).]

[WarHog]

I prefer to leave mine on but my wife seems to think that I'm wasteing energy (we live in California) and that's a no no here if you haven't heard. I'm not really sure how much a computer take's energy wise but I probably turn it off and on more then I should.

[Jennifer]

Thanks folks, I have a much clearer idea on what I'll do. Since I'm at my computer throughout the day I think I'll turn it on in the morning and turn it off at night.
Warhog, someone told me once that leaving a computer on is only like leaving a 100 watt light bulb on.


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Jenn...

[BigBlue66]

Hey Howdy,

At work, I turn the 'puter on in the morning and turn it off when I leave.

At home, I turn the 'puter off if I don't plan to use it for a couple of hours. Otherwise, I just throw it into Standby.

I have heard over the years that turning computers off and on needlessly stresses critical components. I work with several programmers that don't even bother to turn on a screensaver, let alone turn the monitor or the whole machine off. There are others that will at least turn the monitor off, since it consumes the most amounts of energy, and then there's people like me that turn them completely off. (I have been doing that for 15 some odd years without so much as a sniffle from my computers)

The main reason I turn the computer off if I'm not using it: I have this fear that the CPU fan will decide to die when I'm not around. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

Cheers,

Big Blue 66


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Woe is me.

[Randy_tx]

I'm right there with ya Big Blue......I have a two hour rule.....gone for more than 2 hrs.....off it goes. I can replace a worn out power supply much cheaper than a mobo & cpu - esp. with the HEAT a AMD Athalon generates and the short amount of time a non-cooled AMD Athalon will live http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif ...as in 7-10 seconds.

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Will XP save Me ?

[psabi]

Although some people will cite the "shock" to system when electricity is turned on off constantly, the stress is caused from the expansion and contraction of the metals used in the components. The constant "heating" (when it's on) and the subsequent cooling (turned off) is liter wear and tear on the components.

The basic notion that you should turn off a PC when you don't plan on using it for a few hours is a safe bet. But as for monitors, the constant on and off takes a much higher toll. I don't suggest you turn a monitor on and off multiple times during a day; set up the power options to power down the monitor after a short time. Monitors use very little power in "power save" mode.

What I do personally: If I am going to use my pc just quickly in the morning and then when I get home at night, I'll leave the monitor on and turn the CPU off. Otherwise, I'll leave the PC and monitor on the entire day with aggressive power conservation choices so if everything is on it will at least be using minimal power.

From a power conservation position, you may want to think about not leaving your stuff running the whole day adding to that "slight" power issue that seems to affect CA....