Turn off an idle computer, or leave it running?

PhysOrg ^ | November 26, 2008 | Steve Alexander

[CE2949BB]

Absolutely no news value to this, so I'm putting it in General/Chat.

[JoeProBono]

[john in springfield]

Turning a computer on and off creates tiny power surges which eventually can damage electronic components.

Not terribly true any more. In fact, you're probably more susceptible to power surges if you leave it on, especially if you don't have decent power surge protection.

Really, whatever you want to do is fine.

[Waco]

If it works,,,,,don’t fix it.

[Lazamataz]

Turning a computer off allows the board to cool. Turning it on heats it up. The shrinking and growth causes the connections to loosen and crack.

Plus, it angers Binatonka, the Aztec God of Digital Equipment.

[johnthebaptistmoore]

I thought that God’s name is Vista!

[djf]

Exactly.

Some of the stereophiles I knew on the 70’s and early 80’s said NEVER TURN OFF a high output solid state amp. (tubes are different).

On and off, heating and cooling, destroys semiconductors.

[Lazamataz]

Nossir. Vista is the Hindu God of Overcomplicated, Malfunctioning Bloatware.

[ArkansasBushfan]

I have been turning my computer off for years and have never had a problem with it. In fact turning the PC off will reset some problems you might have.

[ptsal]

leave it running... The RNC has a computer project in which they are polling residents (larger group than citizens) looking for the LAST CONSERVATIVE.

[Young Werther]

My first computer, at work, was an Apple II. I turned it off every night when I went home. The first casualty to this on-off regimen was the on-off switch. there was no Geek squad so we did our own geeky stuff.

At the time I was able to find parts at an electronic store, (first in Dallas), an installed switches as required, memory upgrades and gulp a floppy drive!

My computer is on all the time and whenever an update arrives it will restart. Make sure your PC has a condom, (Norton) and surge protector. They do work despite what OBummer says!

[roamer_1]

In fact, you're probably more susceptible to power surges if you leave it on, especially if you don't have decent power surge protection.

This is a valid point- although "surge protection" is not an adequate phrase. Brown conditions can do as much damage as surges. One must have an Uninterruptable Power Source (UPS)- a battery which acts as a power dampener of sorts, and supplies clean power to the machine all the time. Especially for always-on machines, surge protectors are not enough.

[mkjessup]

Absolutely no news value to this, so I'm putting it in General/Chat.

Oh I wouldn't say that, I think there is great value to this article, because it reminds people of another way to say "UP YOURS!" to the environmental wackos who would prefer us to use an energy-saving abacus instead of computers, so I'll remember to leave my systems on 24/7.

Have a great weekend! :)

[SamAdams76]

I'm using a computer that hasn't been turned off in four years (from the day I took it home). It reboots from time to time when I add new software or patches but it has always been on and I have had zero issues with it.

On an unrelated matter, there is a person out in California who has had Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" playing on a CD player constantly since 1985. He simply has the CD player in repeat mode and it has been spinning Pink Floyd ever since. I assume that he puts it on mute from time to time to keep his sanity.

[TomGuy]

If it works,,,,,don’t fix it.

A few years ago, I decided to clean the inside of my keyboard.

It took a while, but I finally got used to the new keyboard I had to buy.

A few months later, I decided to take the mouse apart and clean the innards.

It took a while, but I finally got used to the new mouse I had to buy.

If it works,,,,,don’t fix it. Resistance is futile!

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Hey, start your own theology thread.

[TomGuy]

Mine goes all day. Many of the newer items automatically go in to ‘sleep’ mode for inaction.

If I am going out for a while, I do turn off the monitor.

At night, occasionally, I will do a full shutdown (WinXP). Most nights, I just do a standby/hibernate, as it turns off the ‘mechanical’ parts.

[ArkansasBushfan]

I have had three PC’s and turned them all off at night. I have never had a problem with any of the three, They have all been Dell’s. I don’t want any updates running on my machine unless I know what it is. I spent 30 years in DP and that is a little habit I picked up from that time. If an update is going to cause problems I want to know about the update. I keep my PC’s 3-4 years before getting new ones.

[napscoordinator]

It doesn’t really matter anymore. Computers last approx 4 years at the most. Keep it on 24/7 is no big deal.

[nevergore]

This would beg the question of why check the general populace?

Answer: After polling the RNC ranks they couldn’t find anyone who was conservative.....

LOL....