Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Turn off an idle computer, or leave it running?
PhysOrg ^ | November 26, 2008 | Steve Alexander

Posted on 11/28/2008 2:22:46 AM PST by CE2949BB

Q. Sometimes a day or two can pass without anyone using our desktop computer. Should we leave it on or turn it off? Do we extend the life of the hard drive when the PC is turned off?

A. There are two issues involved: power consumption and component wear. On both counts, I think it's better to leave your computer on.

Computers don't require much energy, particularly when they're inactive. On a PC, you can set your screen to darken and your disk drive to stop spinning when the computer has been idle a certain number of minutes. You can find these settings under Power Options in the Control Panel.

Computers also tend to suffer less wear and tear if you leave them on. Turning a computer on and off creates tiny power surges which eventually can damage electronic components. You can also reduce wear by using the automatic disk drive power-saving option mentioned above.

Another benefit to leaving your PC on is that programs that run automatically, such as antivirus scanning software, aren't interrupted. For more about whether to leave the PC on, see http://www.5starsupport.com/tutorial/on-off.htm.

(Excerpt) Read more at physorg.com ...


TOPICS: Computers/Internet; Miscellaneous; Reference; Science
KEYWORDS:
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061 next last
Absolutely no news value to this, so I'm putting it in General/Chat.
1 posted on 11/28/2008 2:22:46 AM PST by CE2949BB
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: CE2949BB

2 posted on 11/28/2008 3:09:51 AM PST by JoeProBono ( Loose Associations - Postcards from My Mind)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: CE2949BB
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.

3 posted on 11/28/2008 3:10:03 AM PST by john in springfield
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: CE2949BB

If it works,,,,,don’t fix it.


4 posted on 11/28/2008 3:18:31 AM PST by Waco (understand the meaning of illegal???)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: CE2949BB

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.


5 posted on 11/28/2008 3:21:34 AM PST by Lazamataz (Proud author of abstract semi-religious dogmatic hoooey with a decidedly fring feel.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Lazamataz

I thought that God’s name is Vista!


6 posted on 11/28/2008 3:29:24 AM PST by johnthebaptistmoore (Conservatives obey the rules. Leftists cheat. Who probably has the political advantage?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Lazamataz

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.


7 posted on 11/28/2008 3:31:16 AM PST by djf (The harsh reality of life is that reality is harsh.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

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


8 posted on 11/28/2008 3:37:10 AM PST by Lazamataz (Proud author of abstract semi-religious dogmatic hoooey with a decidedly fring feel.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: CE2949BB

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.


9 posted on 11/28/2008 3:55:26 AM PST by ArkansasBushfan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: CE2949BB

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


10 posted on 11/28/2008 3:57:31 AM PST by ptsal
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ArkansasBushfan
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!

11 posted on 11/28/2008 4:11:15 AM PST by Young Werther (Julius Caesar (Quae Cum Ita Sunt. Since these things are so.))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: john in springfield
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.

12 posted on 11/28/2008 4:11:19 AM PST by roamer_1 (Proud 1%er... Reagan Conservatism is the only way forward.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: CE2949BB
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! :)
13 posted on 11/28/2008 4:14:25 AM PST by mkjessup (Senator Joe McCarthy was RIGHT - see my FR home page for a tribute to a REAL Patriot.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: CE2949BB
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.

14 posted on 11/28/2008 4:26:09 AM PST by SamAdams76 (I am 93 days away from outliving John F. Kennedy)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Waco
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!
15 posted on 11/28/2008 4:28:40 AM PST by TomGuy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Lazamataz

Hey, start your own theology thread.


16 posted on 11/28/2008 4:29:38 AM PST by Lonesome in Massachussets (The Democratic Party strongly supports full civil rights for necro-Americans.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: CE2949BB

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.


17 posted on 11/28/2008 4:32:24 AM PST by TomGuy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Young Werther

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.


18 posted on 11/28/2008 4:37:06 AM PST by ArkansasBushfan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: CE2949BB

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


19 posted on 11/28/2008 4:37:22 AM PST by napscoordinator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ptsal

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....


20 posted on 11/28/2008 4:38:47 AM PST by nevergore ("It could be that the purpose of my life is simply to serve as a warning to others.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson