turning the computer off

[jerry1967]

should i turn the computer off when not in use?

[ronjor]

Some leave them running all the time, some shut them off overnight.

I shut mine off. You will probably get a thousand reasons pro and con. :D

[solarpowered candle]

It saves power and resources are a precious commodity . I unplug my internet connection when not in use also.

[TheSnowGuy]

IT GETS TURNED OFF ?


As SPC stated...is one reason......



**I didn't notice if you referred to being connected to the internet and leaving the computer on.........****

[Blackspear]

{QUOTE-> should i turn the computer off when not in use? <-QUOTE}
There are 2 theories, 1 being for every day you leave the computer on it loses a day of its life, the other theory being for every time you turn the computer off it loses a day of its life, neither theory has been proven conclusively.

Having a Scottish heritage, I can feel the cents slowly trickling down the power line and running ever so slowly up my power bill ;) Hence, I turn mine off ;D

Just my 2 cents worth ;)

Cheers ;D

[bigc73542]

I just in good conscious can not let my Hdd and cooling fans and all electrical parts just sit there running wasting away slowly. So I turn it off even if I am only gone twenty minutes, it only takes seconds to boot up.

[Dazed_and_Confused]

I leave mine on 24x7. I like instantaneous access. :D And by the time my powersource burns up, my PC will be outdated anyway. Actually, I think it was outdated a week after I bought it. ::)

[GlobalForce]

So Jerry, who ya gonna listen to?

The little man on your left shoulder, or the little man on your right? ;D ;D ;)

But seriously, I like replies 2, 3, 5, and 6.
Second line in post 3 is good.
X-tra credit for wise-crack in post 4 ;D.


GF

[Dazed_and_Confused]

{QUOTE-> So Jerry, who ya gonna listen to?

The little man on your left shoulder, or the little man on your right? ;D ;D ;)

But seriously, I like replies 2, 3, 5, and 6.
Second line in post 3 is good.
X-tra credit for wise-crack in post 4 ;D.


GF <-QUOTE}
If Jerry was smart, he would listen to the wise young lady from post 7. ;D

[GlobalForce]

I did not suggest anything here Daisy, just MO ;)...

GF

[Devinco]

Hi Jerry1967,

Here is a thread that covers that topic also (http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=46590&highlight=computer).

If the computer is too loud and in your bedroom, turn it off at night, unless you need to run a scheduled task like defragging etc.
If the computer is quiet enough to sleep nearby, I would still turn it off unless I used it to receive faxes or something.

[nod32_9]

We're paying 12 cents/kwh (including taxes and other stuffs), or 2.4 cents each hour the system is ON. Let's say I don't use the PC for 12 hours/day. By turning OFF the PC when not in use, I would save $105/year.

Been turning OFF this old PC about 4 to 5 times per day since 2000. Never had any mechanical and/or electrical failure. That's approximately $450 of FREE $ that will be used toward the next PC!

[Blackspear]

{QUOTE-> We're paying 12 cents/kwh (including taxes and other stuffs), or 2.4 cents each hour the system is ON. Let's say I don't use the PC for 12 hours/day. By turning OFF the PC when not in use, I would save $105/year.

Been turning OFF this old PC about 4 to 5 times per day since 2000. Never had any mechanical and/or electrical failure. That's approximately $450 of FREE $ that will be used toward the next PC! <-QUOTE}
Damn, I just KNEW my Scottish blood was right ;) ;D

Could feel those cents trickling away, now I know it was a damn river flowing out, gotta go, gottttttaaaa goooo, need to turn the computer off, hmmmmmm maybe I'll just start with the screen.... jnpohdv0u2q3741hjolavbjkals m njkpnscpksljq

Doh, can't type without the screen ;D

;D 8) ;D 8) ;D

[dober]

two years ago one night we left ours on ( actually we forgotten to switch it off). Thunder storm started on that night and damaged the hard drive (30Gb)and made it redudent

[nod32_9]

The problem with leaving the PC on 24/7 is that it will accumulate a lot of dust bunnies inside the case. This will force the fans to run faster (more noise) and the components to run hotter (layer of dust acts as insulator). And we all know that HEAT is the #1 killer of semiconductor devices.

[Hans 01]

{QUOTE-> two years ago one night we left ours on ( actually we forgotten to switch it off). Thunder storm started on that night and damaged the hard drive (30Gb)and made it redudent <-QUOTE}

Yeah, this happened to me too. The zap went straight through my power surge protector like it wasn't there. Blew the transformer, hard drive and mother board. It was cheaper to buy a new PC than to repair. Fortunately, I lost only a few files, most were backed up.
I now turn off AND unplug both power cord and phone cord when not using the PC.
/ H

[Acadia]

Ok, let's make this even more complicated (plus I sincerely want to know): Even if you are going to turn off the pc, do you ALSO TURN OFF THE UPS (battery backup). ??? I've heard arguments both ways. This would be only for normal situations, NOT for approaching electrical storms when EVERYTHING should be unplugged. Opinions?

Acadia

[Tassie_Devils]

24/7 ;D

During storms/blackouts, I switch off [yeah, I know smartypants, blackout is no power, but I switch off so when power restored, it does not surge]

TAS

PS: Like Daisey, I want access faaaaaaaaaaaast ;D;D;D

[nod32_9]

There is no logical reason for maintaining power to the UPS when the PC is OFF, because the PC has an internal lithium cell battery to back-up the CMOS data. If you are not going to use the PC for a few weeks/months, then connect the UPS to an active AC line to keep it fully charged. Most UPS devices are based on the sealed lead-acid wet cell battery technology.

I would connect the surge protector to the AC line. The UPS should sit between the surge protector and your electrical devices. Unplug the surge protector and the modem line during an electrical storm. You can shut down everything from the surge protector's ON/OFF switch if the PC is not in use.

[zarzenz]

When I'm not at home, I always turn the computer off and I also do this at night when I've finished using the computer for the day.

This means it will most days be on continually for 6 to 8 hours, depending on how early I finish my work for the day, and most weekends it may be on for up to 16 hours whilst I am home.

I have never had any power related problems using this method.

My power profile is set to turn the monitor off after 20 mins and the hard drives after 30 mins so this seems like a good way to give the computer a little rest when I'm inactive during the on time.