Comments on: Is It Safe To Leave A Computer On All The Time? http://www.pcmech.com/article/is-it-safe-to-leave-a-computer-on-all-the-time/ Tech Powered Life... Simplified Sat, 09 Feb 2013 03:19:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Richhttp://www.pcmech.com/article/is-it-safe-to-leave-a-computer-on-all-the-time/comment-page-1/#comment-60219 Rich Mon, 11 Oct 2010 14:34:00 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/article/is-it-safe-to-leave-a-computer-on-all-the-time/#comment-60219 You've been reported as spam, you dumb fuckwit. You’ve been reported as spam, you dumb fuckwit.

]]> By: Peterhttp://www.pcmech.com/article/is-it-safe-to-leave-a-computer-on-all-the-time/comment-page-1/#comment-37209 Peter Sun, 03 Jan 2010 01:25:49 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/article/is-it-safe-to-leave-a-computer-on-all-the-time/#comment-37209 It's worth noting that every opinion stated here, while mostly educated, is anecdotal. So far, nobody's got access to a nice, thousand-machine MTBF study, they just mostly believe what they believe because they believe it, including me.In general, I agree with the heat-and-moving-parts-kill machines view, given the following...I manage @24 desktops for a multi-location retail business. Over 5 years' time, I'd have to say it's a moot point, if only because: --often, function drives practice. Our main server HAS to run 24/7, so we gave it RAID 5 and daily cartridge backups, on the assumption that some key part WILL eventually fail. As my network wizard said, "A server is a five-year plan." It gets taken down once a quarter for cleaning, once a year for firmware and other upgrades. --we have machines that are maintained and updated by suppliers, often in the wee hours. They run 24/7, but we tear them down every 2-3 months, blow out the heat sinks, and vacuum dust out of fans and power supplies. --we treat office and point-of-sale computers like you would a TV at home. You don't turn it off when you run to the bathroom, but you don't leave it on when you go to bed at night. I don't turn my desktop off if I go out to lunch (though I do lock the terminal), but I shut it off at closing time. I like the daily reboot to reset everything, and I figure the power we save on 16 non-critical machines will cover the one unit and the few drives that fail before their 5+-year plan is up. They get opened and PM'd on the same more-or-less quarterly basis.All the best in the new year, Peter It’s worth noting that every opinion stated here, while mostly educated, is anecdotal. So far, nobody’s got access to a nice, thousand-machine MTBF study, they just mostly believe what they believe because they believe it, including me.

In general, I agree with the heat-and-moving-parts-kill machines view, given the following…

I manage @24 desktops for a multi-location retail business. Over 5 years’ time, I’d have to say it’s a moot point, if only because:
–often, function drives practice. Our main server HAS to run 24/7, so we gave it RAID 5 and daily cartridge backups, on the assumption that some key part WILL eventually fail. As my network wizard said, “A server is a five-year plan.” It gets taken down once a quarter for cleaning, once a year for firmware and other upgrades.
–we have machines that are maintained and updated by suppliers, often in the wee hours. They run 24/7, but we tear them down every 2-3 months, blow out the heat sinks, and vacuum dust out of fans and power supplies.
–we treat office and point-of-sale computers like you would a TV at home. You don’t turn it off when you run to the bathroom, but you don’t leave it on when you go to bed at night. I don’t turn my desktop off if I go out to lunch (though I do lock the terminal), but I shut it off at closing time. I like the daily reboot to reset everything, and I figure the power we save on 16 non-critical machines will cover the one unit and the few drives that fail before their 5+-year plan is up. They get opened and PM’d on the same more-or-less quarterly basis.

All the best in the new year,
Peter

]]> By: JJM88http://www.pcmech.com/article/is-it-safe-to-leave-a-computer-on-all-the-time/comment-page-1/#comment-36346 JJM88 Thu, 10 Dec 2009 04:13:26 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/article/is-it-safe-to-leave-a-computer-on-all-the-time/#comment-36346 That last comment is right on. Laptops are considered portable anyway. They are built to be shutdown, or hibernated in between uses. In no way are they as efficient as a desktop considering there's very little room for heat dissipation, and the parts are smaller, closer together, and generate much more heat anyway. The idea of the parts smouldering in their own heat after shutdown isn't something that will do them in.Hibernation is the best compromise between a full shut down, and a quick boot. And of course it is recommended to do a restart now and then because when Hibernation occurs, sometimes drivers have to be restarted to work properly. That last comment is right on. Laptops are considered portable anyway. They are built to be shutdown, or hibernated in between uses. In no way are they as efficient as a desktop considering there’s very little room for heat dissipation, and the parts are smaller, closer together, and generate much more heat anyway. The idea of the parts smouldering in their own heat after shutdown isn’t something that will do them in.

Hibernation is the best compromise between a full shut down, and a quick boot. And of course it is recommended to do a restart now and then because when Hibernation occurs, sometimes drivers have to be restarted to work properly.

]]> By: Tech Tipshttp://www.pcmech.com/article/is-it-safe-to-leave-a-computer-on-all-the-time/comment-page-1/#comment-35392 Tech Tips Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:11:26 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/article/is-it-safe-to-leave-a-computer-on-all-the-time/#comment-35392 I agree that if its a desktop computer leave it on. If it is a laptop then turn it off at night. Besides the wear and tear issues, laptops just seem to get squirely (a tech term) when going in and out of sleep mode.With a desktop I still recommend rebooting it every day or two as this seems to help with stability. I agree that if its a desktop computer leave it on. If it is a laptop then turn it off at night. Besides the wear and tear issues, laptops just seem to get squirely (a tech term) when going in and out of sleep mode.

With a desktop I still recommend rebooting it every day or two as this seems to help with stability.

]]> By: Computohttp://www.pcmech.com/article/is-it-safe-to-leave-a-computer-on-all-the-time/comment-page-1/#comment-34896 Computo Sat, 14 Nov 2009 06:40:39 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/article/is-it-safe-to-leave-a-computer-on-all-the-time/#comment-34896 If you choose to leave your computer on all the time, It would be more safe to Not have it connected to the Internet. in my opinion, unless you run some type of business there is all most no point of leaving a computer running all the time. If the only reason you want leave your computer on 24/7 is because it starts up slow then you may want to consider upgrading the memory in it. Although not much for the average computer, they still use electricity so is it really worth keeping it on just because it starts up slow? The choose is yours. If you choose to leave your computer on all the time, It would be more safe to Not have it connected to the Internet. in my opinion, unless you run some type of business there is all most no point of leaving a computer running all the time. If the only reason you want leave your computer on 24/7 is because it starts up slow then you may want to consider upgrading the memory in it. Although not much for the average computer, they still use electricity so is it really worth keeping it on just because it starts up slow? The choose is yours.

]]> By: Tim.Thttp://www.pcmech.com/article/is-it-safe-to-leave-a-computer-on-all-the-time/comment-page-1/#comment-26089 Tim.T Mon, 15 Jun 2009 14:21:25 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/article/is-it-safe-to-leave-a-computer-on-all-the-time/#comment-26089 Sometimes I turn the PC off; sometimes I leave it running for days. What this treatment is doing to my 2-year old high-spec dual-core machine I cannot tell, but it runs fine, purrs like a kitten. Never had any hardware issues thus far. This whole discussion reminds me of those big rocks you see in the desert which, over time, have split and broken apart because of eons of expanding in the daytime heat, and contracting in the night time cold. Eventually the rocks can't take any more and fall apart. I suppose that happens to electrical devices, too, sooner or later. So while I am still not entirely comfortable with leaving it on for days, I think that might be the best option. I use a free little program called 'SpeedFan' to monitor all my fan speeds, hard drive temp, ambient and core temps - this helps me check to see if there's any over-heating, and it also eases my mind a little.If you still want your PC to do something useful while it's idle, get it to run one of the many apps out there like ClimatePrediction, SETI@home, World Community Grid programs, etc. You can set them to use as little or as much CPU power as you want, and your results will benefit all mankind! Sometimes I turn the PC off; sometimes I leave it running for days. What this treatment is doing to my 2-year old high-spec dual-core machine I cannot tell, but it runs fine, purrs like a kitten. Never had any hardware issues thus far. This whole discussion reminds me of those big rocks you see in the desert which, over time, have split and broken apart because of eons of expanding in the daytime heat, and contracting in the night time cold. Eventually the rocks can’t take any more and fall apart. I suppose that happens to electrical devices, too, sooner or later. So while I am still not entirely comfortable with leaving it on for days, I think that might be the best option. I use a free little program called ‘SpeedFan’ to monitor all my fan speeds, hard drive temp, ambient and core temps – this helps me check to see if there’s any over-heating, and it also eases my mind a little.

If you still want your PC to do something useful while it’s idle, get it to run one of the many apps out there like ClimatePrediction, SETI@home, World Community Grid programs, etc. You can set them to use as little or as much CPU power as you want, and your results will benefit all mankind!

]]> By: Gerry -Refurbished laptopshttp://www.pcmech.com/article/is-it-safe-to-leave-a-computer-on-all-the-time/comment-page-1/#comment-24730 Gerry -Refurbished laptops Tue, 19 May 2009 03:34:22 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/article/is-it-safe-to-leave-a-computer-on-all-the-time/#comment-24730 One of the failure modes of electronic components and circuit boards is due to thermal cycling or going from hot to cold to hot. When a computer is left on all the time the failures due to thermal cycling are minimized. Fot this reason and some of the others listed in these posts I leave my computer powered up. One of the failure modes of electronic components and circuit boards is due to thermal cycling or going from hot to cold to hot. When a computer is left on all the time the failures due to thermal cycling are minimized. Fot this reason and some of the others listed in these posts I leave my computer powered up.

]]> By: Carlito Castillohttp://www.pcmech.com/article/is-it-safe-to-leave-a-computer-on-all-the-time/comment-page-1/#comment-23491 Carlito Castillo Tue, 21 Apr 2009 21:54:24 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/article/is-it-safe-to-leave-a-computer-on-all-the-time/#comment-23491 A Desktop can be left turned on 24/7 but a laptop is not recommended due to possible overheating. I have a clients that has experienced overheating and motherboard going bad by leaving their laptops turned on 24/7. However, since you won't be using it 24/7, keeping it running might just be a waste of electricity. So why not power it down when you're not using it? Hope this helps. A Desktop can be left turned on 24/7 but a laptop is not recommended due to possible overheating. I have a clients that has experienced overheating and motherboard going bad by leaving their laptops turned on 24/7. However, since you won’t be using it 24/7, keeping it running might just be a waste of electricity. So why not power it down when you’re not using it? Hope this helps.

]]> By: Rickhttp://www.pcmech.com/article/is-it-safe-to-leave-a-computer-on-all-the-time/comment-page-1/#comment-23099 Rick Wed, 08 Apr 2009 16:49:50 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/article/is-it-safe-to-leave-a-computer-on-all-the-time/#comment-23099 I'm 59 and new at this copmuting stuff but i'd like to know if I turn off my laptop will my anti-virus run on schedule at 1am? I’m 59 and new at this copmuting stuff but i’d like to know if I turn off my laptop will my anti-virus run on schedule at 1am?

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