The ability for a computer to enter "sleep mode" is not a new one. It has been available for quite a while. Windows first called it Stand By, but then later changed it to Sleep. Mac OS X also calls it Sleep. Linux calls it Suspend. All serve the same function.
When you put a computer "to sleep," it cuts all power to as much of the machine as possible, save for the RAM which is where its last active state is stored. When you "wake up" the computer, the last active state is loaded from RAM.
It should be noted that when your computer is in sleep mode, it is technically not turned off completely. A large portion of it is off, but not all of it. You are still drawing power even when your computer is "sleeping."
If your computer loses power while "asleep," it will lose whatever state was saved to RAM.
What’s the difference between sleep and hibernate?
In hibernation mode, the RAM is actually copied to the hard drive. This is done so in the event the computer loses power, the last active state can still be retrieved.
Should you use sleep or hibernate mode on a desktop PC?
No. The only thing you should have automatically turned off on a desktop PC is the monitor in order to save the LCD backlight and make it last longer.
If your primary hard disk is platter based (which almost all are at the time I write this,) it is better to actually keep it running than constantly having it spin down in sleep mode. Your drive will last longer if you always keep it running.
You can consider a platter based hard drive’s life span much like the one in a fluorescent light bulb. The fluorescent bulb achieves its maximum life span when always left on because the gas is charged and isn’t constantly subjected to firing the gas every time you turn the light on. The light "works" hardest when you turn it on, so if you keep it on, it will last longer. The same can be said for platter based HDDs. The initial spin-up is when the drive is working hardest. If you keep the drive spinning and don’t subject it to cold starts, it will last longer.
The exact opposite is true for the newer primary drive technology, that being solid state disk, otherwise known as SSD. With that form of media you should put it to sleep when not in use because you are "burning" the media less.
Should you use sleep mode on a laptop?
No, because the laptop is still on and draining the battery when the computer is "sleeping."
Should you use hibernate mode on a laptop?
Yes. When your laptop goes into hibernation, the last active state is copied to the drive and then the laptop powers off, thereby saving the battery from unnecessary usage and extending its life span.
Where do you find the options to set these things?
In any version of Windows: Start, Run, type powercfg.cpl, click OK.
In XP it looks like this:
In Vista or 7 it looks like this:
If you happen to be configuring this on a laptop, there will be other options, such as "When I close the lid.." and so on.
The Vista/7 way has several more options you can configure while in XP it sticks to the basics (but works adequately.)
Is sleep or hibernate ever worth using on a desktop PC?
There’s no significant advantage whatsoever. The only time you should ever even consider using it on a desktop is if you want to save power. That is the only advantage. The disadvantage is that over time it wrecks your hard drive and will cause it to die on you prematurely.
On laptops, always hibernate and never sleep so you can get the most out of the battery (because they’re wickedly expensive to replace.) The hard drive will be fine due to the fact it has a lower 5400rpm spin rate and is physically lighter so it doesn’t work as much to spin up compared to a standard 3.5-inch desktop-use HDD.
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James Keller
1212 days ago
Regarding my desktop, should I infer from your above statements that I shouldn’t turn off my computer at night but leave it on to preserve the Hard Drive? Some experts make the point that PC’s need to be restarted from time to time as Windows gets confused and needs to be restarted to get back to normal.
Rich Menga
1212 days ago
Correct.
It’s also correct that Windows does need to be restarted every so often to reload the registry (such as after you uninstall a program, install a device driver for new hardware, etc.) But this can be done simply by performing a system restart when needed without the need to power the PC off.
The only real need to power a PC off is if installing hardware that requires it, such as installing additional RAM, internal cards, etc.
June
1207 days ago
I’m confused. In your screenshot the Balanced Power option is selected, which has a default setting to puts the computer to sleep in 1 hour.
Should that setting be changed to Never, or left at the default?
Thanks
Rich Menga
1207 days ago
Yes, it should be changed if you’re using a laptop (which is where my screen shot comes from.) I have my “Balanced” plan modified to hibernate on my netbook instead of sleep.
Francine
1207 days ago
Hi Rich,
I have a few questions.
1) If I won’t be using my laptop for several hours or even a day, sounds like I should just place it on hibernate and only turn-off or restart after a new program is installed or updated, yes?
2) Feel silly asking this one, but I will. When I opened my “Power Options Properties” window, my version of XP has 7 tabs. Selecting “Power Schemes”, to follow your instructions, from dropdown, since I have a laptop, is it the “Portable Laptop” I select, or do I keep it select “Home/Office Desk’?
3) And on the “Power Scheme” tab, there’s another section below what you’ve pictured above, and I had a choice to select also for “System Standby” and “System Hibernate”. What would your suggestions be for this section?
Thanks!
Rich Menga
1207 days ago
1) Correct – although there are other instances where you should restart. Certain Windows updates will at times prompt a full restart. If you find your Windows is running ‘weird’ for whatever reason, a full restart will also cure that ill most of the time.
2) Not a silly question at all. XP comes provided with several power “profiles” from that drop-down menu. These are simply suggestions for what XP will do whether it’s being powered by battery or power cord. What I normally suggest is to create your own profile with a custom title (such as “Francine’s Settings”) and choose the settings you believe would work best. If your custom settings work out to your liking, you can safely remove the others you don’t use.
3) Standby is the same as sleep as mentioned in the top of the article. This is what Microsoft first called it before renaming it to ‘sleep’ later, so you don’t want to use that one. If you do, when the laptop ‘sleeps’, it’s still technically turned on and draining the battery. You’ll know this because the power light will “throb” (as in slowly fade in/out), indicating the laptop is sleeping but technically not turned all the way off. When the laptop is in hibernation, it saves the current XP session, then turns off completely to save battery power. When you power on the laptop later, it will resume right where you left off previously.
Francine
1207 days ago
Thanks, Rich! But I’m gonna ask the silly question again — since my computer is a laptop, do I select the “portable laptop” or the “home/office desk?
Guess my mind can’t grok a laptop that’s not portable – LOL! But maybe there’s a distinction that’s pass my paygrade! LOL!
Thanks!
Rich Menga
1207 days ago
The “laptop” profile would be the safer bet, so long as the settings for it have hibernation and not standby/sleep (which you’ll be able to modify easily if that’s the case.)
Francine
1205 days ago
Thanks, Rich. Have a great weekend!