Computer operation on /off switch

[Magic 1]

 Assuming three or four hours daily usage of your computer on what occasions should one switch it off, or is it preferable to leave it running all the time?  Does an idling Computer use up much power if left on all the time?

[stevie21]

I'm sure someone can give you a more technical explanation but I've heard that PCs use much much less power than you'd think. I leave mine on 24hrs a day.

[liamtrader]

I switch off my computer every night but leave it on all day. Apparently it is bad for the hard drive to keep switching it on and off. I've just had to get mine replaced and have been advised to use standby and not hibernate

[Thunderchild]

pls pls all use ur heads when u get certain info.

let me explain. true it is some wear and tear to keep turning on and off a HDD continuosly but to leave it on for hours on end is worse (unless in use of course). also consider that the default settings of windows power manager turn the HDD off any how so u r defeating the object. if u intend to switch off more often than every 20 mins then fine leave it on for the couple of hours u need it for.

to leave the p on idle for hrs is useless.

may i also make a suggestion: if u do wish to leave ur pcs going like 12-24 hrs a day or u normally just do things like typing and surfing (ie ur not always doing video encoding or other heaviny things like that) then u might like to install a program called Find-A-Drug that works on the idle resources of the pc and helps to find a cure to numerouse deseases like aids cancer and many more not to forget antiterorism antidotes !.

the idea is that real life experimenting is simulated on the pcs of thousands of users like me and u saving time and money for reseach.

for info go to www.find-a-drug.org

there r people that run this 24/7 but then the pc is not that idle eh ?

hope this helps u and that perhaps u may like to give a hand to reseach

[Oneeyedvic]

Not sure how true, but did read in a 'sensible' computer magazine that it was inadvisable to turn your computer on/off as you can (for want of better terminology) 'wear out' parts of your motherboard - specifically the change in temperature can affect the soldering.

 

As I said - not sure if true or not - not technical enough I am afraid

[Thunderchild]

yes that is a point i am not disputing it but to leave it on for hours is worse as some parts come on and off stanby anyhow like the harddisks. turning any electrical aparatus on and off is stressing for it especially for motors as they use more current to start than to run but to go to the limits of idle hours on is worse.

of course if u run a distributed computing program like the one i mentioned before the pc is not so wasted.

my pc (is about average) uses from 100 to 150 Watts that is something not to underestimate.

a LCD monitor (like mine is) is recomendable as it uses from 1/4 downwards of what a CRT one does. i use mine on minimum luminosity and save another 40 % on the monitor comsumption i only use max for veiwing films

[Thunderchild]

also note that most "sensible" pc article writers know little of electronics and how it works the pc parts mostly use small currents and the temperature chage is minimaal and in any case gradual its not like it goes from 5 to 25 degress in the first few seconds of startup. of course the CPU is and exeption and so r some othes but still prolonged use is more hamfull