Is it best to switch the computer off with on/off switch or leave on all the time. Or in Standby?

Answer 1

Depends on usage, if you use it all day - leave it on - rebooting your system too many times too regularly could cause damage to your hard drive.
If you only use it when you need to, then use it and turn off after use.

Answer 2

In my experience, it's best to turn it off completely. Our computers fail mostly due to dead power supplies or hard disks. Failure always occurs sooner if the PC has been left on for long periods.

In general, it's a bad idea to keep the hard-disks spinning. Windows periodically generates activity on the disk, so it's difficult to ensure the disk always spins down (by using power management).

Power supplies and certain parts of the motherboard stay charged up when your computer is "shut down". This is because modern PCs use "soft switching" (ATX), instead of a hard switch (AT). Eventually, something gives up, usually the power supply because it's taking more load and is often less-well designed. So it's best to switch off at the PSU, or at the wall.

As other posters have also mentioned, the cost of electricity can be significant in comparison with the cost of the PC (electricity keeps getting more expensive, PCs keep getting cheaper to buy but more expensive to run).

Answer 3

Any electricel or electronic device undergoes more stress a power on than at any other time. As power is applied, the PSU struggles to rein in the power for a couple of microseconds, during this time weak components give out, this results in the well worn phrase "I just turned it on and it went bang!". So if you are cycling the power on your PC several times a day then it will shorten the lifespan of certain components. As a rule of thumb, if its not too hot in the vacinity of you machine, leave it on (heat can kill you machine) and do a complete cycle down (power reset) once a week.

Answer 4

that depends on what you call best. No doubt the drives should be turned off. The monitor should be off, but not unplugged. Yes, someone will tell you that it is using power, off but plugged in. They are right. as with tv's a small current on the tube keeps it warm and most important, the same size. for memory and esp advanced processors. leave them on. chips fail in two major ways. first is voltage spikes i.e. lightning, spike on the power line, static electricty,etc.. Second is generally a MECHANICAL failure of the interconnect layers, caused by "thermal cycling". Turn it on, chip gets hot, metal lines in chip expand. turn it off, cools and contracts. the bending will cause a break sooner or later. the power density in advanced CPU is on the same order as the core of a nuclear reactor. that's hot dude. kinda glossed over some area's. hit me back if you want more info.

Answer 5

Go to 'START' click on icon - when window opens click on "turn off computer" - wait u7ntil it shuts down your 'Windows' programme and then turn of the computer completely. Leaving it on standy, not only burns electricity, but in the fullness of time will either damage or destroy tube of your computer screen

Answer 6

I switch mine off it saves money & in hot weather saves it from overheating, Unless your just off to make a cup of tea like I am now, I will leave it on

Answer 7

makes sure windows has shut down completely then just switch the whole thing off,if you leave it on stand by your just wasting electricity

Answer 8

shut it down and then turn the switch off.

Answer 9

If you are not using it, power off completely. Ensure that it is shut down correctly.

Answer 10

If you are not using it turn it off - Saves the environment.