I get conflicting opinions on whether you should turn off your computer every day, especially if you are gone for awhile. Some say just leave it on all the time.
I'm not concerned about the electricity use. So is it better to turn it off or just leave it running?
Does it matter if it's desk top or a lap top? I imagine it's not good to keep lap top on all the time on a power adapter
2006-10-06 11:47:33 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Desktops
My uncle is a software programmer and computer technician. His advice has always been to turn the computer off after every use. I leave my work computer on, but I turn my computer at home off after I use it.
2006-10-06 11:55:35 · answer #1 · answered by Faith C 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I wouldnt keep it on for longer than a day. Problems will start to occur with overheating - and you may even get viruses on your computer. Plus it being online so much can cause shorts or if there is a storm it will sometimes cause the computer to be zapped. I have left mine on for a day but nothing more. It isnt safe or good for the computer.
As for laptops it isnt good being online a long time. Because A) if it is on a battery it will wear out and die. And B) if it is on a power adapter it will short, the fan will heat, and if the battery is in there it will lose all its juice and the battery will be pointless.
Like I said before - It isnt good. Only a day. The less it is on without being used - the better
2006-10-06 11:53:02 · answer #2 · answered by iWorkonComputers 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The computers at my work are on 24/7, wind, rain hail or shine.
What about banks and finance places? their computers are never switched off.
I have never had a problem with overheating, and it is generally better for the computer, as you're not sending a surge of power through it everytime you turn it on.
One problem I have found is that dust builds up a lot quiker. This is why computers that are always on are kept in a cool static and dust free room.
I guess it really depends on your usage. If you're on the computer throughout the day I suggest leave it on for the day and turn it off at night perhaps. Using it once a day probably warrants switching it off after use.
2006-10-06 11:59:12 · answer #3 · answered by revoltix 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Basically this applies to ANY electronic device you buy, not just computers. First make sure your device has plenty of airflow to keep it cool, heat is the biggest enemy of electronics. Once you are satisfied that it wont overheat then feel free to leave it on as long as you wish. Consider it a burn in, if the device can withstand 30 days of use while constantly on then it will pobably never fail. If it fails within this 30 day burn in time then it was probably going to fail at some point anyways, but now you have caught it before the warranty expires.
2006-10-06 11:52:24 · answer #4 · answered by John D 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hi lets work this out for you now you know on a bad storm night if your away from home or a sleep even if you shut down the pc & unplug all power cable if there is a power outage coz your pc & monitor & router if you have a router can be damage in the power power outage many have come to Q&A saying there computer will not start up it was fine the night before they say there was a power power outage and the pc is not working then others on Q&A say oh that power power outage has done something to the pc your have to check this that and the other now for your pc system to be safe it is best if you shut down the pc at night and turn off the monitor and the router then unplug the power cable from the power outlet even if there is not a bad storm with a power power outage your pc can be damage and youre monitor & router coz of a power power outage
2006-10-06 11:54:32 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
best to leave computer on, simply comon sense, they dont use that much electricity, and it will also make the computer last longer, this start up shutdown is bad, keep the cpu at operating temperature is better than cooling and heating it back up, then cooling it again, that causes the silica in the cpu to expand and contract, the cpu after a while will then overheat, just make sure the cpu temps are running in normal range, and if u are gone for the weekend and know you are not going to be back it is ok to turn it off
2006-10-06 12:18:53 · answer #6 · answered by mech 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
if its an older computer, u turn off every night, but if its a high-end computer, u should leave it on for longer periods of time, because with a computer, the more it gets started up, the older it will seem to be!
2006-10-06 12:04:52 · answer #7 · answered by xiantanova 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I leave my computer on all the time and have been doing so for years. I have not had any adverse affects as others have stated. Occasionally I have to reboot when adding certain programs or games. But no problems.
2006-10-06 12:01:51 · answer #8 · answered by Shane 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Save urself the trouble and turn it off cause after a while the
Power Supply can short or worse in my case u can lose ur pc
now i only have 4. LOL
2006-10-06 14:48:48 · answer #9 · answered by TraitorJackKnives 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Like most machines, they use a whole lot less power when they're off.
Unless you're collecting continuous streams of real-time data (like a commodities trader or similar) there's no need to leave machines on all the time.
2006-10-06 12:06:17 · answer #10 · answered by szydkids 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋