Do you always have to turn off your computer when you are done with it or can you keep it running?

Answer 1

Those at Energy Star (www.energystar.gov) still prefer that you turn your computer off at night, for maximum energy savings. "We are all about energy savings, and when you shut off your computer at night, you save the most energy," says Craig Hershberg, program manager for office equipment and consumer electronics. "Every little bit helps. It all adds up."

But if you must leave your computer on during the nights you're not using it, putting the computers in "hibernate" or "sleep" mode helps also.

Hershberg has also stated that there are some "myths" put forth as to why you shouldn't turn off your computer when not in use.

• Turning your PC off uses more energy than leaving it on.

Not true. The small surge of power you use when turning it on -- which varies per PC make and model -- is still much smaller than the amount you use in keeping it on for lengthy periods.

• Turning your PC on and off wears it out.

A decade ago, there was something to this, but not today, say Hershberg and others. It used to be that PC hard disks did not automatically park their heads when shut off, and that frequent on/off cycling could damage the hard disks. Today's PCs are designed to handle 40,000 on/off cycles before a failure, and that's a number you likely won't reach during the computer's five-to-seven-year life span.

• Screen savers save energy.

Not true. Screen savers, at a minimum, can use 42 watts; those with 3D graphics can use as much as 114.5 watts, according to Don McCall, a Dell product marketing manager who does power measurement studies for the PC manufacturer. "It's absolutely wrong thinking that a screen saver will save energy," he says.

• Your computer uses zero energy when "off."

That's true only if it is unplugged. Otherwise, the PC utilizes "flea power," or about 2.3 watts, to maintain local-area network connectivity, among other things, McCall says. In "hibernate" mode, your PC uses the same 2.3 watts; in "sleep" mode, your PC uses about 3.1 watts. Monitors do use zero energy when turned off.

For more about this, check out: http://www.microsoft.com/smallbusiness/resources/technology/hardware/do_you_need_to_turn_off_your_pc_at_night.mspx

Answer 2

The others who have responded have mostly given decent input regarding their position.

I only want to convey that if you choose to leave it on, and then several years later you really can't go back to shutting this particular one down again. What we experienced at our facility was that the lubricant in the harddisk probably oxidizes over time and gets thicker. The motors in these units aren't very strong. So if the HD were to cool down say overnight or a weekend, it may not have enough power to get the disk spinning again.

I have a server that has been running since 1996. AT most it has never been off except for a lengthy power failure, after the battery backup gave out. SInce it really never got cold, it started again without issue. All my other compters I shut down when I'm done with them.

Answer 3

I always keep mine running, it doesnt harm it. In fact if you always put it on and off, it causes more wear and tear for parts like the harddrive, fans etc which could increse their chance of failure.

I leave mine on all the time, even at night, just shut off the monitor to save power. I have my anti-virus ans anti-spyware updates and scans scheduled to run during the night so they dont get in my way during the day.

A lot of peopleleave theirs on during the day and shut it off at night but it doesn't really matter. No harm done either way.

Answer 4

Its is ok to keep it running but do turn it off or reboot every few days or so. Also if you are keeping it running a lot make sure your cooling fan is clean so it won't overheat from being dusty and clogged.

Answer 5

With todays new technology and advancement...it doesn't matter if you keep your computer on or off.. but it is alwys wise to save elctricity so if you're going to leave your computer on you should at least turn off the monitor

Answer 6

Turn off to save electricity

Answer 7

Turn it off at least once every couple days, or just give it a little refresh by restarting the computer every once in a while. Sometimes its just good to give it a good off and on. my fan is noisy as heck, so I turn off mine every night.

Answer 8

There is no good reason to keep it on while idle;
You're wasting electricity and the lifespan of your hardware, especially fans and hard drive(s).

The life of fans and hard drives is rated in hours, not in the start/stop cycles.

Answer 9

depends on your use of it...

Mine is always on downloading stuff ^^

If the computer is not doing anything for some time I recomend shutting the computer down...

Answer 10

I always keep mine on.