Is It true that if you keep your computer switched on, it will last longer.....?

Question

and likewise if you turn it off every time you've finished it wont last so long.........

Answer 1

In my case it's not true. I left my laptop on standby all the time (for about 3 or 4 months) and just recently had to get the hard drive replaced for 90 quid. So I'm gonna say no, it's not true.

Answer 2

This was recently asked in my fav computer magazine....
A user writes to ask essentially the same question.
The Deputy Editor of the magazine, David Fearon replies [in excerpt form]:
"Conventional wisdom says yes.
[states his doubt of the theory]
It's difficult to get a definitive answer.
Temperature cycling of the components and the possibility of a [small] current surge at switch on may cause damage."
"I've been turning my pc off at the wall[rebooting] for the last year, once a day - and it's yet to go pop"

I'd like to add that I have read a report somewhere (probably the same issue) that higher hard drive usage is likely to reduce the time between failure, but that time is usually 4 years (i.e if it fails before then it would have failed anyway).

My conclusion would therefore be if you're worried about it, use the suspend/standby feature, which [in computers since 2003 i believe is configured correctly to] drastically reduces power consumption while keeping the computer running. In that case and state there will be no extra load on the hard drive from starting up.

Altogether though, I believe it's not likely to be a problem in 4 years, after which you will probably have replaced the computer anyway.

Anecdotal evidence from my computer built back in 2001 which has been rebooted, jolted while running, thrashed to death (heavy usage); etc would show this to be true
(although saying that there is an intermittent fault with my HDD...lol)

Hope that's readable, and useful :)

Answer 3

From 5 years of working of an IT specialist I can at least say that turning the computer on an off over and over is a guarantied by to kill a computer. Rapid power cycling cause Capacitors and inductors(motors coils) a lot of damage. Most of the effect has to do with micro-stresses on the circuits and the heat and cool.

So I would think that over the long term it would cause the computer to last long by keeping it on. Practically what you guaranty by keeping a piece of equipment running is that it will keep running. If you turn an old piece of equipment off the likely hood of it starting back up has everything to do with is age and its were.

So its up to you. Keep a computer running its not likely to fail but when you have to turn it on an off your running a greater risk of it failure.

Answer 4

False. Even if it were true, think of the electricity it is going to use - on 24/7 and how many hours a day do you actually USE it? Even if you are an absolute Geek and spent 10 hours a day on it that leaves 14 hours a day of using power for nothing! With P. Sups in computers averaging 450 watts consumption, figure your electricity bill. I would hate to pay yours if you leave it on 24/7. Besides think of the heat you are creating and contributing doubly to Global Warming by a) the extra power consumption and b) the extra heat it generates.

Consider this: would YOU like to be ON 24/7 and never allowed to rest?

Answer 5

This is essential true and false.

The more you turn your computer on and off then the more this will stress out the heat producing components due to the constant expanding and contracting of the component through heat. But if you leave it on all the time then there will be more of a chance that something will 'burn out'.

Don't worry about things setting on fire though as this very rarely happens. It smells nice as well - like TCP!

Answer 6

A computer runs on electricity from a plug which comes from a plug socket, so as it doesn't have it's own battery life then no it wouldn't make any difference. However if you leave your computer on for days it will waste electricity and eventually the plastic around the screen will melt as the heat will be too over powering for it!

Answer 7

It depends on how much energy your computer actually uses, but for the most part, turning it off would save more energy. If your computer has a sleep mode, that could help conserve energy too.

Answer 8

Moot point. Technology grows so friggin fast, who would want a computer for more than 5 years and you could throw the thing against a wall daily and it would outlast that.

Answer 9

If it doesn't get struck by lighting. Just like a TV it's the on off switch and the power supply that takes all the wear and tear.

Answer 10

I doubt it. My computer caught fire once when it had been on NON STOP for about 3 weeks lucky I was in the house at the time. I had too replace the mother-board.