Which is best for energy conservation and your computer when it's not in use?

Question

At the end of the day, is it better to put it in Standby mode, Hibernate mode, leave it on, or turn it off?

I've heard different things. Some say starting up the machine every day uses more energy than leaving it on Standby or Hibernate mode overnight. Is that true? And in addition to energy conservation, which is better for the life of the machine?

Answer 1

http://www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/your_home/appliances/index.cfm/mytopic=10070

Answer 2

I would say that in fact hibernate would help use less energy because if your computer can "remember" where it last left off and most of the stuff on the disk and stuff is loaded, for example my computer takes like 2-3 minutes to start up, but when I put it on hibernate it takes under 1 minute, so therefore to me that would save energy, not a lot but it will and can help in the future :) good question, something I've never thought about before, you should also like my computer I can put it into hibernate mode, unplug it, come back tomorrow and it'll still be in hibernate even though I pulgged it in, so if u have some computer accessories along with the machine just unplug those too, or also if you can put those on hibernate, then do it

Answer 3

Hi. For the best short term energy savings use 'Standby'. Keeps the memory alive which shortens the reboot compared to hibernate and may not require a disk spin up. Hibernate turns everything off after saving what was in RAM to a file. Turning the computer off when it will be on again in a short time actually uses a bit more energy because of all the disk activity.

Answer 4

Your computer is a tiny fraction of your typical household energy consumption. However, If you let your computer go to standby, it's literally only using milliwatts and is ready to pop back up quickly...so sure it's a good thing (although the difference between standby, hibernation, and being turned off is almost completely negligible).

You should be employing some other "energy-efficient" changes before you start worrying about leaving your computer on all the time.

As for the life of your PC - there is debate as to wether or not it is better to leave hard drives running constantly or shutting them down when not in use is better. (whether continuously running burns the grease faster than starting and stopping) and there is no clear answer. It probably won't make a difference for the life of your machine.

Answer 5

From my perspective, I would have the computer hibernate for two nights and turn it off completely on the third night. That way, your computer doesn't have to use that much energy to restart and so that it doesn't lose energy while in hibernate. In addition, turn off your monitor every night because monitors take up about 15%-25% of your computer's energy use. And screen-savers just waste energy(even though they look cool).

Answer 6

Turn it off, unplug it if it isn't your primary means of communication. Even when it's on, it leaches electricity. Same with your television, your stereo, your coffee maker, your toaster, your blender... Anything plugged in leaches energy and costs you money. The computer is one of the worst! I don't know about you, but I have about seven different things plugged in related to the computer. At night, I unplug the power strip from the wall.

Answer 7

you should always turn it off when not in use. standby mode still uses electricity. the only way to stop electricity flowing to your computer is by unplugging it or getting a surge protector that turns the power completly off when not in use.

Answer 8

In Control Panel, find power options, have it turn off your hard drive(s) after so many minutes, and have it go to system standby.

Answer 9

It is actually best to shut the machine off, especially if you live in an area that has poor power or prone to storms. You also run less risk of "hack-ins".

Answer 10

I think it is best to get a power strip on turn it off when not in use. It will power down by itself until the next startup.

Answer 11

Turn it off.