Hibernating a computer all day?

Question

Which tactic is better for the software and mechanical life of a computer (laptop and desktop)...

1. Leave it ON all day even if its not being used, and turn it
OFF only @ night?

2. Hibernate it everytime its not being used and turn it OFF only @ night?

3. Turn it OFF everytime its not being used and back ON again when needed?

Thank you

Answer 1

I leave mine to hibernate when it's not being used and only sometimes turn it off. I think it takes just as much power to restart it when you want to use it again. However the wear on the cooling fan is more since it does have to keep cool.

Answer 2

In terms of wear, hibernating and turning a computer off is virtually the same thing. The hybernation basically just takes a picture of your curretn open applications and saves it on your hard drive before it shuts the computer off.

I recomend setting an automatic hybernation for about 1.5 to 2 hours. This will automatically hybernate your computer if no action has happened in 2 hours. If you know you are going to be leaving, then turn your computer off or hybernate, this will save about $10-$15 per month in electricity. Its better and cheaper to degrade your hardrive over many years than to overpay electricity for the same amoutn of time.

Answer 3

Desktop:
If you're not using it, just let it hibernate. I only really restart my PC once a week, and it's been working fine for 8 years.

Notebook:
Get a desktop. They last longer. Much longer.

Answer 4

option 2
turning ur computer on and off causes more gradual wear on your hard drive
hibernating it when its not being used will solve heat problems and help the longetivity of your power supply

Answer 5

If you have power surges like we do here, you better shut down and unplug!