Do you leave you computer on 24/7?

[Naer]

do you?

 

[NewYorksFinest]

No, for a few reasons.

1. Keeping it on can stress the components.

2. The fan could break and the computer will overheat.

3. You will save a lot on your power bill.

 

[LoveMachine]

Yes. It's a general purpose system but also a media server/HTPC. Aside from Handbrake conversions it doesn't do anything high demand 95% of the time, so the three points against mentioned above are at least minimized, and I don't have to go turning things on/off when I want to stream a movie or music.

 

[ch33zw1z]

Yes. I have had a computer on 24x7 for a long time. It's a file server, web browsing, gaming, remote access, transcoder, etc...

No, for a few reasons.

1. Keeping it on can stress the components.

Meh, buy better components.

2. The fan could break and the computer will overheat.

One fan will take down your system? ouch...years ago, I picked up a ThermalRight Ultra 120 Extreme for my socket 775 Q9550. Even when the 120 fan stalls out (i've had to replace one or two), the system runs just fine. it's not until transcoding HD that I will see it heat up a bit. Case is a Antec P182. Its relevant because there's a rear and top exhaust fan above the CPU area.

3. You will save a lot on your power bill.

This I can't argue with, cost for me is about $10 per month. But it does so much for me it's worth it.

 

[lehtv]

No, don't need to. Rather save electricity a bit.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Yes. But it sleeps.

 

[MongGrel]

The Main rig I do.

 

[tweakboy]

Yes, only monitor gets sleep

 

[VirtualLarry]

Yes, I crunch.

 

[Blain]

A thunderstorm is about to roll through, otherwise, yes I run mine 24/7.

 

[Charlie98]

A thunderstorm is about to roll through, otherwise, yes I run mine 24/7.

That. ^^^^

I run my backups at night as well as my antivirus.

 

[corkyg]

That. ^^^^ I run my backups at night as well as my antivirus.

Same here!

 

[crashtech]

If they are doing something, yes. If not, no. Right now the NAS, the traffic analyzer, and the HTPC are going 24/7. The gaming rig, my wife's desktop, and all the laptops sleep at night, well, except for the gaming rig, it is shut off.

 

[Blue_Max]

Folding@Home 24/7 to find The Cure For Cancer!

 

[code65536]

I have a dedicated 24/7 machine (headless) that I use as a 16TB NAS, for other server duties, for long overnight tasks (like downloading huge files), and for DVR. I was very mindful of power consumption when I picked the hardware for this machine.

For laptops, I like to put them to sleep when I'm not using them to minimize the wear on the fan; I've had two laptop fans go bad on me in the past, and laptop fan surgery is not fun.

My desktop, I leave on 24/7 during the cold winter months because every joule that it consumes means one less joule that my heater has to produce. (I'm not worried about the fan because desktop fans are much cheaper and easier to replace.) But during the summer, I'm very aggressive about putting the desktop to sleep (and switching some tasks over to my laptops) because every joule that it consumes is one extra joule of heat that the air conditioning has to pump out.

 

[NewYorksFinest]

Speaking of it, I kept my computer on sometimes for antivirus scans and disk defragmenter.

 

[TidusZ]

both pcs are always on yes

 

[slippysoup]

Server is on 24/7. Desktops and laptops sleep when not in use. Everything wakes up around 4am to back up to the server and they go back to sleep when they're done.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Ehh, I no longer run a server, just have a couple of PCs and then fiance has a laptop and some tablets.

I leave both PCs running 24/7. Both PCs sleep or hibernate when idle... so the power demands are not too bad.

 

[Virgorising]

No, for a few reasons.

1. Keeping it on can stress the components.

2. The fan could break and the computer will overheat.

3. You will save a lot on your power bill.

I totally agree with what the guy On The Job (I live in NYC!) does and why.

And, sharing my preferences, and that when I shut a system down, I then pull the plug to the surge strip, to which all my peripherals are also attached... from the wall.....I became the target of UBER DISSING on this site.:|

 

[Virgorising]

Quote: Originally Posted by NewYorksFinest View Post No, for a few reasons. 1. Keeping it on can stress the components. Meh, buy better components.

The finest components in the world all still share the realities that Heat is the ultimate enemy of computers, and each has a finite life expectancy, not just those with moving parts.

In an unattended system, kept on for no good reason, as I see it, any one of them can go or start going at any time.

This I can't argue with, cost for me is about $10 per month. But it does so much for me it's worth it.

Pls say exactly what it does for you, leaving yr system on 24/7. That is a serious question.

 

[Virgorising]

Speaking of it, I kept my computer on sometimes for antivirus scans and disk defragmenter.

While both my Norton IS and my Perfect Disk run 'invisibly" when the system is idle.....I still prefer to be present when anything is going on in a system.

For me, it's about awareness and learning and also staying safe.

 

[slayernine]

do you?

Definately, it is easier on components to run 24/7. Unless you only use your computer once or twice a week then it would be silly to run 24/7.

Reasons I run 24/7:

- Less power cycling equipment leads to longer lifespan
- Less hassle for me when I want to use my computer
- Allows me to remotely access computer from work
- Heats my room up in the winter (Canada FYI)
- I don't pay for power directly

 

[Virgorising]

- Less power cycling equipment leads to longer lifespan

I do not believe this.

- Less hassle for me when I want to use my computer

Apparently "hassle" is subjective: for me, plugging in one plug and hitting one button does not qualify at all in any way.

Allows me to remotely access computer from work

Above, for me, is the only justifiable reason listed.

I don't pay for power directly

But not only do you still pay, you remain a part, however small, of the already here reality of global warming.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I do not believe this.

Back in the days of Ye Olde IBM-PC, they used DIPP RAM (the kind that looks like a caterpillar, a black resin body with metal legs).

Thermal-cycling from power on/off, meant that every six to twelve months, you would have to take the computer apart, and press down on each RAM chip with your thumb, to seat it completely back into its socket.