Computer On or Off

  • Thread starter Thread starter Art
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A

Art

Age old question - better to leave computer "on" at the end of the day or
turn "off"? Realize electrical usage is increased if computer is left "on"
but what about wear and tear on the computer when it is turned off/on
frequently - esp. hard drive?
 
Art said:
Age old question - better to leave computer "on" at the end of the day or
turn "off"? Realize electrical usage is increased if computer is left
"on" but what about wear and tear on the computer when it is turned off/on
frequently - esp. hard drive?
Click to expand...

Under normal conditions, your computer will perform better the longer that
it is up and running. Also, leaving it on allows it to perform many system
and background tasks during idle periods. The tradeoff is that you will
also end up paying slightly more to the electric company. This has been
true with all NT versions of Windows, but only in Vista does Microsoft make
this explicit through its power plan options.

If you choose the "high performance" option (leaving it on all the time), at
least make sure that you turn off your monitor. Either that, or allow
Windows to turn it off for you after 20-30 minutes of activity.

Ken
 
Art

Mine is on 24\365. It only shuts off when there is a power failure and my battery back up runs out after 2hrs. This has not happened yet. Also shuts off when I change hardware.

Being an electrician I can tell you that the biggest consumption of power takes place when you open it. After that the draw is minimal. Put it in layman's terms when you open a light switch with a 100w bulb in it will take more power at start up then it would when left open for 6 hrs. Opening and closing a light 3 times will consume as much as a light being open for 24 hrs,

Also the bigger the Power Supply by Wattage in your computer will end up using much less electricity.
 
Ken Gardner said:
Under normal conditions, your computer will perform better the longer that
it is up and running. Also, leaving it on allows it to perform many
system and background tasks during idle periods. The tradeoff is that you
will also end up paying slightly more to the electric company. This has
been true with all NT versions of Windows, but only in Vista does
Microsoft make this explicit through its power plan options.

If you choose the "high performance" option (leaving it on all the time),
at least make sure that you turn off your monitor. Either that, or allow
Windows to turn it off for you after 20-30 minutes of activity.

Ken
Click to expand...

A few years back we had a CAD monitor that was pretty expensive and the user
would turn it off even to grab a vending machine drink. It lasted about a
year. Same thing with the replacement. Hardly a cost saving.

I think having a power down time of 30 - 60 minutes is okay but this was
ridiculous :)

I find all my systems have lasted better than those which are turned off and
on a lot, I think thermal shock and stress is the biggest culprit for doing
damage, so yes, turn it off if it's going to be off for a reasonable period
but it not then leave it on and run BOINC and do your part for seti@home


Charlie
 
Where does opening a switch mean turn on?
An open switch does not allow current to flow.

You are the first person that I have ever heard say that turning on a 100 w
bulb will consume the same power as leaving it on for 6 hours.
Can you provide proof of this statement?
An electric motor consumes more power when starting, but even when starting,
a motor does not uses 6 times the running amount of power consumption.
--
Ronald Sommer

Art

Mine is on 24\365. It only shuts off when there is a power failure and my
battery back up runs out after 2hrs. This has not happened yet. Also shuts
off when I change hardware.

Being an electrician I can tell you that the biggest consumption of power
takes place when you open it. After that the draw is minimal. Put it in
layman's terms when you open a light switch with a 100w bulb in it will take
more power at start up then it would when left open for 6 hrs. Opening and
closing a light 3 times will consume as much as a light being open for 24
hrs,

Also the bigger the Power Supply by Wattage in your computer will end up
using much less electricity.
 
Being an electrician I can tell you that the biggest consumption of
When you've finished patronising people, you should probably do some
research into this claim.

(hint: it's just a common myth, which an "electrician" should be aware of)
 
As a wire (any wire) heats up it's resistance increases, resulting in
"decreased current flow - which in turn lowers the watts consumed.

Use ohms law to test this for yourself.

E = IR P = IE

So, as a bulb is heating up to working temps the power draw is maximum.
After it is at maximum working temps, the current draw (power used) is
somewhat lower. Enough so to make a difference? Who cares!

--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!
 
Ron

I did not say and I am not implying that a open switch does not allow current to flow. What I am saying is that there is more kwph taken up upon opening the on\off switch for a light fixture than leaving the light bulb on.

Opening a light switch 6-8 times will take up more kwph then leaving the light on continuously on for let us say 6 hrs.
 
Robert

My source is having been an electrician (retired over 10 yrs now) for a few decades.

--
Peter

Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others
Requests for assistance by email can not and will not be acknowledged.

robert_21 said:
I start and shut down my computer 3 times per day....But I feel switch
off monitor in ideal time will save current.. If you take rest more
than two hours means turn off is best otherwise just set computer in
sleep mode and switch of monitor is correct....This is my personal
thought...
Click to expand...

Hi well,
Hey This is real I cann't belive your words have any other proof I mean
any website consist of this matter...If you know means Please give me
then I will follow as per your advice and save current,because I switch
off my lights freequently before I read this so If you give any other
source means It would be help me and save current..
Thanks & Regards


--
robert_21

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