Leaving Computer on vs Turning Computer off

**PGeo36** · November 30, 2012, 08:35 AM

A topic that I haven't really found a definitive answer for.

Is it better for a computer to be left on at all times or is it better for a computer to be turned off when you're done using it then turned back on when you are using it.

I have heard/read arguments for both such as leaving your computer on is bad because your parts are being used more, and turning it off/on is worse for your parts because of the constant changes in temperature.

My question is what do you guys do and why?

**Adreno** · November 30, 2012, 12:37 PM

Ill turn mine off when i go to sleep and it will go into sleepmode after 30 minutes during the day, not sure if its the best way but saves some power

**Sir Adrian** · November 30, 2012, 01:52 PM

I always turn it off when I'm not using it for more than 15 minutes.

The part about constant change in temperature is true only if you tun it on and off ~ 20-30 times a day. Otherwise its pure

.

**Ybbon** · December 03, 2012, 09:40 AM

Electric costs - I've got one of these little OWL meters (piece of

for connecting to your PC but that's another issue), with that, at my rate it consumes a few pence per hour to leave on, which if my maths is right (no guarantee there either) is about £43 a quarter (say 2p/hr = 0.02 x 24 x 30 x 3) or £14.40 a month but clearly that depends on the rate you pay, so assuming I turned it off for say 8 hours of the day than makes it about £28.60 a quarter. Or put another way turning it off I can run it for 15 months at the same rough cost as 12 months on all the time

Those are rough figures as it may not have been that much but it's a while since I checked it.

Beyond that I think it is probably overstated, and as above, turning it on and off constantly would cause more problems than just one or twice a day but even then it would need to be constantly on/off every day of the year for a few years.

**Hrothgar Óhreinsaður** · December 05, 2012, 06:30 PM

What do you think about making it sleep? I usually put mine to bed when not in use.

**Nietzsche** · December 09, 2012, 08:32 PM

There are also valid security reasons for turning a computer off when not in use. Power expenditure aside, I always turn off my PC's when I am not using them.

I don't think the hard boot myth is valid any more. Perhaps back in the day when components weren't as stable and effective temperature control was arbitrary it was better to simply leave the old gal running. However, it is a machine, and constant power applied to a machine is likely to shorten it's lifespan over time.

**SonOfCrusader76** · December 09, 2012, 09:27 PM

Saving electricity vs not saving electricity.

**Armatus** · December 10, 2012, 11:09 PM

Turn it off while you're gone, if you're home and going to be using it again let it go into standby after whatever period of inactivity.

Also if you only have an SSD drive I think it's less of an issue than having a mechanical harddrive, but I'm not the expert. I just think unless you're obsessive compulsive about shutting down all the time I wouldn't worry about it too much, unless you have direct Internet connection without a router or a modem with a standby switch, in which case you can simply disable your local area connection if you simply want to be off the net, but not shut down.

**GasMask** · December 10, 2012, 11:25 PM

If you are planning to come away from the computer for more than 35 minutes than turn it off otherwise leave her on she likes to do things while your not their in secret

.