Computer- On or Off?

andor

OH thinks that we should leave the computer on all the time but I'm not so sure. What do you think? Is it false economy switching it off?

DCFC79

andor wrote: »

OH thinks that we should leave the computer on all the time but I'm not so sure. What do you think? Is it false economy switching it off?

I switch mine off when not in use eg at night,

andor

I was thinking about cost. Isn't it expensive leaving it on all day?

evilgoose

I switch mine off if I'm not using it for a extened period - like overnight or when at work. But if I'm going watch the simpsons and have a cuppa, I'll put it on standby.

Computer's will draw slightly more power for a brief period (talking seconds here) when they are switched on as everything starts up (especially the HDD's which use more power to spin-up, but then settle back down to their operating speed.)

TBH - I can think of very few reasons why you'd leave a PC on 24/7 in a domestic setting (other than lazyness/impatience - no offence!:D )

Scoobs72

Leaving it on is like leaving a lightbulb on all the time - a total waste of money. Turn it off if you can. If booting up takes too long, then hibernate it (next best option - and the one I use). If you can't hibernate it then put it into standby (not as power efficient as hibernate, but still much better than leaving it on).

totalsolutions

If you asked in the techie forum you will find we leave them on 24/7

Andy_L

totalsolutions wrote: »

If you asked in the techie forum you will find we leave them on 24/7

No, you'd find a mix of opinion.

evilgoose

There is no real need to leave on 24/7 unless its a server.

Desktop's should be powered down at the end of the working day - if updates are applied out of hours then the machines should be WOL'd and then shut down again after applied. Work towards ISO standards in energy efficiency.

gazza975526570

It would be good to get a definitive answer on this as it gets asked many times

I tend to power mine down - but then end up restarting it several times a day

GBY

In standby or sleep mode computers draw miniscule amounts of current, it's usually the screen and the processor which are power hungry and these would be dormant in those modes. However, I see no reason why in a domestic setting a computer should be on 24 hours a day. If I'm dipping in and out I'll put it in sleep mode whilst making tea, gardening etc. but once I've finished proper I'll switch it off; the router too.

Gawain.

gazza975526570

loaner wrote: »

The definitive answer is the obvious one.

If you are not using it, it doesn't need to be on, so turn it off.

If you want a quick start, use hibernate.

Do we have any evidence though to back this up?