Computer - Better to Turn Off or Leave On?

zaax

servers and routers have been left on for decades

ballyblack

It actually keeps you cool with a constant running fan...

The computer expels slighter warmer air after it cools the componets

stator

zaax wrote: »

servers and routers have been left on for decades

Indeed, using huge amounts of electricity. But that's not the question

Herzlos

agrinnall wrote: »

I certainly don't think you're going to save much on your electricity bill, even switching it off overnight will probably only save pennies each year.

It's not hard to work out. Assuming a modernish PC you're probably consuming about 50-100W idle, we'll assume 50w. Electricity is something like 15p/kwh.

So your PC is probably costing about 0.75p/hour to run. Assuming it spends 16 hours a day idle (in use for 8) means you're spending 12p/day to run it, or £43.80/year.

So it definitely makes sense to leave it off unless you're using it.

Herzlos

zaax wrote: »

servers and routers have been left on for decades

Servers generally have to be on all the time, and routers use minimal power most of the time.

Sure, a machine will probably survive longer if you leave it on, but at some point it's cheaper to replace the PSU than pay for the electricity.

esuhl

Herzlos wrote: »

It's not hard to work out. Assuming a modernish PC you're probably consuming about 50-100W idle, we'll assume 50w. Electricity is something like 15p/kwh.

Fifty watts?! Judging from a (probably inaccurate) device attached to my electricity meter, my PC uses around 250W to 350W. (I do have a lot of internal drives).

If true, I'm using at least five times the power in your estimate -- £219 a year (if left on unnecessarily for 16h/day).

Herzlos wrote: »

So it definitely makes sense to leave it off unless you're using it.

I definitely don't lose £219 of hardware each year in random explosions during power up! In fact... I don't even lose £48-worth.

Samsonite1

Unless you have a machine that is designed to be on 24/7 then shutting down when not in use for a decent period of time is the best course of action (e.g. going to bed).

Mechanical components will wear quicker if on for longer. Also, electricity produces heat which wears all components - that is just basic physics.

For a PC, as long as you do not have a dodgy PSU - switching things on does not add more wear and tear than leaving on all day.

whattochoose

I always turn mine off.

Strider590

Herzlos wrote: »

we'll assume 50w..

Did you miss this?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Watt_Initiative

Even an older PC PSU uses nowhere near 50w on standby.

Strider590

Samsonite1 wrote: »

Unless you have a machine that is designed to be on 24/7 then shutting down when not in use for a decent period of time is the best course of action (e.g. going to bed).

PC power supplies ARE designed to be on 24/7.

Samsonite1 wrote: »

Mechanical components will wear quicker if on for longer. Also, electricity produces heat which wears all components - that is just basic physics.

No it's not and by mechanical I assume you mean HDDs?

You should Google for Googles own research into harddrive failure statistics.

Samsonite1 wrote: »

For a PC, as long as you do not have a dodgy PSU - switching things on does not add more wear and tear than leaving on all day.

Yes it does.