Computer running constantly

[seanmark2]

Can anyone tell me if it is very costly to run computers constantly. I want to get on Karen"s Replicater and I assume the computers would have to be on all the time to transfer data.
Sean,mark

[Omardeth]

hmm good question . i never turn mine off so i guess i can't answer it .

[win2kuser]

I have 7 running 24/7 - 4 of them dont have monitors and are accessed via VNC. It costs me £20 (thats UK sterling) extra per month what that would be in your currency i wouldn't know.

If you do run your machine 24/7, make sure your power saving options turn the monitor off after a selected time. (But obviously not system suspend or standby )

Another way of looking at it, is every time you switch your pc on/off, you will get spikes in the electric, sooner or later something will blow. If it is on 24/7, this can't happen.

[Telexen]

Which takes more power...turning it on and off...or leaving it on?

[OuTpaTienT]

A desktop computer consumes as much power when it is running as a strong light bulb. IOW, in the neighborhood of a 100w, give or take. This is not including the monitor. A typical CRT monitor can easily suck up 100-120w while a flat screen LCD monitor might only take 30-40w.

My system is usually running 24/7 and I have the power management set to turn off the monitor with 10 minutes of inactivity...turn off the hard drives after an hour of inactivity...and go into stand-by mode never.

[OuTpaTienT]

To setup the time-outs for your monitor and hard drives just look in the display properties under Energy Saving Features. (see attached image)

I run two 24/7 with monitors off and nothing else and don't see much difference in power usage or the bill makes the room hotter than any of the rest...but thats too be expected.

[thegladiatorgy]

Mine is on all the time. It's not that much of a strain on my bill.