To shut down or not to shut down

[Scott Tiger]

Here's a really stupid question I've often wondered about but never bothered to ask:

Is it less wear and tear on your computer to leave it running all the time or should you shut it off every night? Does anyone have a rule of thumb in which it's better for you to turn your computer off than leave it running? I read in a "Computers for Dummies" book years ago that if you weren't going to use your computer for more than a weekend you should shut it off but for any period of time less than that you should just leave it running.

Lately I've been shutting my computer off every night but I've wondered in the back of my mind about the wisdom of this.

Anyone have any thoughts on this?

[PresterJohn]

if you use the computer regularly and can afford the higher utility bill, leave it on. i've actually done both...i have machines that run 24/7 crunching DC projects and i also have machines that i turn on/off each night like my primary internet machine.

i have not noticed any reliablity differences either way. the machine that was turned on/off each night lasted well over 4 years before i upgraded to a new system.

[darrelld]

I've always been one to leave it on, always have, always will.
Unless it's a laptop.

[Siliconjunkie]

I generally dont reboot unless there is a reason.

\\thor has been up for: 39 day(s), 18 hour(s), 8 minute(s), 39 second(s)
\\mercury has been up for: 1 day(s), 2 hour(s), 10 minute(s), 22 second(s)
\\ull has been up for: 0 day(s), 2 hour(s), 34 minute(s), 47 second(s)
\\polaris has been up for: 0 day(s), 19 hour(s), 18 minute(s), 5 second(s)
\\taghairm has been up for: 1 day(s), 2 hour(s), 40 minute(s), 37 second(s)
\\ghettobox has been up for: 2 day(s), 19 hour(s), 13 minute(s), 48 second(s)

[Scott Tiger]

Thanks for your thoughts guys. Assuming other's can confirm what PJ said about there not being a real difference in terms of wear and tear between constantly running your machines and turning them off then I suppose it's a moot point whether I turn it off or not.

[Redwolf]

Well, the argument goes both ways.

It's better for the hard drives and moving parts if you turn the computer off, otherwise the life span is shortened (although a hard-drive standby mode helps there, the fans will still wear down.)

For the non-mechanical stuff tho (ie motherboards, processor), it's better to leave the computer on 24/7 (unless you have heat issues). Reason being there is a small power surge every time you turn on the machine from the PS sending power to the components. Therefore the lafe span is shortened, although it's necessary to 'kick-start' the circuts snd the motors.

[Scott Tiger]

What you say certainly makes sense Redwolf. The thing is the first thing to usually wear out on a computer is the hard drive (That's certainly been my luck anyway). So my thinking says it would be best to shut this sucker down every night (and the energy savings would be a nice side effect as well).

[Telexen]

The only time I shut down my machine is when I'm going to a LAN party or I just can't sleep....I turn my laptop off whenever I'm not using it though.

My fileserver and NAT/Router box stay on 24/7 though.

[VHockey86]

Well it differes for the parts...
The microcircuitry will be damanged more by being repeatedly turned on and off, for the simple fact that it requires a slight jolt of voltage to overcome the initial EMF required to start it.... but for mechanical things, aka your hard drive, its a little better to have it off

-------edit-------
err, i guess i shold have read all the replies b4 posting, redwolf said about the exact same thing =(

[Gait_Keeper]

over the las 3 years I've heard many good reasons to keep yuor machine running, and many good reasons to shut it down.

Number one on the the list is your electricity bill, nuff said
btw you can leave your machine on and turn off the monitor, and use the energy saving options to turn off hard drives after a set amount of time.

when things get hot they expand, so turning off and on your machine will make parts in side shrink and expand much too often, and cause bad connections and other problems down the line.
keep it running, a compter has no real moving parts to ware out, except the fans and hd motor
if you keep it runing maintinance programs can run.
security, small curious children, pets,hackers, placement of your machine in the room, are factors on wheather to keep it running or not.

I keep mine running 99% of the time, hard drive shut down after 30min and monitor, unless it's realy hot 90F and above I will shut down during the day, cause I don't leave the AC on when I'm at work, electricity bill ya know LOL

anyone have any other reasons?? besides FAD's