How long is it safe?
- Thread starter Sam25
- Start date
I have two PCs that are on all the time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. One is my main PC, the other my media PC in the bedroom. I have others that I use for certain tasks that get turned on and off.
- Mar 4, 2000
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My main system is also on 24/7 unless I am on travel. Then it is off and unplugged.
Just a caveat - if you do leave it on, it is wise to use a UPS for the computer itself - and the monitor can be turned off when you are not viewing it - especially a LCD. Backlights do have a lifespan.
Just a caveat - if you do leave it on, it is wise to use a UPS for the computer itself - and the monitor can be turned off when you are not viewing it - especially a LCD. Backlights do have a lifespan.
- Mar 29, 2008
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I usually switch off my monitor at night and yes I'm using a UPS at all times. The power supply where I stay gets unstable at times and it's way safer with the UPS thing. My PC has been switched on for 2 days now and the temperatures are as follows (using Everest):
Motherboard 41 °C (106 °F)
CPU 46 °C (115 °F)
Aux 67 °C (153 °F)
GPU 61 °C (142 °F)
SAMSUNG 29 °C (84 °F)
Seagate 45 °C (113 °F)
WoodButcher
Platinum Member
- Mar 10, 2001
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WoodButcher
Platinum Member
- Mar 10, 2001
- 2,158
- 0
- 76
Originally posted by: Sam25
Originally posted by: WoodButcher
There's an "off" switch?
I meant the monitor 'power off' button!
Really,,,
what's it do????
as others mentioned I don't shut my system down, I'll turn off the monitors but the box is on 24/7 though I don't use a battery. If there is an outage it's no big deal, no worse than bluescreening from the OC. Same with overheat if a pump fails, it will shut down on its own before it smokes. I save and backup frequently so my data is good. For me I'm more concerned with the water becoming stagnant and fouling or clogging the loop.
- Mar 29, 2008
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Yup, the power button is the one I use to just turn the monitor off, only the monitor though not the box. However, I usually kept the system on for 2-3 days and then turned the entire thing off (monitor + box). But now that I know it's completely safe to keep the PC on 24/7, I'll keep it running much longer!
The saddest part is where I live I don't get all that nice water cooling stuff for my PC. I so wish I did!
The saddest part is where I live I don't get all that nice water cooling stuff for my PC. I so wish I did!
The only real downsides to leaving a computer on for extended periods of time that I have experienced (other than the power consumption) are dust accumulation, and fan bearing wear.
I usually turn mine off during the day and at night when I'm not using it, my brother leaves his on 24/7. The only difference I've ever been able to see over the past 8-9 years between our computers is his collects more dust, and his cpu/vid-card/case fan bearings typically wear out and seize up once or twice before he goes through the upgrade cycle (every 2-4 years new cpu/mobo/vid-card/etc).
Thought I'd add my anecdotal experience.
I usually turn mine off during the day and at night when I'm not using it, my brother leaves his on 24/7. The only difference I've ever been able to see over the past 8-9 years between our computers is his collects more dust, and his cpu/vid-card/case fan bearings typically wear out and seize up once or twice before he goes through the upgrade cycle (every 2-4 years new cpu/mobo/vid-card/etc).
Thought I'd add my anecdotal experience.
OK - what is the problem of those programs that hyjack a computer and use it to send spam - a SERIOUS WORLDWIDE problem?
If no other reason, that would be the reason I wouldn't leave one on unless I had a reason to do so. - jb
If no other reason, that would be the reason I wouldn't leave one on unless I had a reason to do so. - jb
- Mar 29, 2008
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Originally posted by: SJP0tato
The only real downsides to leaving a computer on for extended periods of time that I have experienced (other than the power consumption) are dust accumulation, and fan bearing wear.
I usually turn mine off during the day and at night when I'm not using it, my brother leaves his on 24/7. The only difference I've ever been able to see over the past 8-9 years between our computers is his collects more dust, and his cpu/vid-card/case fan bearings typically wear out and seize up once or twice before he goes through the upgrade cycle (every 2-4 years new cpu/mobo/vid-card/etc).
Thought I'd add my anecdotal experience.
Aha, the case-fans do get old and noisy, I recently changed mine a day ago. The other thing I worry about is since I'm from India and here the temperatures are very warm
(around 30C / 86F) so sometimes I keep the case open for a while. We don't get those nice water-cooling stuff here, wish we did!
It's hard to say without knowing how the case/fans are setup.
What Jest3r is referring to is "proper" airflow. With a good setup, air will freely flow in the front of the case, pass through the innards of the system sweeping past any thermal exchange points (heatsinks) picking up their heat, and pass freely out the back of the case.
This all depends on how you've setup your fans, if they're in the front of the case pushing air in. Or they can be on the back of the case sucking air out. Or you can setup a combo of fans that do both.
Opening the side of the case can sometimes cause problems where the flow of air is disrupted further by being able to flow in/out/stagnate somewhere in the middle, since there's no clear channel for the air to flow through. This can cause less air to pass over the heatsinks because of the non-linear airflow, causing the system to run hotter overall.
It's very difficult to accurately predict which setup is best, but some experimentation and the scientific method can usually show the optimal setup. That being said, I usually prefer a couple fans in the back to suck the air through the case because if the fans are in the back of the case they're generally quieter to me (sitting in front of the case). :laugh:
I have my system on 24/7 and I have no problems with it. As long as you have proper cooling you should be fine. I just leave it on and turn off the monitor when I'm not using it
+1 for PC on 24/7
-1 for electricity bills
Seriously though the downside to power cycling your pc is the thermal expansion/contraction that the parts go through when turned on and off. Also the wait for the thing to boot/reboot. Its nice to have the pc on all the time..,. since broadband is so common its nice to VPN or remote desktop into your machine when you are away from home and leaving it on makes that possible. Not to mention in my case the roommates are constantly going into my shared music folder and so I leave it on as a general convenience.
-1 for electricity bills
Seriously though the downside to power cycling your pc is the thermal expansion/contraction that the parts go through when turned on and off. Also the wait for the thing to boot/reboot. Its nice to have the pc on all the time..,. since broadband is so common its nice to VPN or remote desktop into your machine when you are away from home and leaving it on makes that possible. Not to mention in my case the roommates are constantly going into my shared music folder and so I leave it on as a general convenience.
Basically added wear on moving parts ,but have amd xp 1900 nforce 2 system overclocked to 2ghz it has been running since 02 with 95% up time. I just yesterday had to replace the orinigal heatsink/fan. Fan bearing wore out
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