[POLL] - Do you shut down your computer when not using it?

[Amused]

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser
Concerning power consumption:

It doesn't cost much to have it on all day. On an individual basis this is cool but if you like to think big then shutting it down makes sence. If everyone shuts down their rig the energy savings on a national level is ,I think, quite large.
It just depends on how you think.

I think it's better to minimize the thermal expansion and contraction of my system, especially the HDDs than to save a buck or two a month.

As someone pointed out, leaving the system on and idle with the monitor off is about 30w. Not much at all. Half the average lightbulb, or four standard nightlights.

 

[codeyf]

Originally posted by: Vic

Originally posted by: codeyf

Originally posted by: Vic

Originally posted by: codeyf

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
leaving it on when idle is simply stupid.

/agree

Electricity isn't free.

An idle PC with the monitor off uses maybe 30W. That's half a standard lightbulb. That's maybe $1 per month.
In the meantime, keeping your PC running 24/7 is the absolute best thing you can do to ensure its reliability, especially with the hard drives.

Thanks for further supporting my point!

Your point was the agreement that the cost of the electricity of leaving your PC on 24/7 is high enough to be stupid.

No, it wasn't. I agreed with 0roo0roo's statement. Then made my own. Nowhere did I say it was stupid BECAUSE electricity isn't free.

I think it's stupid just cuz it's a waste of energy, however small it may be. And I personally, upgrade/change/swap components frequently enough that I would never benefit (or be cursed by) having my machine on 24/7 or not.

So for me, in regards to shutting down:

Benefit = $1 per month, $12 per year, $60 in the past 5 years I have owned my home. Considering I just replaced my hardrive for $30 with a new, larger HD, I'd say it worked out.

But of course, my justification for shutting down isn't going to work for everyone, nor do I expect it to. However, the day one of my components die from not leaving it on 24/7, I'll be happy to let you know and will happily profess your righteousness in this matter.

 

[Aharami]

yea i shut down

 

[OrganizedChaos]

i don't pay the electric bill

 

[AkumaX]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog
It's on 24/7... gets shut down for cleaning, upgrades, and power outages.

Originally posted by: Ryan
Nope - I even go on vacation and leave it on

 

[halik]

Originally posted by: codeyf

Originally posted by: Vic

Originally posted by: codeyf

Originally posted by: Vic

Originally posted by: codeyf

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
leaving it on when idle is simply stupid.

/agree

Electricity isn't free.

An idle PC with the monitor off uses maybe 30W. That's half a standard lightbulb. That's maybe $1 per month.
In the meantime, keeping your PC running 24/7 is the absolute best thing you can do to ensure its reliability, especially with the hard drives.

Thanks for further supporting my point!

Your point was the agreement that the cost of the electricity of leaving your PC on 24/7 is high enough to be stupid.

No, it wasn't. I agreed with 0roo0roo's statement. Then made my own. Nowhere did I say it was stupid BECAUSE electricity isn't free.

I think it's stupid just cuz it's a waste of energy, however small it may be. And I personally, upgrade/change/swap components frequently enough that I would never benefit (or be cursed by) having my machine on 24/7 or not.

So for me, in regards to shutting down:

Benefit = $1 per month, $12 per year, $60 in the past 5 years I have owned my home. Considering I just replaced my hardrive for $30 with a new, larger HD, I'd say it worked out.

But of course, my justification for shutting down isn't going to work for everyone, nor do I expect it to. However, the day one of my components die from not leaving it on 24/7, I'll be happy to let you know and will happily profess your righteousness in this matter.

OK $1 a month savings. Assume you spend 3 minutes a day waiting for your computer to boot up / login / yada to get into a functional state. That's 90 minutes a month, or 1.5 hours ...

So you value your time at $0.66/Hr. Let me know if you're looking for another source of income, because at that rate, I have a TON of work you....

 

[poopaskoopa]

Leave it on. Don't want to wait another second to gamble online.

 

[EatSpam]

My servers and the two workstations remain on 24/7. The HTPCs use S3 standby.

The servers are mostly idle and according to APC's UPS utility use 545W. Damned P4's.... I'm replacing one with an dual processor EPIA next week. Should cut $10/month off of my power bill.

 

Never shut it down.

 

[BW86]

I usually put in Standby

 

[Stvfarmboy]

Yes I shut mine down when not in use.

 

[BobDaMenkey]

I leave the rig in my sig and it's younger spare parts sibling on constantly. Especially because my parents are freaking nuts with the air conditioning and skimpy with the heat, so it keeps my room nice and warm while the rest of the house is constantly cold.

 

[Blayze]

I shut it down while I'm asleep at night.

 

[codeyf]

Originally posted by: halik

Originally posted by: codeyf

Originally posted by: Vic

Originally posted by: codeyf

Originally posted by: Vic

Originally posted by: codeyf

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
leaving it on when idle is simply stupid.

/agree

Electricity isn't free.

An idle PC with the monitor off uses maybe 30W. That's half a standard lightbulb. That's maybe $1 per month.
In the meantime, keeping your PC running 24/7 is the absolute best thing you can do to ensure its reliability, especially with the hard drives.

Thanks for further supporting my point!

Your point was the agreement that the cost of the electricity of leaving your PC on 24/7 is high enough to be stupid.

No, it wasn't. I agreed with 0roo0roo's statement. Then made my own. Nowhere did I say it was stupid BECAUSE electricity isn't free.

I think it's stupid just cuz it's a waste of energy, however small it may be. And I personally, upgrade/change/swap components frequently enough that I would never benefit (or be cursed by) having my machine on 24/7 or not.

So for me, in regards to shutting down:

Benefit = $1 per month, $12 per year, $60 in the past 5 years I have owned my home. Considering I just replaced my hardrive for $30 with a new, larger HD, I'd say it worked out.

But of course, my justification for shutting down isn't going to work for everyone, nor do I expect it to. However, the day one of my components die from not leaving it on 24/7, I'll be happy to let you know and will happily profess your righteousness in this matter.

OK $1 a month savings. Assume you spend 3 minutes a day waiting for your computer to boot up / login / yada to get into a functional state. That's 90 minutes a month, or 1.5 hours ...

So you value your time at $0.66/Hr. Let me know if you're looking for another source of income, because at that rate, I have a TON of work you....

Your huge, and wrong assumption is that I have absolutely nothing to do with my time during those 3 minutes. I can assure you, between our 28 year old house and 2 kids, I am never sitting around, waiting for anything to happen.

Like I said, this is how it is for me. I don't expect it to be the same for you, nor am I trying to change anyone else's habits. You should try the same. It's a friggin poll for crying out loud.

Thinking about it more, another way to look at your statement (which would still be wrong) is that you're assuming I am missing 1.5hrs of work a month based on my time waiting for my machine to load. Which I guarantee you I am not. So your point is wrong again.

On the flip side, I could agree with you. Yes, I value my time at $0.66/hr when doing nothing. Consequently, I'd be happy to come to your house, and do absolutely nothing for the rate of $0.66/hr. If it works for you, I'd like my shift to be from approx 11pm to 6am when I am normally sleeping. I'd be happy to do that at your house for a total of $4.62 a night. Heck, I'll even my discount my rate to $4.50 a night for each week you will guarantee "work" for me to do

 

[zerocool1]

I shut it off when I'm gone for the weekend.

 

[God On Alcohol]

no DuRr!

 

[TBone48]

Originally posted by: Newfie
I shut it off because at night the fan(s) and the blue PSU light drives me nuts

My wife has the same issues. I would probably leave mine on if it weren't for her.

 

[thraxes]

Since I pay for my own power-bill - yes i shut it down

 

[LostWanderer]

Originally posted by: Newfie
I shut it off because at night the fan(s) and the blue PSU light drives me nuts

Ditto. Add to that a lighted case fan. Too much funky colors coming from under the desk...

 

[EvilYoda]

Nope, never.

 

[HamburgerBoy]

Unless I'm going to be using it again in fifteen minutes or so, yes.

 

[ShadowBlade]

i only shut down overnight
sometimes i turn it on in the morning if i get up early enough

 

[hjo3]

On 24/7. But when I leave for more than 8 hours I usually have it seeding a few torrents.

 

[Kelemvor]

Originally posted by: halik

OK $1 a month savings. Assume you spend 3 minutes a day waiting for your computer to boot up / login / yada to get into a functional state. That's 90 minutes a month, or 1.5 hours ...

So you value your time at $0.66/Hr. Let me know if you're looking for another source of income, because at that rate, I have a TON of work you....

Well I don't know about you but I turn my computer on and then go to the bathroom, get a soda, maybe some chips, etc. I don't sit there and wait for it to boot up.

My computer normally gets turned on after work and off when I go to bed (unless I'm converting some video). So it's on for maybe 5 hours per day. Not worth it to run all the time. Hard Drives have big enough warranties that if they die, I get a new one anyway.

And THe only component I've ever had just die in a computer was the Power Supply... but it was ancient and under powered anyway. And those have nice warranties on them too.

 

[arcenite]

i usually either put it to sleep or shut it down.. I don't like putting it to sleep because the hard drive makes an abusive sounding nosie when I do, but when I shut it down normally it doesn't?

edit: though it's rare the computer is doing nothing when I leave it.