Poll for those who leave their computers on 24/7

[archcommus]

A guy told me you should do this if you leave your computer on 24/7, but doesn't that sort of defeat the purpose of leaving your computer on? If the hard drive's off, wouldn't things not be able to run overnight? Like updates, virus scans, whatever.

 

[lyssword]

lol if you are downloading something and ur hd turns off..

 

[theknight571]

I set the screen saver and have the monitor go to sleep...but that's it.

 

[imported_LoKe]

No, I don't.

 

[JDrake]

no

 

[RCN]

Originally posted by: JDrake
no

 

[imported_Cameron]

No

 

[rbV5]

I have my displays power down...not the HD.

 

[Slicedbread]

If it was going to be used, I would just put it in standby or hibernation.

 

[2Xtreme21]

Internet doesn't work when you're in Standby or Hibernation, so that kind of defeats the purpose of leaving your computer on overnight too.

 

[bondboy]

Originally posted by: RCN

Originally posted by: JDrake
no

 

[SampSon]

Yes, I make the drives spin down after a few hours.
They will spin up when the computer needs to do something.

 

[Babbles]

Nope - I keep Folding @Home working in the background

 

[archcommus]

Originally posted by: SampSon
Yes, I make the drives spin down after a few hours.
They will spin up when the computer needs to do something.

But how can the computer know it needs to do something if the hard drive is off? For example, run a NOD32 scan?

 

[jlee]

Originally posted by: archcommus

Originally posted by: SampSon
Yes, I make the drives spin down after a few hours.
They will spin up when the computer needs to do something.

But how can the computer know it needs to do something if the hard drive is off? For example, run a NOD32 scan?

RAM.

 

[Braznor]

Originally posted by: archcommus

Originally posted by: SampSon
Yes, I make the drives spin down after a few hours.
They will spin up when the computer needs to do something.

But how can the computer know it needs to do something if the hard drive is off? For example, run a NOD32 scan?

Perhaps it reads an instruction from the memory via the CPU to wake up the hdd when needed????

 

[archcommus]

Originally posted by: CadetLee

Originally posted by: archcommus

Originally posted by: SampSon
Yes, I make the drives spin down after a few hours.
They will spin up when the computer needs to do something.

But how can the computer know it needs to do something if the hard drive is off? For example, run a NOD32 scan?

RAM.

Hmm...I figured some file on the hard drive had a part in starting that process.

Windows updates, too?

Still, though, you'd have to keep disabling it everytime you're downloading something before bed.

Edit: Actually, you wouldn't, it wouldn't turn off as long as it's being written to.

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: archcommus

Still, though, you'd have to keep disabling it everytime you're downloading something before bed.

They shut down after a set period of inactivity, user input does not necessarily have any correlation to disk activity.

Viper GTS

 

[archcommus]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS

Originally posted by: archcommus

Still, though, you'd have to keep disabling it everytime you're downloading something before bed.

They shut down after a set period of inactivity, user input does not necessarily have any correlation to disk activity.

Viper GTS

Yep, that's right.

So knowing this now I'm surprised so many people voted "no." Do you think the hard drive would prefer spinning back up and down a few times a night?

 

[jlee]

Originally posted by: archcommus

Originally posted by: CadetLee

Originally posted by: archcommus

Originally posted by: SampSon
Yes, I make the drives spin down after a few hours.
They will spin up when the computer needs to do something.

But how can the computer know it needs to do something if the hard drive is off? For example, run a NOD32 scan?

RAM.

Hmm...I figured some file on the hard drive had a part in starting that process.

Windows updates, too?

Still, though, you'd have to keep disabling it everytime you're downloading something before bed.

Edit: Actually, you wouldn't, it wouldn't turn off as long as it's being written to.

If things were to work as you say, your hard disk activity would be constant, no?

Originally posted by: archcommus

Originally posted by: Viper GTS

Originally posted by: archcommus

Still, though, you'd have to keep disabling it everytime you're downloading something before bed.

They shut down after a set period of inactivity, user input does not necessarily have any correlation to disk activity.

Viper GTS

Yep, that's right.

So knowing this now I'm surprised so many people voted "no." Do you think the hard drive would prefer spinning back up and down a few times a night?

I seem to recall reading years back that constant spin-up/down could cause premature motor wear...maybe that's no longer a factor. Mine haven't quit yet..so unless there's a good reason for me to bother changing it, I'll probably end up leaving them always on.

 

[archcommus]

Originally posted by: CadetLee

Originally posted by: archcommus

Originally posted by: CadetLee

Originally posted by: archcommus

Originally posted by: SampSon
Yes, I make the drives spin down after a few hours.
They will spin up when the computer needs to do something.

But how can the computer know it needs to do something if the hard drive is off? For example, run a NOD32 scan?

RAM.

Hmm...I figured some file on the hard drive had a part in starting that process.

Windows updates, too?

Still, though, you'd have to keep disabling it everytime you're downloading something before bed.

Edit: Actually, you wouldn't, it wouldn't turn off as long as it's being written to.

If things were to work as you say, your hard disk activity would be constant, no?

Yeah I see what you're saying. See my last post.

 

[Captante]

Yes, my HD's are set to power down after 25 minutes ... Virus/Spyware scans run without any issue three times per week in the middle of the day when I'm normally not using my PC.

 

[torpid]

Nevermind the effect in an ideal world. When I set my HDDs to auto power off, I find that the behavior is too flaky for me to trust it. Sometimes they seem to be stuck in off mode when I try to resume and only a reboot helps.

 

[thescreensavers]

Originally posted by: theknight571
I set the screen saver and have the monitor go to sleep...but that's it.

:thumbsup:

 

[FoBoT]

it doesn't matter