Safe to leave a computer running all the time?

[powerMarkymark]

I usually leave my computer running 24/7. Of course I reboot at least once a day.

Am I courting disaster?

 

[dullard]

The process of turning on/off the computer is damaging. So you don't want to repeatedly turn it on/off.

The process of using a computer slowly wears parts down. So you don't want to run a computer non-stop if you don't have to.

Thus there must be some middle ground which would maximize the computers life. Tests done show the ideal time for maximum computer life is about 1 hour. If you leave for more than 1 hour, shut it off. If you leave for less than 1 hour keep it on.

The statement above assumes you are most concerned about computer life. If you are more concerned about stability, or electricity costs, or something else then the answer will change.

 

[Hender]

I've been leaving my computers on 24/7 for 8 or 9 years, and I've never had any problems. I always make sure my monitor goes to sleep when I'm not using my desktop to reduce power draw, but I've never had a problem doing so. Even my laptop, which I've had for the last year, has been on 24/7 with the exception of trips across the country (just flight time) and it has held out remarkably well considering both it and my desktop have been running the Distributed.net cruncher so both have been at full CPU load the entire time. I didn't think my laptop would hold out so well being on at full load for a year, but it's done so admirably.

 

[Amused]

<< I usually leave my computer running 24/7. Of course I reboot at least once a day.

Am I courting disaster? >>



Get 2K or XP and you wont have to reboot it for weeks, if not months.

BTW, I always leave my boxes running too. Only my screen shuts down. I've never had a hardware failure.

 

[AluminumStudios]

My systems run 24/7. I have the monitors shut off and the HD power down after 3 hours. Of course, drive C never powers down on either of my systems because of the RC5-64 client ;-) But I figure it isn't bad to give my data drives a little rest when I'm away and my sysytem isn't rendering anything.

 

[Vegito]

I have a flock of dells 24/7 for about 3 years now.. even weekends, no one like to log off.. anyway, all system are mirror hd and redudant power supply...

servers are always on..

a few hdd failed but thats normal, some fans failed but thats also normal... just make sure there is enough fan cooling the system..

BTW, I rebuild my w2k advanced server on 2.7 terrabyte of hdd... i'm surprise its more reliable than the nt4 on the same machine..

haven't reboot for 60.91 days now, reboot only to install software and update patches... Not bad at all..

 

[lordex]

<< I usually leave my computer running 24/7. Of course I reboot at least once a day.

Am I courting disaster? >>



I used to do that, but quit when one of my machines(a dual PII-300 w/ W2K Server) starts to read the floppy drive every 1 min all the time it's up and running. I thought I might end up with a burnt down house someday I return from work.

 

[theplanb]

I use STR (suspend to ram) for quick boot and save electricity. Of course computer can't do anything during sleep.

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

I have run mine for 24/7 as many folks have already said. Other than a few dead hard drives and fans, no problems.

I leave my monitors on until I'm finished for the day (turn them off when I go to bed). Supposedly putting them in standby causes more wear and tear than just leaving them on.

Also leave the harddrives on all the time, guys at Maxtor said that again, just more wear and tear to have them cycle up and down.

Humm, should try to figure out how much this is costing me a month...

 

[Yossarian]

If you leave your computer on unattended I recommend using Motherboard Monitor with the Shutdown program to close up shop in case your cpu fan dies. Some motherboards can do this in the BIOS automatically.