I have an AMD desktop machine that I use primarily for gaming. Some days, I will play a game for an hour or so, then wait a few hours and then go back and play some games a little more. Is it better for me to turn the computer off while I'm not using the computer or leave it running while I'm away for a couple of hours? I know that leaving it on will require more electricity so that is a negative.. Any thoughts would be appreciated! Thanks!!
Turning computer off vs. letting it run idle when not in use? Which is better?
- Thread starter DaveyTN
- Start date
Leaving it on uses very little energy. I saw the math done out once of the cost of running an average computer and it came out to something very trivial like $10/year. It may be a little more if your machine uses a little more juice, but not much more. Compare this to if you start/stop your machine every day. Each day your components will go through rapid expansion at startup since they start out at room temperature and then heat up very quickly (stuff like the CPU and GPU especially), and this is not a good thing.
In the long run, it's probably better for your machine to just leave it on.
In the long run, it's probably better for your machine to just leave it on.
warcrow
Lifer
- Jan 12, 2004
- 11,078
- 11
- 81
I leave all my computers on (all 4) 24/7. If you turn any CRTs (and even LCDs) off, there is little energy being used. It is said that the reboot process and the heating and cooling of the parts of a computer are wear and tear on the system -but I've never seen any conclusive tests done, so I have no links to back this up. Infact, if you think about it, a TV is basically comprised of the same componants (ICs) and its turned on and off all the time.
Alas, I stick by the 24/7/365 rule and leave everything on. If you have firewalls and secure passwords, you're fine.
Alas, I stick by the 24/7/365 rule and leave everything on. If you have firewalls and secure passwords, you're fine.
As my for Mac, I usually leave it on 24/7.
As for my PC, I turn it off if I'm not gonna use it for an hour or more.
As for my PC, I turn it off if I'm not gonna use it for an hour or more.
HybridSquirrel
Diamond Member
- Nov 20, 2005
- 6,161
- 2
- 81
aye computer is one 24/7 365 except on holidays or when im out of town. Its kinda like leaving a 520w lamp burning....
I keep mine running unless I will be away from it for 24hrs or more. My hardware seems so finicky that powercycling it seems to kill my RAM faster 
I've heard of that expanding and contracting of components. It's bad, but probably trivial. Who's gonna keep the computer long enough for the connections to crack? Overclockers should be more worried than a regular user.
I turn on my computer on when I first use it, probably when I wake up. And I shut it off when I go to sleep. In between, I keep my monitor on for 5min before it goes on standby and my computer on for 15min before going on standby. This way it's still on, but it's not on.
I turn on my computer on when I first use it, probably when I wake up. And I shut it off when I go to sleep. In between, I keep my monitor on for 5min before it goes on standby and my computer on for 15min before going on standby. This way it's still on, but it's not on.
Malak
Lifer
- Dec 4, 2004
- 14,696
- 2
- 0
Might I suggest you don't let it sit idle and instead put it to good use!
Linky
Just read the top paragraph that starts with, "What is Rosetta@home?" There are other similar projects out there as well, but by starting with this you get introduced with the BOINC client, which some projects still aren't using yet. You can join Team Anandtech, just go to the Distributed Computing forum and you can find daily posts on most projects.
SpunkyJones
Diamond Member
- Apr 1, 2004
- 5,090
- 1
- 81
Or just have windows put your monitor in standby mode after X mins, which is about the same as off. What can I say, I'm lazy.
as long as you dont have a large CRT monitor that stays on, its best to leave it on. imo, turning the computer on and off a ton, like every few hours, is not that great. it stresses the system. most times the computer fails or breaks when you boot up. i just turn if off every night.
I leave mine on, let windows do screen saver then turn my monitor off for me (although sometimes it doesn't ever want to turn my monitor off). I used to live in the dorms so electricity didn't really matter much... now that I am done with school, I may need to enforce a more strict 'turn-the-damn-monitor-off-when-not-using' policy. Why waste time shutting down and booting up the box?
Why waste time shutting down and booting up the box?My room is about the same temperature everyday, so I turn it off at night. Also I couldn't take the heat and noise of SLi cards beside my bed. Once the pc is moved though, it'll stay on 24/7.
I don't bother to turn off my computer except to install/mess with hardware, or to move it (LAN parties or whatever). I do usually turn the monitor off at night though.
Sidwalks crack because of water freezing and thawing...and sometimes tree roots. So unless you douse your computer and open the windows in January...
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