Shut Down Nightly vs 24/7 Studies?

I always switch my computer off if ever I'm away from it for any length of time.

Energy prices are high as it is and I just don't see the sense in wasting it.

bigmck said:

I am shocked............I would have bet the house that 95% of you guys leave it on all the time. Well that just "shows to go ya" that when someone knows everything (as I do), that they can even be wrong.

That's just good TV right there......

Personally, I shut down at night or in the event I'm going to be gone for an extended period of time.

I leave my computer on 24/7, but I'm probably not the typical person. Why do I leave it on? Lots of reasons.

1) I'm lazy (ok, so this is 99% of it)

2) I typically have a lot of work that I leave open. I don't like having to reopen files and find my position in documents. I also tend to have a lot of browser tabs open for later reading, and don't wish to have to save these locations. Granted, sleep and hybernate would allow me to do this, but I prefer having everything on and ready when I sit down, and don't like the wait for resuming.

3) I often have programs that run when i'm away. My disk defragmenter runs when the computer is idle, and I have virtual machines that work as my servers for developing software.

I don't think the wear and tear argument is all that strong. Also, the argument people have made about power surges is not correct. Your computer will be fried whether it is running or not if a surge occurs. The reason is that the surge will jump circuits, and arc switches. Plus, all computers these days have some small circuit draw to enable the soft power-on switch, so the difference between on and not is minimal with this regard.

It all boils down to your needs. If you benefit from leaving it on, and the financial cost of the energy is acceptable, then do so. If not, then don't. It's a relatively easy choice.

I personally don't shut off my computer.
I am a 24/7 my reasons

Programs usually running while i am away. There are many times that i need to get a file transfer. Sometimes i need to connect remotely to this computer either from work, friends house or on the road.

Family accesses files.

I enjoy having my programs open and ready on the go. Todays computer are much more energy effecient than older models.

One thing I do shut off is always the monitor.

I use the win 7 power control all the time and reboot only when necessary.
Sleep after 30 min Hibernate after 1 hour.

I know of a few computers (at work) that are left on 24/7 and they're very old (pentium 3 old) and they're still working.
I've never had a computer last that long. the hard drive has always failed in that time.

so seeing how long those 2 have lasted I started to leave one of mine on (starting in 2007). well not actually on on but in sleep mode. and the other one off all the way. my conclusion after having the one I turn off had 2 hard drives fail... it does seem to keep the hard drives from failing so often.