Windows 7: How long is it safe to run a computer non-stop?

rundwald · 08 Oct 2013

I wish to gather statistics concerning my internet connection's behaviour as reported by my router over an extended period. I am using a monitor similar to Routerstats, which will only record when the computer is fully on.

Would running the computer as per title for, say, up to a fortnight be safe for it?

Golden · 08 Oct 2013

Yes no problem, just turn Windows automatic updates off, or some of them could trigger a reboot.

AddRAM · 08 Oct 2013

Servers run 24/7 365 days a year, it`s perfectly fine to leave a pc on, eventually you will have to replace the hard drives and any other part that goes south.

paulpicks21 · 08 Oct 2013

Yeah don't sweat it, I can't actually remember the last time I turned my lounge PC off. Must be a good month at least.

mtp · 08 Oct 2013

Quote: Originally Posted by AddRAM

Servers run 24/7 365 days a year, it`s perfectly fine to leave a pc on, eventually you will have to replace the hard drives and any other part that goes south.

In general, I agree with this - however, remember that servers are well ventilated and use enterprise hdds which are designed for 24/7 use. Consumer hard drives are not.

In my experience, I have repurposed an old rig into a home server which has been running 24/7 (except for reboots to install updates) for about 3 years. I had a RAM module go after 2 years (although it was already a couple of years old) and just had a hard drive go. I replaced it with a WD Red drive which is designed for 24/7 use.

Back to your question - as long as ventilation is good, a fortnight should not be any problem.

MilesAhead · 08 Oct 2013

If you aren't serving files to the public then I don't think you need be concerned with HD wear. So it would seem ventilation and ambient temperature would be the main proviso. If the room has A/C then you should be golden.

Boozad · 08 Oct 2013

We have literally hundreds of small form factor i7 Dells at work that rarely get turned off. If ever. Some of the ones in our fitting shop have been running for six months or more without being turned off.

Lady Fitzgerald · 08 Oct 2013

The only time I turn my desktop computer off is when I run updates that require a reboot, something goes a bit wonky and needs a reboot to sort it out, or I go out of town. Otherwise, it runs 24/7.

OvenMaster · 09 Oct 2013

I've been running the Folding@Home distributed computing client 24/7 on home computers since 2004. This means my CPU is running at 100% load almost all the time (the exception is during software installs and uninstalls, and video and audio work (captures, editing, burning to disc)).

I make sure that there's plenty of filtered air for cooling, with dressed cables, Noctua fans and foam filter media in use, regular blasts of canned air for the really fine stuff, modding my case if necessary, and I never overclock. My CPU temp never goes above 53°c even on the hottest summer days. I have Windows Updates on full manual so the comp won't reboot on its own. I'd say my computer is switched off for maybe three hours a week.

rundwald · 14 Oct 2013

Thanks guys!