nadine
02-08-2002, 02:29 PM
Hi:is it a good ideas To keep your system Running all the Time
24/7 or not.
thanks
24/7 or not.
thanks
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fishninja007
02-08-2002, 02:48 PM
I don't keep my system running 24/7, but once I turn in on for the day I don't turn it off until I go to bed (so its usually only on 20/7 :) ). I've heard people say it is better to leave it on all the time because you aren't constantly heating and cooling components, spinning up drives from a cold stop etc. Other people have said its bad because it wears out fans/drives faster since they're always on. I think its all negligible really. I just hate waiting for it to startup, but see no reason to leave it on all night.
dadtech
02-08-2002, 03:16 PM
I wait until I need to do something then turn it on. I will leave it on if there's a good chance that I will need it again the same day.
It is about six of one and half a dozen of the other. Starting from cold is hard on hard drives, fans and the like. Leaving it run is hard for MB, and CPU's due to heat. I had one machine that I left run for a year, never turned it off, no problem. The one I have now I boot up as needed. My theory is, shut it down, Hard drives and fans are cheaper than MB's and CPU's. :)
It is about six of one and half a dozen of the other. Starting from cold is hard on hard drives, fans and the like. Leaving it run is hard for MB, and CPU's due to heat. I had one machine that I left run for a year, never turned it off, no problem. The one I have now I boot up as needed. My theory is, shut it down, Hard drives and fans are cheaper than MB's and CPU's. :)
mireland
02-08-2002, 03:55 PM
My understanding is that turning it off and on a lot is not good for the switch and is hard on the cpu, fan, etc. What I do is if I know I'm going to be away for a longer(ie half a day) I turn it off just to conserve a little power and I leave my machine off at night when I'm not using it. :D
intertwine
02-08-2002, 04:20 PM
i keep mine on all the time.. and i've got 'standby' and 'spin down hard disk' turned off, though. it seems like the computer locks up more if its gotta spin up from nothing..
-s
-s
jmichna
02-08-2002, 04:35 PM
Our web servers and CAD workstations are on 24/7/365 and are up for years at a time. Very seldom do we see any components wear out or break... usually the odd fan or hard drive. I personally have only seen 1 drive failure and 1 fan failure in a CAD farm with 16 (IBM Netfinity Intellistations) workstations over a period of almost three years starting in March 1999. We have roughly a half-dozen Sun/Solaris and Unix servers and workstations that have been 24/7/365 for many years. (not trying to imply anything about WinOS+hardware reliability, only that these CAD workstations have been around longer in our business place.)
At home, however, we do shut down our 3 pcs BUT that's mostly because of the cooling fan noise. If noise were not a factor, I'd leave them on 24/7 unless going away on vacation, where I could not shut down in the event of an electrical storm, power outage, etc.
jmichna
At home, however, we do shut down our 3 pcs BUT that's mostly because of the cooling fan noise. If noise were not a factor, I'd leave them on 24/7 unless going away on vacation, where I could not shut down in the event of an electrical storm, power outage, etc.
jmichna
Brangwen
02-08-2002, 10:49 PM
Nadine:
I keep two systems on 24 / 7. An AMD XP 1900+ and a 600E Pentium III. The Intel requires very little cooling (set it and forget it) and the AMD system runs in a very well ventilated case. I used to leave mine on all night and day because I used to have modems acting as answering machines in them. Now I'm crunching UD (United Devices) numbers for the Oxford Cancer project with both computers - a worthy cause.
I've had no difficulties. And the post above regarding more harm just turning the systems on and off ... true or not I have read the same opinion.
Brangwen ;)
PS: Are you thinking of running your system 24 / 7? If so, why?
I keep two systems on 24 / 7. An AMD XP 1900+ and a 600E Pentium III. The Intel requires very little cooling (set it and forget it) and the AMD system runs in a very well ventilated case. I used to leave mine on all night and day because I used to have modems acting as answering machines in them. Now I'm crunching UD (United Devices) numbers for the Oxford Cancer project with both computers - a worthy cause.
I've had no difficulties. And the post above regarding more harm just turning the systems on and off ... true or not I have read the same opinion.
Brangwen ;)
PS: Are you thinking of running your system 24 / 7? If so, why?
dmoltrup
02-08-2002, 11:28 PM
You should treat your computer like your car... If you don't need to use it within a reasonable amount of time, turn it off.
Of course there are servers (large diesel trucks) that should only be turned off for maintainance.
Of course there are servers (large diesel trucks) that should only be turned off for maintainance.
userserver
02-08-2002, 11:38 PM
Modern hard drives are rated at 100,000, 500,000, or 1,000,000 hours MTBF (Mean Time Before Failure) so you can reasonably expect 11 years of continuous service. Leaving a hard drive running doesn't hurt it.
Fans, depending on quality, are generally rated at 25,000 to 50,000 hours MTBF.
Turning a system on and off shortens the life of a motherboard due to thermal expansion/contraction. Standby is designed to save energy in systems that are active most of the time.
If you are on a cable modem, DSL, or network you system is a target for malicious code when it is online. Chances are that something will get through eventually, regardless of your virus protection.
Taking everything into concideration, I always recommend that the computer booted up when needed and left on until no longer needed for the day (especially if running Win 9x or Me since it is necessary to reboot occasionally to clear resources).
That's my two cents worth.
Fans, depending on quality, are generally rated at 25,000 to 50,000 hours MTBF.
Turning a system on and off shortens the life of a motherboard due to thermal expansion/contraction. Standby is designed to save energy in systems that are active most of the time.
If you are on a cable modem, DSL, or network you system is a target for malicious code when it is online. Chances are that something will get through eventually, regardless of your virus protection.
Taking everything into concideration, I always recommend that the computer booted up when needed and left on until no longer needed for the day (especially if running Win 9x or Me since it is necessary to reboot occasionally to clear resources).
That's my two cents worth.
Brangwen
02-09-2002, 02:03 PM
Nadine:
A great point by Userserver which I did not think to add, to wit:If you are on a cable modem, DSL, or network you system is a target for malicious code when it is online. Chances are that something will get through eventually, regardless of your virus protection.
I do run DSL and am presently using Sygate - a software firewall to help keep intruders out who might want to hack in. I try to remember to set my Security accordingly ...
I've run the cable for a Linksys Router in order that my computers can share one DSL connection. Just need to hook it up... (procastination from the Latin "cras" = tomorrow :) ) I understand hardware firewalls, such as utilizing a router, make ones computer "invisible" to would be hackers.
Good luck.
Brangwen ;)
A great point by Userserver which I did not think to add, to wit:If you are on a cable modem, DSL, or network you system is a target for malicious code when it is online. Chances are that something will get through eventually, regardless of your virus protection.
I do run DSL and am presently using Sygate - a software firewall to help keep intruders out who might want to hack in. I try to remember to set my Security accordingly ...
I've run the cable for a Linksys Router in order that my computers can share one DSL connection. Just need to hook it up... (procastination from the Latin "cras" = tomorrow :) ) I understand hardware firewalls, such as utilizing a router, make ones computer "invisible" to would be hackers.
Good luck.
Brangwen ;)
mcjamesk
02-09-2002, 02:23 PM
a freind , running a "96" model WIN95 OS is still running 24/7/365 thats why i leave mine running 24/7 (no O C)
Nemesis1s
02-09-2002, 02:40 PM
i got a personal FTP, so i keep mine on all day and night. Doesn't seem to harm it in any way. And if it quits on me then i'll just buy a new one :D
Jimstep
02-09-2002, 03:11 PM
There are pros and cons to this question. The biggest wear and tear to a system is the heating and cooling of the components. So, if left on all the time, there is less stress on the components.
On the other hand, it costs a certain amount of electricity to keep the system running. The harddrive bearings are constantly spinning, unless you have the auto shutoff option turned on. And then there are the fans which will wear out eventually.
I will turn mine off if I am not using it for long periods of time, like over a weekend. If I use it daily, I don't want to wait for it to boot, so I leave it on for quick access.
On the other hand, it costs a certain amount of electricity to keep the system running. The harddrive bearings are constantly spinning, unless you have the auto shutoff option turned on. And then there are the fans which will wear out eventually.
I will turn mine off if I am not using it for long periods of time, like over a weekend. If I use it daily, I don't want to wait for it to boot, so I leave it on for quick access.
RayH
02-09-2002, 03:55 PM
The only electrical devices I keep running all the time are my refrigerator and clocks (like on my radio, VCR, and microwave). I'm from the old school and believe that it can be DANGEROUS to leave things running unattended. Computers have been known to short out!
Nemesis1s
02-09-2002, 04:46 PM
that's why fire alarms and smoke detectors where invented ;)
userserver
02-09-2002, 05:29 PM
Originally posted by RayH
I'm from the old school and believe that it can be DANGEROUS to leave things running unattended. Computers have been known to short out!
It's been less of a problem since we quit using vacuum tubes in our computers....:)
I'm from the old school and believe that it can be DANGEROUS to leave things running unattended. Computers have been known to short out!
It's been less of a problem since we quit using vacuum tubes in our computers....:)
dmoltrup
02-09-2002, 06:25 PM
Originally posted by userserver
It's been less of a problem since we quit using vacuum tubes in our computers....:)
That and since we've been using 120V household current.
On that note, I must mention that a few years back I had one of those ancient HUGE metal desks like teachers have. I pulled the drawers out of one side, and fabricated a door for my PC. After a bit of a mishap one day, I also mounted a smoke detector in there as well! :rolleyes:
It's been less of a problem since we quit using vacuum tubes in our computers....:)
That and since we've been using 120V household current.
On that note, I must mention that a few years back I had one of those ancient HUGE metal desks like teachers have. I pulled the drawers out of one side, and fabricated a door for my PC. After a bit of a mishap one day, I also mounted a smoke detector in there as well! :rolleyes:
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