Good to Keep Your Computer On? - Page 3

Thoran · 03-07-2005, 10:37 AM

On or off depends on how often you use the system and what it's used for, and different system components have different tendencies I think.

Power supplies tend to die quicker if they're left on full time.

Motherboards tend to die on powerup, so they may not like geting turned on and off.

Hard drives tend to die of old age (3 to 5 years typically), I think it's read and write activity that does them in, not powerup (just my opinion).

CRT Monitors die of all sorts of maladies, but often it's the High frequency supply, and often that goes on powerup... but IMO they shouldn't be left on due to cost, you could buy another crt for the amount of electricity it'd cost to leave yours on full time.

LCD Monitors... I dunno, have yet to kill one (and I've got 4... nice reliability there).

More on Disk Drives:

My Home domain server/file server is on 24/7, however... it has no monitor or keyboard and the drive array spins down after 2 hours of inactivity. It's been running this way since I got it (3 years or so) and I just had my first hdd failure on that box. It just got a bran-spankin new terrabyte raid array... it's also set to spin down, that array is for media (DVD's, MP3's, Pictures), and it is not used frequently.

Using the windows "hdd shut down" feature isn't necessarily bad, it depends on how often your drive is getting hit. And the reason not to use it is more annoyance of waiting for spin-up than anything else imo. If it's a drive that's only occasionally used, spin it down and live with the slight delay. set the waiting period to a couple hours so it's not going up and down too frequently and you won't have a problem, most HDD's fail from read/write (surface) failure not mechanicals or electricals.

All the desktops in my house are shut down every night, PC's cost money to run, and any reduction in component life is likely more than balanced by savings in energy bills.

shamrock_uk · 03-07-2005, 10:45 AM

Interesting post Thoran. If you ever get a minute, would you mind giving a brief description of how your home network is set up and what you use your server for exactly?

I'm quite interested in getting something similar set up myself and is always good to hear what its used for by other people!

Vaskez · 03-07-2005, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by wellard:

quote:
Originally posted by LennonCook:
The arguments for:

The electromagnetic radiation from the wires can supposedly cause cancer, so it is better for you not to have the computer on too often.

WTF assuming lady Z computer is at best 400 or 500 watts then the world is in a whole lotta pain if what they say is true ... Sorry Lennon but I would place this story in the bin, right along with the magnets in your hard drive that cure cancer BS [/QUOTE]Hehe yeah I had a good laugh at that one [img]graemlins/hehe.gif[/img] The power leaked from the cables intuitively shouldn't be enough to give cancer to an ant with its head next to the cable for 10 years!

RoSs_bg2_rox · 03-07-2005, 12:10 PM

As has been said, systems should never heat if they have a decent heatsink and some good fans to generate good airflow around the case.

I leave two of my desktops on 24/7. I reset one every month or so, or whenever I need to restart (only when the registry needs edited) as this is a desktop, so is actually being used. This one stays on even when I'm on holiday.

My server is on every day, but is switched off overnight, as it isn't generally needed. My new computer I just purchased will also be running 27/7, and has some good fans and filters etc. to keep it clean.

I am also going to convert one of my 386's into a linux IRCSSI box, which will run without keyboard and mouse, and just be used as an IRC server. This will run 24/7 too.

The only problems with this is power consumption, but I turning the monitor off greatly lessens this, and I don't tend to boot down HDDs etc, as I use them frequently.

Ilander · 03-07-2005, 12:46 PM

By the time your computer would wear out from these factors, it would likely be time to get a newer computer anyhow.

BUT...if you're going to leave your computer on all the time, how about running Einstein @home? (see prevous thread on Gravitational Waves)

Vaskez · 03-07-2005, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ilander:
By the time your computer would wear out from these factors, it would likely be time to get a newer computer anyhow.

BUT...if you're going to leave your computer on all the time, how about running Einstein @home? (see prevous thread on Gravitational Waves)

Dunno, it might generate too many electromagnetic waves [img]graemlins/hehe.gif[/img]

Besides my PC Isn't a workhorse, it's a being with emotions and needs its rest!

Thoran · 03-07-2005, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by shamrock_uk:
Interesting post Thoran. If you ever get a minute, would you mind giving a brief description of how your home network is set up and what you use your server for exactly?

I'm quite interested in getting something similar set up myself and is always good to hear what its used for by other people!

No problem...

Hardware:

The network is a combination of Gigabit ethernet (Netgear GS508T Switch) and Wireless-G (Linksys WRT54G Broadband Router). Internet is Cable Modem through the Router firewall.

I have 3 systems on the wired lan:

Primary Domain Controller: Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition, P3-1ghz, 1 GB ram, 1TB RAID10 array, 36gb UW-SCSI for the OS. That system is also running SQL Server 2005 Beta 2 and Coldfusion MX 6.1 (for development).

Experimental Box: I have an old P2-450 that I used to use as a Proxy Server (using Microsoft ISA Server), but since I got the Router I just goof with it, play with Linux and such.

Desktop system : Athlon XP 2400 running Windows XP

Over wireless I have an additional two systems:

Desktop system : Athlon XP 1700 running Windows XP
Laptop : Compaq NW8000 Pentium M-1.6 running Windows XP

I set up a domain because it gives me ABSOLUTE POWER over all the systems on my network... MWAHAHAHAH! (evil laugh)

The kids don't install ANYTHING without getting permission, but they can login from any machine and get access to their share drive for homework or whatever.

I can control access to any box (including setting times when the kids aren't allowed on), and easily centralize resources... as I said, the large drive array has about 30 full quality DVD's on it, 12,000 MP3's, and 200 Gigabytes of family pictures going back to the 1940's (it's the main archive for my extended family). Also the Ink Jet and Laser printer are shared from the server, so that one machine is the only one that needs to stay on 24/7.

Finally, all my applications and utilities are stored on the server, when I bring home a new system (or reinstall windows on an old one), all I have to do is add the new box to the domain and I can connect to the archive with all the stuff I'll want to install... it seriously simplifies setting up new machines.

It also adds some security, even if a user got into the network (say through the wireless connection) they wouldn't be able to access any resources.

I also get a nice audit trail, anytime someone logs in, out, or attempts to login the server tracks it (along with about a bazillion other things).

Overall and most importantly... it's a cool geek toy. [img]smile.gif[/img]

You might ask why I'm using all Microsoft stuff... well mainly because I have an MSDN Universal subscription at work, and besides beeing a cool geek toy, doing this stuff at home has a learning aspect to it also. Even though I'm not a IT guy (nor will I ever be), I find as a Project Engineer I do a lot of PC Work, buying, configuring, applying, etc... so the more I know about the system the better a job I can do. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ 03-07-2005, 05:37 PM: Message edited by: Thoran ]

Vaskez · 03-07-2005, 07:10 PM

sounds like a SWEET setup Thoran you lucky GEEK

Dace De'Briago · 03-07-2005, 08:47 PM

Well, unfortunately I only have 7 PC's in my bedroom.

Some of them sound like jet engines, so they are turned off every night. My main system is pretty much silent, so that gets left on every night (I do like my IRC chat logs

).

Hmmm. I've been told that turning the PC off and on repeatedly can damage the components, but you would be very unlucky to have that happen to you. PC's that are left on would be more prone to power surges, so I guess it's a catch 22 situation as to which would nail you first.

Bungleau · 03-07-2005, 10:43 PM

Thoran is my new hero....

I've got almost as many machines (although I'm down to four active ones, with two back on the shelves), but your setup with the server and storage is much, much better than what I've got with my Linux box.

Only thing I've got more of is operating systems (Win98, 2k, XP, and Red Hat Linux).

03-07-2005, 12:10 PM	#24
RoSs_bg2_rox Zartan Join Date: May 20, 2003 Location: Near Aberdeen, Scotland Age: 36 Posts: 5,225	As has been said, systems should never heat if they have a decent heatsink and some good fans to generate good airflow around the case. I leave two of my desktops on 24/7. I reset one every month or so, or whenever I need to restart (only when the registry needs edited) as this is a desktop, so is actually being used. This one stays on even when I'm on holiday. My server is on every day, but is switched off overnight, as it isn't generally needed. My new computer I just purchased will also be running 27/7, and has some good fans and filters etc. to keep it clean. I am also going to convert one of my 386's into a linux IRCSSI box, which will run without keyboard and mouse, and just be used as an IRC server. This will run 24/7 too. The only problems with this is power consumption, but I turning the monitor off greatly lessens this, and I don't tend to boot down HDDs etc, as I use them frequently. __________________ [img]\"http://img.ranchoweb.com/images/ladyzekke/dragonwater2.gif\" alt=\" - \" />

03-07-2005, 12:46 PM	#25
Ilander 20th Level Warrior Join Date: December 28, 2003 Location: Kentucky Age: 39 Posts: 2,820	By the time your computer would wear out from these factors, it would likely be time to get a newer computer anyhow. BUT...if you're going to leave your computer on all the time, how about running Einstein @home? (see prevous thread on Gravitational Waves) __________________ Is that what you really want to say?

03-07-2005, 07:10 PM	#28
Vaskez Takhisis Follower Join Date: April 30, 2001 Location: szép Magyarország (well not right now) Posts: 5,089	sounds like a SWEET setup Thoran you lucky GEEK __________________ Too set in his ways to ever relate If he could set that aside, there'd be heaven to pay But weathered and aged, time swept him to grave Love conquers all? Damn, I'd say that area's gray

03-07-2005, 10:43 PM	#30
Bungleau 40th Level Warrior Join Date: October 29, 2001 Location: Western Wilds of Michigan Posts: 11,752	Thoran is my new hero.... I've got almost as many machines (although I'm down to four active ones, with two back on the shelves), but your setup with the server and storage is much, much better than what I've got with my Linux box. Only thing I've got more of is operating systems (Win98, 2k, XP, and Red Hat Linux). __________________ B Save Early, Save Often Save Before, Save After Two-Star General, Spelling Soldiers -+-+-+ Give 'em a hug one more time. It might be the last.

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03-07-2005, 10:37 AM	#21
Thoran Galvatron Join Date: January 10, 2002 Location: Upstate NY Age: 57 Posts: 2,109	On or off depends on how often you use the system and what it's used for, and different system components have different tendencies I think. Power supplies tend to die quicker if they're left on full time. Motherboards tend to die on powerup, so they may not like geting turned on and off. Hard drives tend to die of old age (3 to 5 years typically), I think it's read and write activity that does them in, not powerup (just my opinion). CRT Monitors die of all sorts of maladies, but often it's the High frequency supply, and often that goes on powerup... but IMO they shouldn't be left on due to cost, you could buy another crt for the amount of electricity it'd cost to leave yours on full time. LCD Monitors... I dunno, have yet to kill one (and I've got 4... nice reliability there). More on Disk Drives: My Home domain server/file server is on 24/7, however... it has no monitor or keyboard and the drive array spins down after 2 hours of inactivity. It's been running this way since I got it (3 years or so) and I just had my first hdd failure on that box. It just got a bran-spankin new terrabyte raid array... it's also set to spin down, that array is for media (DVD's, MP3's, Pictures), and it is not used frequently. Using the windows "hdd shut down" feature isn't necessarily bad, it depends on how often your drive is getting hit. And the reason not to use it is more annoyance of waiting for spin-up than anything else imo. If it's a drive that's only occasionally used, spin it down and live with the slight delay. set the waiting period to a couple hours so it's not going up and down too frequently and you won't have a problem, most HDD's fail from read/write (surface) failure not mechanicals or electricals. All the desktops in my house are shut down every night, PC's cost money to run, and any reduction in component life is likely more than balanced by savings in energy bills.

03-07-2005, 10:45 AM	#22
shamrock_uk Dracolich Join Date: January 24, 2004 Location: UK Age: 42 Posts: 3,092	Interesting post Thoran. If you ever get a minute, would you mind giving a brief description of how your home network is set up and what you use your server for exactly? I'm quite interested in getting something similar set up myself and is always good to hear what its used for by other people!

03-07-2005, 08:47 PM	#29
Dace De'Briago Silver Dragon Join Date: December 28, 2002 Location: Wales Age: 45 Posts: 1,617	Well, unfortunately I only have 7 PC's in my bedroom. Some of them sound like jet engines, so they are turned off every night. My main system is pretty much silent, so that gets left on every night (I do like my IRC chat logs ). Hmmm. I've been told that turning the PC off and on repeatedly can damage the components, but you would be very unlucky to have that happen to you. PC's that are left on would be more prone to power surges, so I guess it's a catch 22 situation as to which would nail you first.

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