Desktop, Shutdown, Sleep Or Hibernate?

[Bobby Bucks]

For desktops the recommendations seem to change every couple of years. I'm not interested in energy savings since it's so minimal. What is the best method for extending the life of the machine? I usually turn mine off each night, but have been told recently I should let it hibernate and just reboot it once a week or so.

 

[Tim The Enchanter]

I shut down when not in use.

 

[spittman]

I prefer to keep mine on all the time. I do this because I like to have it ready at a given moments notice and to have my desktop the same as when I left it. I too have always been told that it doesn't use up any more power, however, in my experience, failed computers are usually the result of it overheating. If your not doing things that use up a lot of power like stream videos or play video games for hours at a time, your machine should last years. One other thing you might consider doing when you shut down your computer once a week is to get inside and clean all the dust and cobwebs out, especially in the fans which keep the machine cool. Clogged fans can really cause it to overwork. Make sure you unplug it and discharge any static before you do. Shorting out the motherboard is probably the second most reason why computers get fried.

 

[Fargo1]

Something I read years ago was that it is hard on the computer to be shut down and start up on a regular basis. The reason this is hard on the computer is due to temperature changes. If you shut down overnight your system cools off to room temp (70+/- degrees). Then when you turn it back on it heats up to 100+/- degrees. So that creates a lot of expansion and contraction due to temperature changes withing the components. The expansion and contraction can cause soldering to let go from motherboards and other components. I'm not sure if that is fully true or not, since most of the heat will be right at the processor, but it seemed reasonable. So I just leave my system running unless I am gone for a weekend or longer periods of time. Of course this has the added benefit of being ready to go when I sit down.

 

[Tom Woolford]

My Desktop runs 24 / 7 as its involved in several distributive computing projects. Doesn't seem to bother it actually working all the time. I usually build a new one every 3-4 years or so though.

 

[ucbruin]

My Desktop runs 24 / 7 as its involved in several distributive computing projects. Doesn't seem to bother it actually working all the time. I usually build a new one every 3-4 years or so though.

I think it's great when folks have the ability to build their own computers....

Are the savings substantial?

 

[Tom Woolford]

I think it's great when folks have the ability to build their own computers....

Are the savings substantial?

No, but only because I usually go overboard and make it way faster, more memory an more storage than I really need, plus pushing 3 monitors I usually get a high end video card. Last build cost almost 2K. Way more that I need but it was a fun build and you'll never hear me complain about a slow computer.

 

[Tim The Enchanter]

I think it's great when folks have the ability to build their own computers....

I replaced a hard drive in a computer, what a pita. The physical install is easy if you can operate a screwdriver. The software and drivers and all that was the hard part. It probably did not make it any easier that I decided to go cheap and not but Windows. Installed Ubuntu, which is free. It took a ridiculous amount of time.

Another time I re installed Windows on this computer because it was getting flaky. There was in image for that purpose on a partition on the hard drive. Of course that refused to work. I installed Windows from the DVD that came with the system. That worked, sort of, but now I had no drivers for video, or anything. So it did not really work. It was taking way too much time and aggravation, so I took it to a place and paid $50 for them to spend about an hour and load the drivers for me. It is my main production machine so it was worth while. Then I reloaded my programs, or should I say apps?

Building a whole computer is a lot more involved and I no longer like computers enough to do any such thing. When it is time I may get another custom built machine, like I did with this one. I did not see extra memory and an SSD as overkill, but future proofing. My $2.

 

[VegasWayne]

I keep mine on 24/7. The current one had to have a fan replaced in the power supply. It was very noisy. If you clean your computer with compressed air don't spin the fans. They act as generators when spun. Stick a pencil in the blades to hold it still. To save on power I set the monitor to shut off after 10 minutes of no use.

 

[Raven59]

I think it's great when folks have the ability to build their own computers....

Are the savings substantial?

I love to build from scratch. Love eBay...best place to find multi-monitor video cards. Usually I save about 25% on a build.