Updated: 06/20/2020 by Computer Hope Show
 Even though sessions vary with usage, everyone needs to step away from their computers at some point. Many of our users wonder if it's a good idea to leave their computers on, or turn them off. The answer to this question depends on many factors ranging from electricity bills to concerns about wear and tear. The following sections address the "on or off" debate from many viewpoints, allowing you to decide what works best for you. One of the biggest contributing factors when deciding whether or not to turn off your machine is the electrical cost. A bill for electricity can be expensive, and a computer like many household electronic devices adds to the cost. Unless you'll be away for a very long time from a computer that's on, the difference in price isn't a large concern. However, if you're looking to save a few dollars a month, shut it down. Note If you decide to leave your computer on all day, we recommend turning off the monitor if you're leaving for more than half of an hour. Time to resumeIn our opinion, the time for your computer to resume working is a bigger factor than the cost of electricity. For instance, if you open and close your laptop frequently, you don't want to have to reboot it completely each time. Knowing a bit about the different power states of a computer should help you in your decision.
Note The time to resume from different power states is much more significant on hard disk drives than it is on solid-state drives. Since boot times on modern SSDs are so fast, shutting down your computer is not nearly as much of a factor. Leaving your computer on overnightOur recommendation is to turn off your computer when you go to bed, as it saves you a bit of money on your electricity bill. However, for tasks to run during the night (e.g., backup, ScanDisk, Defrag, updates, or a virus scan), you'll need to leave your computer on while you sleep. Unless you don't mind these tasks being performed during the day. Will turning off a computer wear down moving parts (e.g., fans)?No. The only moving parts that caused an issue internally were within a component, not the computer itself. In older hard drives, the head would come into contact with the disk platter upon shutdown, which caused it to wear. However, any hard drive manufactured today doesn't have this issue. Does turning off a computer wear down the power button?Before 1994, it may have been beneficial to leave the computer on due to potential power switch related issues associated with certain manufacturers that caused the power buttons to break early. However, this issue was only applicable to a very small portion of old OEM computers, and today is no longer a problem. Power buttons can still wear out, but they have a life cycle that outlasts the other components of your computer. Does turning off a computer cause soldering cracks?No. Solder can withstand changes in temperature; turning a computer off frequently does not harm it. For example, many individuals turn their TV on and off each day, sometimes several times. Much like a computer, components inside the TV get hot and cool down, and these devices rarely have problems. Will turning my computer off help prevent a power surge?No. A power surge destroys electrical devices, regardless of whether they are on or off. Having the power cord connected to a surge protector can safeguard a computer from an electrical surge. Note If a storm causes a blackout or brownout, it can cause problems with a desktop computer. To prevent these power-related problems from affecting a computer, use a UPS (uninterruptible power supply). Computer power misconceptions"As the computer boots, it takes more power."This statement is not true. "Turing off my computer causes power surges."This statement is also untrue. See our surge page for information about power surges. "Leaving a computer on causes it to overheat."Unless a fan within a computer fails while it is on, the computer will not overheat. "A laptop is different than a desktop it should be turned off."Although physically different, a laptop can also remain on 24/7, and all information mentioned above still applies. The exception here, of course, is if you're running a laptop from the battery (not plugged in). In this case, the laptop is not going to be able to run all day, and we suggest conserving your battery usage.
Whether your turn your PC off at night can be a controversial topic, depending on who you speak to. Older generations often told their children to leave their PC running, and only to reboot when it's completely necessary. The logic was that the surge of power when turning the computer on would shorten its lifespan. While this can be true, leaving your computer on 24/7 (opens in new tab) can also cause wear and tear. In either case, unless your upgrade cycle is measured in decades, there's not a lot in it. If your only concern is to maximize the lifespan of your components, neither option will put you ahead. The decision here is going to hinge on which option suits your lifestyle better. Leaving your computer on hibernate or sleep mode is super convenient. You can go right back to where you left off, and won't have to wait for the darn thing to boot up. If you're running your OS on one of the best NVMe SSDs (opens in new tab) of today, this shouldn't be an issue, but an older HDD might make you wait an age. This can also be the case if you have a lot of programs set to run on startup. Having the ability to remote into your PC from anywhere can be a lifesaver, too. Imagine rushing out the door only to realise you need access to some file you forgot to upload to the cloud. Nowadays, if you're thinking of playing games away from your PC, leaving it on sleep means you can access the raw power of your gaming rig wherever you go, with game streaming services like Nvidia's GeForce Now (opens in new tab). Turning your computer off when you’re not using it also means that your computer can’t complete any important tasks. Processes like virus scans and system updates will have to run when you’re trying to work, or while you're playing a game. Tasks like these can be resource heavy and inconvenient, but if you leave your computer running you can schedule these to run overnight, or any time that’s convenient for you. While there are lots of compelling reasons to keep your computer running, there are some scenarios where it’s definitely best to shut it down. Electricity can be expensive and sometimes every cent counts. If you are concerned about energy costs, leaving your computer on all the time will reflect on your utility bill. As well, a PC waking up from sleep can sometimes just flat out refuse to do so. That'll mean you have to reboot anyway, and if you've relied on your PC remembering where it left off for so long, setting it back up can be a pain. If you are running custom water cooling, it's best you don't leave your machine running. Should the pump die when you aren’t around, the results could be catastrophic. Whether or not you leave your computer running will largely depend on what matters most to you, but you should always make sure you let your PC restart when it needs to do important updates. These could be patches for recently discovered vulnerabilities, for example, and will need a restart to take effect. I think I'll give leaving my PC on overnight a go now I've written this. I will be keeping an eye on my energy bill, and the state of my components, however. |
Is it ok to never turn off your computer
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