[LINK] Leave on, or turn off?

[Darryl (Dassa) Lynch]

link-bounces at anumail0.anu.edu.au wrote:
>> Stewart Fist wrote:
>>> Has anyone got a reference to a real bit of reliable research which
>>> says whether it is better to turn a computer off at night, or leave
>>> it on 24/7 (disregarding energy consumption) ?
>>> 
>>> I guess the question resolves into
>>> a) the electronics, and
>>> b) hard-disk-bearing wear.
>>> 
>>> I've got plenty of so-called 'expert' opinion (mostly in favour of
>>> leaving computers on), but this seems essentially to be anecdotal
>>> only. 
>> 
>> Anecdotally, my experience is that those machines which give
>> more trouble are those which are subjected to thermal shock
>> mostly be being regularly tuned off and on, which usually
>> causes memory modules or PCI card connection to become random.
>> 
>> Economically you need to offset the cost of the occasional
>> service to rectify such faults against the cost or 24/7 operation.
>> 
>> My money says, leave it on, but turn the CRT off - I've seen
>> them catch fire.
>> 
>>> 
>>> Someone, at some time (ie US government departments or the army)
>>> must have done a systematic test, surely!


I've always found it best to have systems running all the time, it is only
when you turn them off they will usually fail to start again.  It is rare
for a system to totally fail when it is running but the minute you shut an
old system down to move it or to do an upgrade you will find they will fail
to start and it will cost you a day to get them going again :).

I totally agree with turning the monitors off.  I tend to turn off the power
down features of hard drives and other devices but given the improvements in
that area I feel it is now possible to trust them more and allow the power
down features if you are concerned with wear and power consumption.

Let's face it, you can leave a computer running flat out for a few years
24x7 and the real problem will be the equipment becoming obsolete rather
than wearing out.

Darryl (Dassa) Lynch