All that stuff can slow down the computer, but it all goes away when you shut down or restart the system. So shutting down your computer every once in a while – and I do mean actually shutting down, not just hibernating or putting it to sleep – can give it a “fresh start” of sorts and make it seem nice and zippy again. There are several options you can set before you send the shutdown signal: You can choose to shutdown the remote computer or restart it. You can warn the users that their computers will be shut down. This is highly recommended if you know people are using the computers. You can adjust the length of the warning that is displayed. You can add a reason and comment at the bottom of the Window.
The idea that you should avoid turning your computer off at night is pretty popular. After all, frequent shutdowns and startups are going to have an impact on the components and wear them out faster. Aren’t they? On the other hand, you’d imagine having your computer running all the time is going to contribute to wear and tear as well, wouldn’t you?
So, what’s the deal? Should you turn it off or leave it on? We asked an expert to find out.
What’s the problem?
Cutting the power or pulling the cable without shutting down properly could do damage, but are components at risk from standard shutdowns and startups? What impact is turning that computer on and off having, and how does it compare to leaving it on all the time?
“It depends on how often you use it,” explains Geek Squad agent Steven Leslie. “If you use your computer multiple times per day, it’s best to leave it on. If you use it for a short time — say an hour or two — just once a day, or even less, then turn it off.”
“Leaving a computer on all the time is less stressful than turning it off and on several times a day — but it is a constant stress.”
“Leaving a computer on all the time is less stressful than turning it off and on several times a day — but it is a constant stress,” said Leslie. “Every time a computer powers on, it has a small surge of power as everything spins up, and if you are turning it on multiple times a day, it can shorten the computer’s lifespan.”
The risks are greater the older your computer is. A traditional hard disk drive, for example, has moving parts, whereas a solid state drive doesn’t and is far more robust as a result. But it’s not just the spin up or down that has an effect. Mechanical parts will fail eventually, and using them constantly will inevitably wear them down. Computers also heat up when they’re on, and heat is the enemy of all components.
“Some items have a limited life cycle. For instance, if the [LCD] panel is left on all the time, it’s only specced for about 15,000 hours or about 2 years. For this reason, it’s good to let the panel time out and turn off when not being used,” says HP’s Ajay Gupta, director of Notebook Product Management and Commercial PCs. “The battery and hard drive also have a limited life cycle. Allowing them to turn off (or sleep) and spin down when not being used will extend the life of these components.”
The real reasons to leave it on or turn it off
There’s still debate about the impact of shutting down and starting up modern components. To many, the very concept that shutdowns and startups create extra stress is dated. Putting that argument aside, there are some solid reasons for leaving it on or turning it off that aren’t up for debate.
Reasons to leave it on
You’re using the PC as a server or you want to be able to remotely access it.
There are background updates, virus scans, or other activities you’d like to occur while you’re away.
You never want to wait for it to start up.
Reasons to turn it off
Leaving it on wastes electricity and can slightly increase your power bill.
You don’t want to be disturbed by notifications or fan noise.
Computer performance generally benefits from an occasional reboot.
Sleep or hibernate?
“Sleep is fine because it puts the computer into a low power state without turning it completely off,” said Leslie. “In hibernate, your computer stops using power and resumes where it was when you put it in that mode. Hibernate is a less desirable option because it produces wear and tear that is similar to start and stop.”
So if you’re going to leave it on all the time, make sure that you check out the Sleep options in the Shut down menu. You could save a lot of power with no real downside.
Looking after your PC
Millions of PCs end up on the scrap heap every year as well. Shouldn’t we try to squeeze a little extra life out of our desktops by taking better care of them?
“Always use a surge protector,” suggests Leslie. “For the best lifespan, get an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), which is basically a battery backed-up surge protector. These help condition power to even it out, preventing power spikes that can lower the lifespan of your computer’s components.”
Keeping your computer clean will also help it last longer. That means opening it up and getting rid of dust and debris, as well as uninstalling old software and cleaning up old files and processes.
The final word
“If you use your computer more than once a day, leave it on at least all day,” said Leslie, “If you use it in the morning and at night, you can leave it on overnight as well. If you use your computer for only a few hours once a day, or less often, turn it off when you are done.”
There you have it. The answer depends on how you use your computer, and what you need it to do.
Phew! You’ve made it through another day at the office. You’re just about to don your coat and head out into the evening—but your computer’s still on. Should you turn it off, or leave it in “sleep” mode? Some say it’s better to shut down, since that way it won’t be using any power while you’re not around. But others say that the process of shutting down and starting up again uses more power than letting your machine sleep. Who’s right?
First things first: Turning your computer off, then on again does not use more power than leaving it on in “sleep” mode. “That’s a myth,” says Bruce Nordman, an energy efficiency researcher at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Another myth: Turning your computer on and off is bad for the machine. “In order to do any real damage, you’d have to turn it on and off far more frequently than anyone would ever want to,” says Nordman. That said, trying to remember to shut down your machine every night isn’t necessarily the most effective energy-savings strategy. Here’s why.
Fifteen years ago, when computer manufacturers first experimented with sleep mode (it used to be called “standby”), the energy savings weren’t very dramatic. Today things are different: According to energy efficiency expert Michael Bluejay, while in use, the average laptop requires 15-60 watts, while desktops use 65-250 watts, plus an additional 15-70 for the monitor. In sleep mode, however, most laptops use a measly two watts, and desktops with monitors use 5-10 watts, says Nordman. (“Hibernate” modes on some computers use even less energy—for a good rundown on the difference between various power management modes, check out Michael Bluejay’s guide.) Because sleep settings use so little energy, Nordman believes that it isn’t really worth making a big production out of remembering to shut down your computer every day: “Much more important to make sure that your computer is set to go into power-saving mode after a certain period of idle time.”
The EPA’s Energy Star program agrees with Nordman—sort of. Using power-management settings (like sleep mode) is the best way to reduce your energy use, says Katharine Kaplan, who leads the EPA team that develops Energy Star requirements. Nevertheless, Energy Star still recommends unplugging computers—and most other electronics—at night. “If it were just computers, leaving them in sleep mode wouldn’t be a problem,” says Kaplan. “But people have so many devices these days that it really starts to add up.” When you do shut down devices, cautions Kaplan, be sure to unplug them completely, lest they become energy vampires. One solution: Smart Strips allow you to plug in several devices, with one designated as a “master.” When the master is turned off, the other devices shut down, too. (Just be careful not to accidentally turn something off that other machines in your house depend on, such as the WiFi.)
One last tip: Skip the screensaver. “Screensavers actually use more energy than a static image, since they require the computer to do calculations,” says Nordman. And they don’t even save your screen: Back in the days of the flying toasters, screensavers prolonged the life of your monitor, but that technology isn’t applicable to newer screens.
The bottom line: Before you obsess over unplugging your computer every night, first make sure your computer is set to go into a power-saving mode after a short amount of idle time. (The EPA recommends 15 minutes for your monitor and 30 minutes for your computer.) Then, if you remember to unplug at night, give yourself an extra pat on the back.
Thanks to the computer gurus at TechSoup for helping me research this post.
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Correction: An earlier version of this article described computer energy use in terms of “watts per hour,” when it should be simply “watts.” We regret the error.