computer on or off [Archive] - FileSharing Talk

speed101

12-02-2006, 06:01 PM

what do some of you recomend when leaving a computer on overnight to download files, does it damage the computer, do you recomend it; or is it ok to leave the computer running but turn the screen off, what are your thoughts??

DefX

12-02-2006, 06:23 PM

I've always left my pc on overnight for 3 yrs now and i never had problems. Of course i turn off the monitor when i go to sleep as the monitor consumes more energy than the computer itself. In fact, I've read that turning on and off the pc does more damage but some also argue that leaving the pc on nonstop puts more wear and tear on the cpu. As far as power the computer consumes, I've always thought that its comparable to the power the refrigerator consumes and we all leave it on 24/7. I'm not an expert on this subject so you might wanna do some more research but yea i do leave it on nonstop.

delimare

12-02-2006, 06:43 PM

I leave mine on as well, nonstop. It's been close to two years now. The HDD's are always running and spinning (consistent torrent downloading) and the only thing I turn off is the monitor when not in use, like the above poster mentioned. Someone rattled off a statistic that for every time you turn the PC off and let it cool, turning it back on takes a day off of it's life. Whether or not it's true is beyond me but it's a fact that the heating and cooling of electronic parts does take a toll on them over time.

peat moss

12-02-2006, 07:33 PM

I always leave mine on 24/7 too ,had a lighting strike that fried a mobo once but what are the odds of that ? :dabs: Turn off during a storm or at least get a good surge protector /power bar .

default

12-02-2006, 08:39 PM

i always leave mine on every day and night as well because i'm consistently downloading new stuff and i have to share back, which can take a while on my home computer. unfortunately, i did have a similar situation as peat moss, except it just fried my ethernet card. i went to get a new one the same day and was back to sharing. oh as two previous posts mentioned, i turn my monitor off whenever i'm not using it... no particular reason though, just a habit. so far, after all these years, i have had no major problem with my computer. you should be fine too.

peat moss

12-02-2006, 09:43 PM

@default , ya my roomie and I share a hub her LAN card was fried as well but live and learn . Speed101 did n't mention what file sharing or p2p program he/she was using . I just found with Bittoerent it was a great way to "up my ratio " when I wasn't on the computer or to finish D/L'd that program I had to have . :D

backlash

12-03-2006, 12:53 AM

I leave mine on 24/7 also. I shut it off during storms, though. I don't take any chances when it comes to that. I only reboot after installations and when I feel I need to.

jmilla

12-03-2006, 01:18 AM

I only leave my pc on when downloading & seeding torrents at night. ANd yes I cut off my monitor also:)

Vargas

12-03-2006, 01:42 AM

if you've ever used ed2k you must leave it running 24/7 (for the rare files anyhow)
i think it's more wear on the pc by turning it on and off, then leaving it running

tesco

12-03-2006, 02:07 AM

I always leave my computer on as well.
I started doing it back at last christmas. I got this computer and it always had problems in XP with booting up so I was afraid to shut it down...basically i'd go weeks at a time without shutting it down (still do).
I leave it on now because i'm so used to it and i like downloading during the night so during the day my internet's fast or i can download more. :D

Basquiat

12-03-2006, 03:20 AM

ive left my pc's on 24/7 since my first 386 machine....that must have been like 14 or 15 years ago, maybe screen savers really save...i dunno who cares computers can easily be fixed.

Pamela69

12-04-2006, 02:01 AM

Don't you have to shutdown every few hours to release memory..??

ram82082

12-04-2006, 06:58 AM

Don't you have to shutdown every few hours to release memory..??

nope...... ur comp should do it auto, if not get proggy 2. i swear if i didnt have freeram medival II wood blow up my comp

Kuroudo

12-04-2006, 01:54 PM

Don't you have to shutdown every few hours to release memory..??

nope...... ur comp should do it auto, if not get proggy 2. i swear if i didnt have freeram medival II wood blow up my comp

LOL now, that's a game that my comp doesn't handle :O

sarcoplasm

12-05-2006, 08:15 AM

Nah, you can leave computers on for years. As long as the room is adequately cool so it doesn't overheat, there's no damage. Normal room temperatures are fine for most desktop machines.

How it affects your power bill, on the other hand...

Teabag

12-05-2006, 09:51 AM

I've left mine on for months, my ISP has a peak and off peak deal which means it makes sense to open up the upload on utorrent at night.

That said I always turn the screen off, and I always check the machine from work the following morning, switching down the upload at 10am (when peak resumes) and shutting down the machine if I have nothing usefull to seed.

backlash

12-05-2006, 12:46 PM

do you guys actually TURN OFF your monitor or let it go into power save mode? I just use the power save and the monitor goes off, but the power light is on only it's amber instead of green.

peat moss

12-05-2006, 01:47 PM

Power save mode , then I press the windows button and viola ! Vista seems to have a few more options ?

speed101

12-05-2006, 02:20 PM

is it ok to leave your broadband connection on of a night aswell??

Gripper

12-05-2006, 04:08 PM

Re broadband if its cable leave it on,it takes hardly any juice and its ready when you are,if I turn the comp off I always leave the broadband on.

Degenx

12-07-2006, 10:40 PM

Computers are meant to be left on 24/7, there is no need to shut it down. They don't shut down traffic lights do they? Or the power grid, all of these things are run by computers, so no it will not affect anything by leaving it on.

wilkie2

12-07-2006, 11:00 PM

glad i read this topic now cos i have been trying to decide for weeks if i should leave mine on or turn it off

ichytus

12-08-2006, 01:22 AM

I think the answer to this question depends on how 'clean' the electricity is in your house. In Israel much of the electricity is dirty and subject to nasty spikes at random times day and night. I have a spike controller but even that has had on occasion allowed my hard disk to be fried like an omelet! I suggest ask if whatb you are downloading is worth the cost of in case, G-d forbid! Also, realise as much as you are online, the more you allow a hacker to enter and run amuck on your system. You could defend and say you have nothing worth taking but not every hacker takes. Some are just mischevious and like to pretend they are the evil gremlins are made from! Do you agree?:naughty:

Recoba

12-08-2006, 01:34 AM

i keep it on too like a lot of people here

but i want to ask a question ?

can i leave the laptop also or should the labtop be closed ?!

and if it to be closed what is the max hours to keep it on ?!

delimare

12-08-2006, 04:06 AM

I have a laptop that I leave on 24/7 unless I'm not seeding, which is very rare. I could care less what happens to it though. If it dies a year or two earlier than average then I buy a new one.

dimagic

12-08-2006, 11:59 AM

I have both my computer and the laptop open day,night........
No problem at all 1 year after.

thewizeard

12-13-2006, 08:38 PM

24/7 here too been more or less on for the last three years... if any of you 24/7ers fancy running a file sharing server...feel free to pm me :)

parking_jedi

12-17-2006, 08:39 AM

If there are no pressing downloads to get the old 'puter has the night off but usually shes humming away 24/7

TorrentJunky

12-18-2006, 01:25 PM

Mines on 24/7 uploading via uTorrent. No problem at all. =))

JPaul

12-18-2006, 03:23 PM

Pretty much the same as everyone else here, it's on most of the time with the monitor switched off. However the laptop is only on when I use it, I think laptops have much more of a tendency to overheat as they tend to have a much less efficient cooling system than a modern tower system. I don't use the laptop for downloading anyway so that's not a factor.

I find that I get more shared during the night and that helps my ratio a lot. Probably to do with which part of the World is awake at that time. As I'm in the UK America is up and about during our night, so there are a lot of sharers online.

That might all be bollocks but it's what I do.

Fulanito

12-19-2006, 12:21 AM

Monitor off ,utorrent on electricity bill high damm but what the helll :D

fatalone

12-19-2006, 05:36 AM

computer allways on turn the Monitor off when i go to bed

centuryfog

12-20-2006, 03:55 PM

you can burn out your power supply if you leave it on all the time

JPaul

12-20-2006, 07:28 PM

How often does that happen tho'.

Even if it does it's a very simple repair, involving a few screws and wires.

killuminati96

12-22-2006, 04:09 AM

gustafo

12-22-2006, 10:14 AM

If you have a graphics card I'd advise you don't leave your pc running 24/7 or all night long unless you have a really good cooling system. Even then I wouldn't do it tho. I had a 9800 Pro and fried it by leaving my pc on all night. It cooked so bad parts melted. lol

and this happened, because you had pc on (an monitor off) all night long? strange... :dabs:

i have my pc always on, and no parts melted... yet :D (knocking on a wood :) )

delimare

12-22-2006, 12:47 PM

If you have a graphics card I'd advise you don't leave your pc running 24/7 or all night long unless you have a really good cooling system. Even then I wouldn't do it tho. I had a 9800 Pro and fried it by leaving my pc on all night. It cooked so bad parts melted. lol

Sounds like a case of bad cooling. I have a Pent.3.2 overclocked to 4.0 with a massive Arctic Cooler fan on it. I also have an x850 overclocked with a custom Arctic Cooler device that takes up the slot above the PCI video slot. Combined with 5 HDD's, this provides a nice build up of heat but my system is always a nice 13-14 degrees C idle and about 24-30 degrees C under load. It's all about the cooling, especially if you plan on leaving it on 24/7. I've been running this system non-stop for 2 years now and the only problem I've had was a failed Raptor drive that was probably due to age mixed with 24/7 use and abuse.

kaii

12-22-2006, 10:46 PM

24/7 and no problems till now

TYPE R

12-22-2006, 11:53 PM

iv left my pc on 4 about 1 year, i turn the monitor off when going 2 sleep.

ngs_raider

12-23-2006, 03:14 AM

Since my comp is 6 years old with new parts added to it, its starting to wear down after endless 24/7 sessions. I restart it once in a while and do a complete shutdown for a day at most.

12-29-2006, 02:17 AM

....I pray for future generations that the amount of greenhouses gases released..will not harm the o-zone layer ;)

delimare

12-29-2006, 02:23 AM

....I pray for future generations that the amount of greenhouses gases released..will not harm the o-zone layer ;)

Na, I think the hole in the o-zone is doing us a favor. I'm all for anything to make someone think of a way to get me off this rock quicker. You want to see the world? I want to see the edge of space....

Pack up my moon boots Ma, we're headed for urAnus!

tesco

12-29-2006, 03:22 AM

If you have a graphics card I'd advise you don't leave your pc running 24/7 or all night long unless you have a really good cooling system. Even then I wouldn't do it tho. I had a 9800 Pro and fried it by leaving my pc on all night. It cooked so bad parts melted. lol

Sounds like a case of bad cooling. I have a Pent.3.2 overclocked to 4.0 with a massive Arctic Cooler fan on it. I also have an x850 overclocked with a custom Arctic Cooler device that takes up the slot above the PCI video slot. Combined with 5 HDD's, this provides a nice build up of heat but my system is always a nice 13-14 degrees C idle and about 24-30 degrees C under load. It's all about the cooling, especially if you plan on leaving it on 24/7. I've been running this system non-stop for 2 years now and the only problem I've had was a failed Raptor drive that was probably due to age mixed with 24/7 use and abuse.What temp is your room that you can get air cooling to bring the temp down to 13?:lol:

12-29-2006, 05:32 AM

thewizeard

12-29-2006, 06:22 AM

If you have a graphics card I'd advise you don't leave your pc running 24/7 or all night long unless you have a really good cooling system. Even then I wouldn't do it tho. I had a 9800 Pro and fried it by leaving my pc on all night. It cooked so bad parts melted. lol

Sounds like a case of bad cooling. I have a Pent.3.2 overclocked to 4.0 with a massive Arctic Cooler fan on it. I also have an x850 overclocked with a custom Arctic Cooler device that takes up the slot above the PCI video slot. Combined with 5 HDD's, this provides a nice build up of heat but my system is always a nice 13-14 degrees C idle and about 24-30 degrees C under load. It's all about the cooling, especially if you plan on leaving it on 24/7. I've been running this system non-stop for 2 years now and the only problem I've had was a failed Raptor drive that was probably due to age mixed with 24/7 use and abuse.

Sounds interesting, can you make a screen print and post it here? :)

sgt_kermit

12-29-2006, 08:40 PM

I leave mine on most times as well. I will shut it down occasionally to clean out the junk in RAM, but otherwise I have not had any problems with any of my systems running all the time.

v150r

12-30-2006, 01:35 AM

i left my laptop on all the time. i only reboot when there was an update that requires rebooting. i only turn my pc on when i burn or my wife is using my laptop. =)

salak1

01-21-2007, 12:08 AM

3 years?

berberine

01-21-2007, 12:20 PM

I leave mine on 24/7 and the computer and monitor are hooked up to a UPS. If there's a power outage that lasts longer than 30 minutes, it shuts down the PC for me (once in the last 3 years). I do reboot once every 4-6 weeks. The only time it gets a rest is when I go on vacation. Then it gets to visit my grandma who keeps an eye on it so it doesn't get stolen.

Curlz31

01-22-2007, 11:05 AM

My computer has run constantly for 3 years. I do the occasional restart and formatting but it's never off for more than a few seconds. I turn off the monitors when not in use. I've had high end video cards in that time and have never had problems.

andreqm

01-22-2007, 06:16 PM

I have always had the same doubt about leaving it on 24/7 or no...
Well, I've been told it was better doing it than turning off/on all the time...
But hey, everything has its lifetime right? CPUs for instance have like 8..10years of lifetime, until then, I garantee you that you will have a new cpu.. lol

Farewell

kiosk

01-23-2007, 10:13 AM

mines left on 24/7 too and I have a server to download with. Only time it gets switched off is when I go away for more than 3 days

rbh

01-23-2007, 03:44 PM

my pcs run 24/7 only rebooting the windows machines when apps or updates are installed. i run linux on all but one machine so it is rare that the computers ever shut down.

srfchsr

01-25-2007, 06:07 AM

I build mine - nothing fancy. Left it on pretty much 24/7 for the last 3+ years. Only problem was the case fan needed to be replaced. I turn off my moniter when not in use.

ikdedinges

01-30-2007, 10:48 PM

i always leave my pc on beacause i'm too lazy to start it up in the morning :P
and to upload at night

invasion6

01-31-2007, 09:39 PM

Mine 24/7

Burrholes

01-31-2007, 09:47 PM

All night... 2+ years with no problems

[crosses fingers]

Smith111

01-31-2007, 10:05 PM

Always ON

Hairbautt

01-31-2007, 10:40 PM

Ummm, I use to turn it off every night but now I've just been leaving it on. Meh...

Notor|ous

01-31-2007, 10:40 PM

On 24/7 bro

Hairbautt

01-31-2007, 10:44 PM

On 24/7 bro
Hmmm, just like your broadband. :ph34r:

12spysonu

02-01-2007, 01:38 AM

mine is on 24/7 also

jonylim

02-01-2007, 05:27 AM

pretty much 24/7 except a 1 or 2 hours a week

jackwho

02-01-2007, 06:20 AM

24/7 around 4 days per week and about 10 hours or so the rest of the week.

direstraits

02-01-2007, 06:22 AM

mine has been ON for 13 and half days and counting... :)

S!X

02-01-2007, 10:12 AM

I only leave mine on when it's necessary ie: downloading complete dvds, games, pr0n whatever. If not I always shut it off.

Mindfukced

02-01-2007, 10:50 AM

I leave mine on all the time. Ive been doing that for the last 5-6 years. The only time I turn it off is if im adding some hardware.
Tend to do a monthly disc check and defrag.
Never had a HDD fail or any other problems from leaving the PC on.
The Monitor tends to get turned off, as its power hungry.

Peace,

Mindfukced

mattnmarley

02-02-2007, 04:37 AM

I've always left my computer on for days on end, never had any problems yet.

ubbeubbe

02-02-2007, 01:10 PM

My computer is on almost 24/7. Switch it off sometimes but not often. Great way to build ratio if you need to do that...

.:MHD:.

02-06-2007, 01:06 AM

leave it on and the monitor off its ok

TheFoX

02-06-2007, 01:11 AM

Two reasons I leave my system running 24/7...

Firstly, I want instant access, and don't wish to wait for the OS to load, then all the drivers, before being able to access the internet.

Secondly, more damage is done to the processor and other chips by repeatedly powering up and down a PC, than to leave it running at idle (checkout expansion and contraction due to heat and cold).

jokira247

02-06-2007, 05:23 PM

i leave my comp running continous maybe for a week
it depends on sys cooling if its good
then open ur comp as u wich

MosheB

02-06-2007, 09:16 PM

offff power cost money :P

weenden

02-08-2007, 10:37 PM

mine runs 24/7 and so far the old gal is still running

mbfraser

02-08-2007, 11:43 PM

I leave it on all night when I'm seeding (which is most of the time) unless I have an exam the next day. Then I turn it's a little quieter ;)

The only problem is that I get restricted access on my university server if I UL/DL over 1 GB per day - trying to figure a way around that though...

Shadowfire

02-09-2007, 08:34 PM

I personally just turn my computer off when I go to sleep and turn it on when I get home. Occasionally, when I get fits of upload-whoreness, I'll leave my computer on for the night.

pentomato

02-09-2007, 08:58 PM

mine is always on downloading and uploading, so not difference here on wasting electricity

fulu

02-09-2007, 11:40 PM

24/7 non stop dowloading/uploading

DVito

02-10-2007, 01:48 AM

i've left mine on everyday since 2001, its doing good right now. (i have changed the drives though)

i leave my laptop on everyday since february though. it runs good too.

mgemseg

02-11-2007, 05:07 AM

I only leave my pc on when downloading torrents at night

flape

02-11-2007, 05:52 PM

24/7 at home work from sun 2 fri ..

bunny67

02-12-2007, 09:39 AM

24/7

RaPPeR

02-12-2007, 01:15 PM

my computer is on 24/7. and share program is running on my pc 24/7 too.
at night i just turn off the screen.

mbucari1

02-12-2007, 02:02 PM

24/7 constantly uploading/downloading.

salehgaliwala

02-12-2007, 04:01 PM

I feel laptop should not be use continous 24/7 laptop gets heated faster than Desktop ..I live a part of the world where temp is above 40 C ...whenever i leave my computer on for night i make sure Ac is switched ON..

spidey99

02-12-2007, 04:04 PM

you may leave it but you have better buy a ups to make it safer.

hassan2810

02-12-2007, 04:50 PM

almost 24/7

invitestor

02-12-2007, 05:22 PM

always on!

mievmo

02-13-2007, 09:29 AM

I always leave my computer onsame for me :)

popopot

02-13-2007, 12:14 PM

I have just built a server/download machine that I leave on 24/7 (with a UPS) and just log in via remote desktop using my laptop. I tried to build it for low power consumption as well, using a pentium m processor, etc.

hpp312

02-13-2007, 01:26 PM

i leave it on to upload and convert vid files overnight

shyheim

02-14-2007, 10:30 AM

yea i leave it on always. Esp at night because i will seed or let cce run while i am sleeping. Either way i never shut it off only reboots.

safa

02-14-2007, 09:41 PM

Always on :)

Vogel

02-14-2007, 09:53 PM

Only on if I download or seed something.

And I do both of it only very rarely.

mfg
Vogel

zhangbox

02-15-2007, 07:27 AM

24/7
i will restart it every Monday

offline

02-16-2007, 11:56 PM

24\7 restart once a month

WHRST

02-17-2007, 12:12 AM

24/7 restart with updates

pancho

02-18-2007, 02:30 AM

I have to turn mine off at night because in Mexico electrical surge can toast your computer.

yaheard

02-18-2007, 05:08 PM

24/7 also with the occasional shutdown for getting rid of the bunnies inside my box. No worries on the electrical side, uncle sam pays for it and if anything gets fried I send him the bill also.

TYPE R

02-19-2007, 04:56 AM

24/7 for 1 year

kilontek

02-19-2007, 10:51 AM

I leave mine on

selector

02-19-2007, 08:26 PM

I always leave mine on every day and night as well because i'm consistently downloading new stuff and i have to share back, to keep a good ratio :)
regards selector

Temp2007

02-20-2007, 02:11 AM

I only turn off in storms because i have very bad experiences :(

midnight_angel2001uk

02-20-2007, 02:22 AM

My computer is always on but I turn the monitor off at night when Im sleeping

viperain

02-21-2007, 08:06 AM

i leave mine 24/7 except Saturday.. give him a day to rest. when in the night u can upload in great speed and no one complain that the internet connection is slow

pesser

02-21-2007, 01:46 PM

My computer is always on but I turn the monitor off at night when Im sleeping

same here only the monitor get rested apart from when ave have to spring clean the pc right dusty bugger

Eazil

02-21-2007, 09:44 PM

My computer is on 1 year.

natedogg

02-21-2007, 11:50 PM

my old computer used to be on all the time with win98 but once I got a laptop with xp I just leave it on stand by

b33st

02-22-2007, 12:10 AM

My computer is always on, the only time it's off is when windows forces me to do a reboot after some installation....

whoiam

02-22-2007, 10:52 PM

Monitor Off, PC On

GhettoPlayer

02-22-2007, 10:57 PM

24/7 - 4years here...never had prob with my pc

filli

02-22-2007, 11:10 PM

I turn my computer off whenever there is nothing big coming down the pipe and I want to give it a rest. I sometimes will leave my laptop on overnight if dling tunes.

ornbarn

02-27-2007, 08:59 PM

i've left my computer on all night for a long time now. I don't know if it is bad for the computer (especially with a laptop), but it helps me get movies and larger files faster...

TooMuchTime

02-28-2007, 01:57 AM

I leave three of mine on 24/7. Just turned them all off during an extended power outage and one wouldn't power up again (replaced the power supply and all is well). I always add at least one more fan to the case and I'm very good about replacing fans when they start to make noise or slow down. One of the computers in question is over ten years old - being on constantly doesn't seem to have hurt it.