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From: c60b-1eq@e260-3e.berkeley.edu (Noam Mendelson)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc
Subject: Re: leaving machine on all the time?
Message-ID: <1991Apr9.233907.23820@agate.berkeley.edu>
Date: 9 Apr 91 23:39:07 GMT
References: <91087.073236MHS108@psuvm.psu.edu> <25156@hydra.gatech.EDU> <27ffe351-24a7.2comp.ibmpc-1@point.UUCP>
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In article <27ffe351-24a7.2comp.ibmpc-1@point.UUCP> akcs.vladimer@point.UUCP (kevin kadow) writes:
>Well, I don't know about all the hazards you list (the motherboard
>CHANGES SHAPE?) but I do know that a computer should (at least) be
>treated like a light bulb.
>if you're going to be gone for less than an hour, leave it on.
>If you're going to be gone for a week or more, even if you have a hard
>drive, turn it off (or turn it into a small BBS)

Why?  Every time you flip the switch you are stressing every component
in your system, including memory, the HD, etc.  And leaving you system
on is even more convenient--you don't have to wait for the memory tests,
load TSRs, etc.

>From what I've heard, power on/off changes cause stress on the chips,
>which can lead to premature failure. I don't think turning the computer
>off will damage the power supply, and it's safer to have the computer off
>and the hard disk head parked than it is to have it on.
>As long as you've got a good cooling fan, and don't experience frequent
>surges, lightning storms, or have a really good suppressor, then it
>shouldn't HURT to leave it on all the time.

The power supply is the last thing to worry about.  The memory chips are
the ones that are likely to be damaged by surges and stray static
electricity.

>Question- Is it better to turn the monitor OFF, or to simply blank the
>screen and leave the power on?

The display monitor, lacking any cooling aparatus, tends to overheat
very quickly.  I would recommend turning it off when not in use.

>Does anybody have a dead FULL LENGTH card? I want to slice & Dice it,
>then install a (low-EMF) fan on it to help keep the internals cool (I
>suppose I could run a low-wattage (pulseless dc?) fan off of one of my
>spare disk-drive power cables?

A few years ago a company marketed Turbo Cool power supplies.  I forget
the name of the manufacturer.  I bought one of their 150 watt power
supplies which is 50% quieter and boasts a 100% or so increase in air
flow.  Appropriately, it has two fans and a larger vent.  Email me if
you want more info on this.

+==========================================================================+
| Noam Mendelson   ..!agate!ucbvax!web!c60b-1eq | "I haven't lost my mind, |
| c60b-1eq@web.Berkeley.EDU                     |  it's backed up on tape  |
| University of California at Berkeley          |  somewhere."             |