Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!rutgers!gatech!hubcap!ncrcae!ncr-sd!crash!gryphon!ddsw1!karl From: karl@ddsw1.UUCP Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc,comp.misc Subject: Re: Leaving AT on overnight (good/bad) Message-ID: <276@ddsw1.UUCP> Date: Fri, 14-Aug-87 22:16:00 EDT Article-I.D.: ddsw1.276 Posted: Fri Aug 14 22:16:00 1987 Date-Received: Sun, 16-Aug-87 09:55:29 EDT References: <1246@bloom-beacon.MIT.EDU> <768@custom.UUCP> <202@ttrdd.UUCP> Reply-To: karl@ddsw1.UUCP (Karl Denninger) Organization: Macro Computer Solutions Inc., Mundelein IL Lines: 52 Keywords: 11,000 hours Xref: utgpu comp.sys.ibm.pc:5926 comp.misc:913 In article <202@ttrdd.UUCP> mellman@ttrdd.UUCP (Thomas Mellman) writes: (Question was asked about leaving systems on overnight) >> >> Without a doubt, leave the machine on. Leave it on 24hours a day >> 7 days a week. The electronics will last significantly longer >> that way. Most computers die as they're being powered up or down. >> ... >> As for the bearings in the disk drive, they won't be any worse for >> the wear either. > >I don't know about that. My disk drive specs rate my drive's life at >11,000 hours. I guess I kind of hoped that I could expect more than >1 and 1/4 years out of it. > >As far as that old argument that the electronics don't like power cycling, >how many terminals (as a model for pc's that's been around alot longer) >has anyone come up against whose electronics have failed? Usually, they >just get so obsolete that nobody wants to use them anymore, or the >keyboard becomes unusable. I think I can say that I've never seen a >terminal that didn't work. Hmmm... In my experience you'll get longer life from your system if you leave it on all the time. This comes from the 'school of hard knocks' -- I have had the experience of multiple failures, usually immediately after power-on. Our office systems here are on 24 hours now, and we have yet to have a failure in *ANY* component -- the only thing that is ever powered down are monitors, and then only to prevent screen burn. I've noticed that most drive failures occur during power-on. We have *never* had a customer report a failure during operation -- but have had several failures during power up! Case in point: My St4051. It runs fine -- as long as you leave it running. Turn it off, and it might not spin back up. Defective? Definately! Something that would never happen if we never turned it off? True as well. Case in point #2: TRS-80 Model IV(s). The unit had been in continuous operation for about 4 years, and never had a failure. Now that we only use it occasionally, and power it down when not in use, it has become very flakey and sometimes refuses to work properly. What does all this mean?? You're better off leaving the unit *ON*. Now, this assumes that you have adaquate cooling for the system (ie: your office doesn't go to 90 degrees Fahrenheit during the night). -- Karl Denninger UUCP : ...ihnp4!ddsw1!karl Macro Computer Solutions Dial : +1 (312) 566-8909 (300-1200) "Quality solutions at a fair price" Voice: +1 (312) 566-8910 (24 hrs)