Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!husc6!cfa!rwallace
From: rwallace@vax1.tcd.ie
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Leaving Computer On
Message-ID: <1515@cfa.cfa.harvard.EDU>
Date: 20 Apr 89 21:54:58 GMT
References: <7684@phoenix.Princeton.EDU>
Sender: news@cfa.harvard.EDU
Organization: Computer Laboratory, Trinity College Dublin
Lines: 30

In article <7684@phoenix.Princeton.EDU>, rdnelson@phoenix.Princeton.EDU (Roger D Nelson) writes:
> What is the net's experience-based wisdom on the effect of leaving a
> micro-computer turned on?

The shock of turning the power off and on is always the same whereas the wear
caused by leaving the power on is proportional to the length of time so the
longer the time the computer will be unused for the more worth while it is
to turn the machine off. Obviously it's not worth turning a computer off while
you go for a cup of coffee whereas it is if you're going for a fortnight's
holiday. As far as I know the break-even time is a few days so I leave mine
on all the time.
  
> While I have your attention, may I expand the question to include
> systems that have a hard drive?  And finally, is there a difference in
> regard to the question of continuous running for the various types of
> computer?  At work I use IBM PCs and ATs, and wonder about leaving
> them running also.

Hard disks use moving parts constantly so the issue is different here. I turn
hard disk machines off overnight but leave them on over lunch.

Incidentally could any hardware designers out there give thought to the
possibility of being able to turn off the hard disk while leaving the computer
on? It's not just a matter of saving wear on the electronics; suppose you had
a computing job that would take several days to do (all in memory) and you
didn't want to leave the hard disk running that long.

"To summarize the summary of the summary: people are a problem"
Russell Wallace, Trinity College, Dublin
rwallace@vax1.tcd.ie