General Question on Power Properties

[elsenorpaco]

I'm looking to find out exactly what goes on when the computer goes on Suspend, Hibernation and turns off the hard drive.

Is there really any point to set your computer to turn off the hard drive after a certain amount of time? Will this prolong the life of your computer in the long run? When the harddrives are turned off, what can't the computer do? Is it still connected to the internet? Still receive email? Continue downloads? etc etc

Same thing for hibernation and suspend. Any specific reason to set your computer to do this, other than save battery power if on a laptop? What happens when you suspend the computer? How is that different from turning off the hard drives?

Thanks!

[Leonardo]

Hybernation and suspend functions are designed to save battery life. Those are great options for a laptop that must remain 'on' but is not connected to an AC power outlet. In my opinion, there's really not much utility for hybernation or suspend for a desktop. As far as wear and tear are concerned, I know of no evidence to suggest that hybernation or suspend activity will prolong computer coponents' lives.

With my home computers though, I leave them running 24/7 but set the monitors to shut off after fifteen minutes of no screen change. I do that to ease my power bill. CRT monitors are energy thirsty.

[elsenorpaco]

Yeah, I usually turn off my monitor too after 10 minutes.

My understanding of when a machine is in hibernation, it is virtually off and doesn't do any processing work at all. Correct?

And in suspend mode, I would imagine it does a little processing work? IF the email client was on, would it still have access to email? And would applicatoins be able to download off the internet?