I just got a cable modem (FAST!), and have had my computer on for 4 days straight while... um... downloading video files and other stuff from the internet.
I wonder if it can hurt anything, mainly the hard drives, to be on constantly without a break.
I think there have been discussions on this in the past, but I don't remember there being a clear majority either way.
PS - search for Ines Cudna on the web. That's my kind of woman!!! And Nadine Jansen, Lorna Morgan, etc...
Best advice for a 24\7 computer-- protect the PSU with at least a good surge strip, much better is a UPS that will run the box totally off battery for 10-15 minutes. APC UPSs come with shutdown software, IE Powerchute monitors UPS via a serial or NIC cable and when UPS sends a signal that power is low, PowerChute tells Windows to shut down. And, it logs the event.
Computers that have even power fed through a UPS coming into PSU last on average LOTS longer than those with cheap surge strips on them. Especially where I live. A PSU with uneven power in will typically give uneven power out. Vary the power in too much, strange things happen in computers. Folks used to argue that one reason to not defrag a drive was the chance of file system on HD getting damaged. If system is UPS'd and Windows is set up right, chances of that happening are so minimal that defragging gets lots of benefits versus risk, and whole computer runs smoothly much longer.
I have 9 computers that I run 24/7/365 myself, folding their asses off. All are overclocked except the laptop too and no problems. The biggest enemy to your processor(and hard drives) is heat and if you keep that under control with a good hsf and good ventilation, you shouldn't have any problems.
now that I have to pay my electric bill (old apartment they paid it) and my wife now runs the A/C 26/9 (25/8 is for girls) I have to be very mindfull of the electrical usage, that and southern cal is always having energy issues, I shut down all my electronics when not in use to conserve and keep the bill from making me poor.
Im in rented accomadation and my landlord had a word with me many months ago about the sudden rise in the electric bill... right around the time I was running a server 24/7 and my desktop 24/7 .. coding the new SM
I can't leave them on, as much as I would like to
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BlackHawkBible music connoisseurThere's no place like 127.0.0.1Icrontian
edited September 2004
The power mangement stuff would help you alot. Just set it to make the PC hibernate after an hour or something.
Well, I fold for my team on my main (only) computer so it is on all the time, unless I leave for an extended period of time wo/ anyone in the house (wouldn't want something to happen!)
I told myself I was never gonna give in to the 24/7 fold but it just started happening... lol
Well, I fold for my team on my main (only) computer so it is on all the time, unless I leave for an extended period of time wo/ anyone in the house (wouldn't want something to happen!)
I told myself I was never gonna give in to the 24/7 fold but it just started happening... lol
Heh, the addiction takes hold......:D Next thing you know, you will be buying up new and spare parts so you can cobble together more folding power and start offering to fix people's machines just so you can install folding(under your username of course) on their machines!
Heh, the addiction takes hold......:D Next thing you know, you will be buying up new and spare parts so you can cobble together more folding power and start offering to fix people's machines just so you can install folding(under your username of course) on their machines!
...checking yard sales,want adds in local papers, sidewalks on trash day, relatives that want to get the new Dell, umm ya I've heard it could be addictive.
(I currently have 5, 24/7)
I leave mine on 24/7, I also have 3 Maxtor drives, the oldest being near 2 years old, and its a 60GB ATA133 8MB 7200RPM drive, the other two are both 120GB ATA133 8MB 7200RPM drives, one is about 18 months old, the other is about 12 months old, the two 120GB drives have been in RAID 0 since Jan 04.
get a psu, and get a cardboard box =D cut some holes in it, and mount fans. whee!
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LeonardoWake up and smell the glaciersEagle River, AlaskaIcrontian
edited September 2004
Starting and shutting down a computer causes thermal expansion and contraction cycles on all the components that move or have electrical current. Expansion and contraction - this mechanical stress eventually leads parts failures, just as repeated bending of a piece of aluminum will eventually crack the metal.
Overheating? Sure, that can cause component failures as well. I am not aware of premature failure of computer parts due to always on. If the system is cooled well, the components should maintain a nearly constant temperature without too much fluctuation.
Power consumption and the electric bill? Well, there's no argument there. CRTs use quite a bit of juice. You can mitigate that though, by turning off the monitor when not in use. But of course, its components will expand and contract...
A total of 10 servers, desktop & distributed computing systems are online 24/7 when ambient room temperatures are below 25*C.
When ambient room temps crawl above 25*C, only critical systems are online (total of 6 servers & desktops). DC takes a back-seat to the prevention of swamp-ass.
I've installed an air exchange system in the basement window to help exhaust warm air during the day & intake cool air at night. One of those massive 400 CFM squirrel-cage fans that's reversible. Hooked up to a thermostat & a timer, its' set to come on at certain times, and also when certain temperatures are reached.
Power cost isn't a concern, since I'm capped at $0.043/kWh.
I just got a cable modem (FAST!), and have had my computer on for 4 days straight while... um... downloading video files and other stuff from the internet.
I wonder if it can hurt anything, mainly the hard drives, to be on constantly without a break.
I think there have been discussions on this in the past, but I don't remember there being a clear majority either way.
PS - search for Ines Cudna on the web. That's my kind of woman!!! And Nadine Jansen, Lorna Morgan, etc...
Comments
Oh so right Tim. I would rather use something to the max that I paid for then just let it sit around doing nothing myself, but that is just me.
Best advice for a 24\7 computer-- protect the PSU with at least a good surge strip, much better is a UPS that will run the box totally off battery for 10-15 minutes. APC UPSs come with shutdown software, IE Powerchute monitors UPS via a serial or NIC cable and when UPS sends a signal that power is low, PowerChute tells Windows to shut down. And, it logs the event.
Computers that have even power fed through a UPS coming into PSU last on average LOTS longer than those with cheap surge strips on them. Especially where I live. A PSU with uneven power in will typically give uneven power out. Vary the power in too much, strange things happen in computers. Folks used to argue that one reason to not defrag a drive was the chance of file system on HD getting damaged. If system is UPS'd and Windows is set up right, chances of that happening are so minimal that defragging gets lots of benefits versus risk, and whole computer runs smoothly much longer.
So true. :banghead:
g
I can't leave them on, as much as I would like to
I told myself I was never gonna give in to the 24/7 fold but it just started happening... lol
Heh, the addiction takes hold......:D Next thing you know, you will be buying up new and spare parts so you can cobble together more folding power and start offering to fix people's machines just so you can install folding(under your username of course) on their machines!
...checking yard sales,want adds in local papers, sidewalks on trash day, relatives that want to get the new Dell, umm ya I've heard it could be addictive.
(I currently have 5, 24/7)
Overheating? Sure, that can cause component failures as well. I am not aware of premature failure of computer parts due to always on. If the system is cooled well, the components should maintain a nearly constant temperature without too much fluctuation.
Power consumption and the electric bill? Well, there's no argument there. CRTs use quite a bit of juice. You can mitigate that though, by turning off the monitor when not in use. But of course, its components will expand and contract...
When ambient room temps crawl above 25*C, only critical systems are online (total of 6 servers & desktops). DC takes a back-seat to the prevention of swamp-ass.
I've installed an air exchange system in the basement window to help exhaust warm air during the day & intake cool air at night. One of those massive 400 CFM squirrel-cage fans that's reversible. Hooked up to a thermostat & a timer, its' set to come on at certain times, and also when certain temperatures are reached.
Power cost isn't a concern, since I'm capped at $0.043/kWh.
porn monger
j/k
And proud of it.
Wait a sec...you weren't talking to me.
/me runs hiding