# Do you turn your computer off? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 22, 2002, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-turn-your-computer-off/115424 "2002-06-22T11:27:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-turn-your-computer-off/115424/21 "2002-06-22T21:18:28Z")
My husband’s computer stays on all the time, and he also has a UPS. I turn mine off regularly. Mostly because there is something wrong with my computer’s connection to our cable modem. If it stays on for long, it somehow disconnects. I have to reboot to get it back, so it makes sense to just turn it off between sessions. ---
**Author:** ![xash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c6cbf5/32.png) [@xash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xash)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-turn-your-computer-off/115424/22 "2002-06-22T21:29:15Z")
my computer stays online all the time… monitor shuts off after 10mins of idle time… cable connection to the 'net… i couldn’t really afford to do this when i had a dial-up…but now it’s powered on and online 24/7. I even have an ftp server running, so a network of friends can access each others’ computers at any time… however, i use Windows…and that prevents me from having uptimes like some of my friends… i’ve got a max uptime of a month before it crashes or needs a reboot… i’m just wondering how much this costs me in electricity … anyone know an average for a single comp with monitor on 10 hrs a day online over cable ? ---
**Author:** ![fisico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/cab0a1/32.png) [@fisico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fisico)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-turn-your-computer-off/115424/23 "2002-06-22T22:05:46Z")
I can’t sleep with the computer on so I turn it off when I go to bed. If i go out for a couple of hours and i’m not downloading i turn it off as well, the monitor I turn off even sooner. At work the workstation is connected to the lightswitch so I have to turn it off when leaving, otherwise someone will do it when turning off the lights and that can’t be good. Computer on = online ---
**Author:** ![butter\_pie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aca169/32.png) [@butter\_pie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butter_pie)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-turn-your-computer-off/115424/24 "2002-06-22T22:56:32Z")
My computer is about two feet from my bed, so I turn it off at night because I can’t sleep with the noise from the fan going. ---
**Author:** ![AbbySthrnAccent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@AbbySthrnAccent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AbbySthrnAccent)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-turn-your-computer-off/115424/25 "2002-06-22T23:29:30Z")
I turn both computers on when I get up in the morning. I usually turn the business computer off around 5. The other computer stays on until I go to bed. ---
**Author:** ![baltotop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f19dbf/32.png) [@baltotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/baltotop)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2002, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-turn-your-computer-off/115424/26 "2002-06-23T01:35:31Z")
I turn my computer off everytime im not using it. I never leave it running all day and if im away form it for more than an hour i turn it off. I heard from a friend that it damages the comp if you shut it down too many times… Does anyone know if there is any damage done to your comp if your are shuting it down everytime you are not using it? 😕 😕 ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2002, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-turn-your-computer-off/115424/27 "2002-06-23T02:06:26Z")
Usually, I put my desktops in “sleep” mode when not using them. If it takes over a day, they’re turned off. The notebook is off most of the time anyway. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Mermaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@The\_Mermaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Mermaid)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2002, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-turn-your-computer-off/115424/28 "2002-06-23T02:29:30Z")
I have RoadRunner and my computer is always on. I usually reboot in the morning or if I have been downloading a lot. At first I had the computer set up in the spare bedroom. But I got tired of feeling so isolated and my hubby (Thor) started to feeling neglected. Now it is in a previously unused corner of the dining room. Which is really just a corner of our great room. I can talk to everyone in the room, and am close enough to the sitting area to easily interact with people on the couch and love seat. I have a lot of the clutter in an armoire in the hall that is central to the bedrooms, stereo and computer. You know cd’s, tapes, stuff. This is a much better arrangement. ---
**Author:** ![dead0man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/edb3f5/32.png) [@dead0man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dead0man)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2002, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-turn-your-computer-off/115424/29 "2002-06-23T04:45:56Z")
2 computers w/cable, always on. The monitor on mine is off more than its on. Its pretty much just a gaming computer now. I use the SO’s for everything except my mail and some games. She has the more confortable chair and her computer is a little faster. The way I figure it, the more I’m on her’s, the more likely she is to say yes to me getting a new mobo/chip/ram and a new chair. dead0man ---
**Author:** ![mblackwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5fc32e/32.png) [@mblackwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mblackwell)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2002, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-turn-your-computer-off/115424/30 "2002-06-23T05:06:38Z")
There are 5 working computers in my house. Two PCs, an old Mac, and a Compaq Proliant that runs NT. The main PC is connected to the cable modem and is left on all the time. I use ICS to share the connection so it needs to be on for the others to get on the net (except the Mac, it has no network card). If I ever get one of those Linksys routers I will probably turn the main PC off when not in use and set the Proliant up as an FTP server. As of this morning, I am down to 3 working monitors including the mac one. Sparks started shooting out of one of them and now its dead. I also sit in front of my computer most of the time I am in my room and not sleeping or reading. My chair is one of those upholstered, rotating living room chairs. I got it a little over a year ago in perfect shape, now it has a broken leg, stuffing hanging out, and about a whole roll of duct tape holding it together. I sit in it way too much. I made my desk myself out of 2 extra doors and some old cabinets, Its huge and takes up about 1/4 of my room. ---
**Author:** ![Cleophus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e57/32.png) [@Cleophus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cleophus)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2002, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-turn-your-computer-off/115424/31 "2002-06-23T05:11:59Z")
Always on, though not because I have cable. (I do, BTW) I run a MOO server, and lots of people will get upset if I power down when I go to bed, work, etc. I only power down to reconfigure non-hot swappable hardware. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2002, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-turn-your-computer-off/115424/32 "2002-06-23T05:16:33Z")
I also shut mine down at night to eliminate the fan noise. ---
**Author:** ![Qwisp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qwisp/32/397_2.png) [@Qwisp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qwisp)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2002, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-turn-your-computer-off/115424/33 "2002-06-23T05:59:36Z")
My main computer gets turned off every night and powered up first thing in the morning, as long as someone is home there is always someone on it. My basement computer is a 5 year old Acer, it stays on always because the darn thing take forever to boot. It’s networked to my main computer and connects to the internet throught it. My kids use it mainly for IMing their friends. ---
**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2002, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-turn-your-computer-off/115424/34 "2002-06-23T15:44:51Z")
Always on. I used to switch off between sessions but various friends questioned this and pointed out there was no real reason to. So now I just leave it. ---
**Author:** ![NoUseForAName](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbce88/32.png) [@NoUseForAName](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoUseForAName)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2002, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-turn-your-computer-off/115424/35 "2002-06-23T16:35:38Z")
I turn it off. The last repairman that looked at the computer said shutting it down was the best thing to do, considering the computer’s 4-5 years old. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2002, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-turn-your-computer-off/115424/36 "2002-06-23T16:54:18Z")
It used to be that the old power supply on them did better if you left it on, but todays computers have much better ones. I talked to a guy at WD, they make HDs & he told me that in practice the HDs last longer if you turn the computer off. Im in California & power here isn’t cheap (or wasn’t) so I turn it off after I use it, day in or day out, but a lot of the time its in suspend mode, which is pretty much off. At night it’s off unless Im downloading stuff. I see no reason to waste electricity. Computers use a lot of power when you figure in the monitor, computer, scanner, printer, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2002, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-turn-your-computer-off/115424/37 "2002-06-23T18:56:59Z")
I leave the computer on all the time, though I turn the monitor off when I’m not using it. I also have a cable modem, so it’s just beautifully convenient. However, I hesitate to admit that my main motivation for doing so is because I’ve been running [Progress Quest](http://www.progressquest.com) for months. I’m on level 67; Act XXV. Sad, huh? ---
**Author:** ![Mudshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mudshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mudshark)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2002, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-turn-your-computer-off/115424/38 "2002-06-23T22:03:46Z")
We keep the computer on most of the time, unless Iwe know no one is going to use it, then we turn it off. \> ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2002, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-turn-your-computer-off/115424/39 "2002-06-23T22:09:52Z")
I leave my home computer (a homebrew 1200 MHz AMD Athlon box, 768 MB of RAM, running Windows XP Pro) on all the time. - It’s in a Lian Li case with plenty of fans, which keeps the components cool. It’s also very quiet. - I have broadband Internet service. - I have several programs that run at regular intervals to keep the system well-maintained – virus checkers that run and update every day, defraggers, and so on. These programs usually run late at night, when I’m not online. - I just started Progress Quest. Waht a waste of CPU cycles. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![modro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@modro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/modro)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2002, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-turn-your-computer-off/115424/40 "2002-06-24T04:58:55Z")
My iMac (running OS X) is always on, but if not in use, I just log out, then hit the power button and put it to sleep, which kills the screen and spins down the harddrive (It only draws 5 watts that way too if I remember correctly) When I want to use it, just hit a key on the keyboard, and instantly it wakes up and is useable (not the 30 secs or so with Windows that negated me putting it to sleep) This also keeps me from having to stare at the (admittedly cute) smiley mac on startup. Besides, my uptime on OS X is only limited by some Apple supplied software updates the requre a restart. It hasn’t crashed, once, in the 6 months I have been running it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-turn-your-computer-off/115424.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-turn-your-computer-off/115424.md?page=3)