Vista 'SLEEP MODE'

[Admin]

I sometimes use vista sleep mode when I am away from my PC for more than 1hr.
However I have read that it is safe to leave a desktop pc on 24/7. Doing a bit of research on this I realised this is mostly for servers etc.

I have a new computer and want to know if one of the regulars could tell me if it is 'safe' to never shut down, rather just go to sleep mode (I'm talking for 4 days+ periods, only restarting after instaling something and only shutting down if I away from home).
Also can the computer continue to download large files from the net during sleep mode?

[LSG501]

well assuming the pc is stable, adequately cooled etc and you can afford the electricity bills then its usually fine to leave a pc on 24/7, some say it's better due to no 'surges' from on/off.

[Tom]

Usually a sleep mode is to conserve power, so devices like your HDDs and NICs are turned off.

On that basis, your files probably won't continue to download whilst it's asleep.

[nicky munchkin]

If you do leave your computer/server on 24/7, and then power it off for a long time, this is not good for it.

Doing a bit of research on this I realised this is mostly for servers etc. Nothing defines what is and isn't a server. Most of us here have some kind of file/web/mail server in our house usually made out of an old desktop PC.

[six5tring]

As stated... pc's are happy to run 24/7 providing they are ventilated adequately!

If you are going to leave a PC on 24/7 though make sure it's not too power hungry though!

If you want to just use it as a download server then you may be better getting some kind of smart NAS box that can do it for you. I'm sure there was recently a router with hard drive in custom pc mag.

six

[LSG501]

If you want to just use it as a download server then you may be better getting some kind of smart NAS box that can do it for you. I'm sure there was recently a router with hard drive in custom pc mag.


As I have a nas (synology ds106j) with this capability (torrent and html) I can vouch that it is very much lighter on the electricity bills, however there are some issues with blocking unwanted users (by peerguardian on windows) so you can get anyone on it and its also not as fast or as configurable in standard trim

[latency]

If you do leave your computer/server on 24/7, and then power it off for a long time, this is not good for it.

Says who? I can think of no reason why that would be true...

Assuming you're not bothered about saving power, the vast majority of computers have no trouble running 24/7.
It's good to restart now and then though, in order to clear the RAM and any idle threads that don't need to be running, and generally flush the system clear. This isn't essential, but you can often tell when a computer hasn't been restarted for a long time, it may not be so snappy as usual, or some minor abnormalities surface.

I use sleep mode religiously personally, my PC is set to 15mins sleep, so it suspends on it's own accord if it's clear I'm not currently using it, or have left the room.
But as others say, your computer can't do anything while sleeping.

[Westy5]

Don't leave it on, just wasting electricity, if you aren't using it productively 24/7 - think of the environment and at least use sleep

[Admin]

well assuming the pc is stable, adequately cooled etc and you can afford the electricity bills then its usually fine to leave a pc on 24/7, some say it's better due to no 'surges' from on/off.

Thanks for all the different view points guys, helps to put things into prespective.
LSG501 I also read something about these surges, apparently if you have your pc on for more that 8 hours, then it is better in the long run for the hardware to keep it on rather than switcing it on and off - thus not causing stress on certain parts due to regular heating and cooling.
Do you think sleep mode causes any of these 'surges'?

[saltynay]

If you are leaving it on 24/7, you should do some justice to the world by Folding@home

http://folding.stanford.edu/

[Fireblade]

System components are stressed most, when they're first powered up, so constantly switching a system on and off, will inevitably cause more 'wear and tear', than those in a system left running 24/7.

But I've no doubt component manufacturers expect systems to be switched on and off a few times a day... so it's not a significant issue - or cause for concern.



Do you think sleep mode causes any of these 'surges'?

No... at least not to the same extent, simply because 'sleep' mode, doesn't actually switch the system off. It just puts it in 'standby' :)


As for the suggestion to always turn your system off when you're not using it;

There are many thousands - if not millions of users worldwide, who leave systems running 24/7 - for whatever reason.
But I suspect doing so, is more likely to have a bigger impact on the pocket of the user, than any detrimental effect it may have on the environment?

And FWIW... when many of the systems which are on 24/7, are being used to run DC projects such as F@H (Folding@Home), I personally think the potential 'pros', far outweigh the possible 'cons' ;)

[nicky munchkin]

Says who? I can think of no reason why that would be true...
Don't have a clue why. T'is what I got told though from a reputable source.

[latency]

I'd take it with a pinch of salt personally... There's no logical reason why a computer would be damaged by switching off after being on for a long time. Most computers get as hot as they're going to within an hour or so tops, assuming they're idle, so by that argument, we're damaging our computers every night by giving them a rest...