On Tuesday, April 23, 2002, at 08:10 AM, Scott Mugan wrote: > on 04/23/02 12:52 AM, Donald Keenan at [EMAIL PROTECTED] arranged > electrons in the following style: > >> >> 2) I've heard that some people literally leave their computers on >> 24/7/365. Why? Is this really better for the hardware? I would almost >> think it would >> burn out? Is it comparable to human bodies getting habitual exercise >> rather than a sedentary lifestyle? Could someone explain why one should >> leave a computer running all the time? Sorry if I missed the >> explanation >> in a recent post. > > I leave all of my computers running 24/7. I just turn the monitors off > or > have them power down with the energy control panel. The theory being > that > the power cycling is harder on the components than the continuous > operation. > When you power on a computer there is an inrush of current, also the > thermal > cycling of turning off and on, and unavailability of the systems for > network > administration during off peak hours.
No one has ever proven, nor will they ever I think, that power cycle is any more hazardous than continuous operation. This myth stems from the days of vacuum tubes, which DID have a habit of dying on power up. I have computers that operated 24/7/365 that died after ~18 months. I have computers that were rebooted regularly that died in the same time frame. I have one of each that's over 10 years old and still chugging.... hell, I shut my Mac Plus off every evening when I go home, and boot it back up every morning when I come in..... and it's what, 16 years old? It probably ran 24/7/365 for the first 5 years of it's life, then got shut down every night for the balance.... still running strong. The Apple Personal Modem that goes with it (9600bps) still works, too (not that I use it...) All things being equal, I leave all my computers (except the Plus) running 24/7 for convenience reasons. -- The iMac List is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | - Epson Stylus Color 580 Printers - new at $69 | & CDRWs on Sale! | SPECIAL LIST PRICES - Apple iMac CDROMs from $79.99, iMac DVD CDROMs from $99.99 3 port USB Hub $14.99, 40GB Hard Drive Upgrades $119 <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> iMac List info: <http://lowendmac.com/imac/list.shtml> Send list messages to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/imac-list%40mail.maclaunch.com/> Using a Mac? Free email & more at Applelinks! http://www.applelinks.com
