>downsides of leaving it on all the time:
>heat buildup (computer is enclosed & no air conditioner & live in the
south *haha*)
>solution -- good fans, take the cover off (that's what i do)
Adam said:
Not to be nitpicky or anything, but this is not always the best thing to
do as good cases have been designed to maximize airflow and heat
regulation when they are put together. In some cases the static nature
of the surrounding air with the case off will actually cause the
components, especially processors and hard drives, to become hotter than
if the case were left on.
me says: true enuf & good point. i overlooked that in my reply -- probably because
if you have a lower end (inexpensive) computer like me -- the case was designed to
stuff as much in as possible & keep the price down. what you say is most certainly
true about the "good" stuff. =) my bad.
>power surge or lightning strike (tho this could do damage even if it is
turned off i suppose - just depends)
>solution -- get a GOOD UPS or line filter. not one at walmart. my
first IBM system was destroyed by lightning & a walmart line filter.
also >protect your modem line. i have seen systems fried thru the phone
line. sometimes your modem will be a fuse & protect the rest of your
>system. sometimes i will not.
Adam said:
Even a good UPS will not protect equipment if the lightening strike is
close enough, that's why most of the surge protectors/UPS's offer
insurance on things hooked up to them. I worked at Underwriters
Laboratories for awhile in their surge suppressor division. Lightning
strikes, usually closer than three or four poles to your house will take
out electronics unless you have some type of professional lightening
arrestor installed outside your house.
me says:
also true enuf -- my surge protector also comes with the insurance. if things get
really nasty outside i shut down & unplug.
>downsides of turning it on / off as needed:
>component failure is more likely to occure when powering up or down
>note -- i don't really know how "true" this is.... i'm an electronic
tech & i think about this & it could be true, but i don't have any
research or >data to support it. it does seem possible however.
I'm a little doubtful as to the claims that the on/off cycling really
does significant harm.....,but a sudden 5V surge into some of the more
delicate MOS chips could possibly, maybe, kinda do some damage in the
long run. Although how many of us have seen ancient 386's and 486's
that have been around forever still chuggin along just fine?
me says:
yes.... things like this are rather hard to support.... electronics is more like
witchcraft than science. i have almost never used antistatic procedures in my life,
and haven't detroyed anything yet.... i've seen circuits that work on paper &
calculate just fine, yet will not function when actually built.... all in all, i
think electronics are more reliable than we think. i've got an old 486 works just
fine. not only that, but the hard drive in it actually caught on fire -- yes, flames
were coming off of it -- bloody thing still works just fine. =)
Adrian Smith
'de telepone dude
Telecom Dept.
x 7042
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
