Re: [LUG] Computer on time

From: Neil Winchurst <barnaby@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Sunday, 5 February 2012, 15:10
Subject: Re: [LUG] Computer on time

On 05/02/12 14:41, raymond.knowles@xxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
> Hi Neil,
>
> One of the reasons for leaving computers switched
> on is to reduce
> the amount of damage caused by thermal
> cycling.
> BBC maintenance crews found that by leaving
> equipment on 24/7, they could
> manage with one less person
> per shift.
> I switch my equipment off last thing at night,
> but whenever it is
> switched on the following day, it stays
> on until evening shutdown.
> Not overly sure about the
> details, but it's due to differential expansion
> causing
> metal fatigue and eventual failure.
>
> I'm sure this will
> generate lots of comment.
>
> Regards etc,
> Ray.
>
>> ----

One of the reasons I have been given for shutting down the computer when
not in use is to save wear and tear on the hard disk. This is spinning
all the time it is on, so I have been told that it is a good idea for
the sake of the HD to keep it switched off when not working at the computer.

The hard disk is one of the few mechanical, moving parts in a computer,
I am told, and thus is more prone to problems from wear. However, asking
around, I hear that a lot of people leave theirs running all day, so
that prompted the question.

Now reading the responses so far it seems that the electronic, non
moving, components could be affected too by switching on and off. Now I
am really getting muddled.

Thanks for the replies so far,

Neil

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Most bios programs have had energy saving schemes built in for 10
years or more, these power down mechanical devices like hard drives
and most hard drive firmware also have park and power down built in.
PCI cards and any on board chips not soldered on have a tendency
to walk out of their slots or sockets due to the expansion and
contraction from running and stopping a computer. The negative side
of running a pc for 24/7 is the extra ware on the cooling fans and the
extra dirt sucked in with the cooling air and the electricity bill when it
lands on the carpet!
I run 2 of my boxes 24/7, one runs a security system that watches my
garden and motorbike, the other uses the bit-torrent protocols to
share various linux distro's I'm involved with. Both boxes donate cpu
cycles by running Boinc and computing climate prediction modules
and SETI modules.

John

Registered Linux user number 414240 Guy Fawkes the only person to enter the Parliament with honest intentions and he was going to blow them up !