Should I Turn Off My Computer Or Leave It On ?

The argument behind whether you should leave your computer on or shut it down today has changed drastically. The argument now is attributed to things like the amount of energy used by a conventional computer to the lifespan of electronic components.

One of the primary reasons for leaving a computer on at night is not usually even mentioned during the argument and that is so certain required maintenance can run while you are not on the computer like Defragmenting, Updating and more that has a tendancy of slowing a computer down so is usually scheduled during hours that are most likely not to affect a computer user like 3am in the morning.

Life Expectancy of Computer Components Addressing the argument about the life expectancy of computer components is a difficult discussion. The reason it is so complicated is that even though every electronic component made has a number of hours it is rated for the massive amount of reasons they fail are not really accounted for.

Under normal circumstances the average laptop and desktop will last between three to five years. The average given here has remained consistent and does not really vary between computers that are left on and those that are turned off every night. The catch here is that the average computer owner usually replaces their computer in this same time period whether the computer is still working or it is not working.

The increase in technology and the demand for system resources tends to cause the need for upgrades in this same time period. This makes the issue of whether it is best to turn your computer off or leave it on a topic about energy conservation and computer maintenance rather than hardware related. Is There A Difference Between Leaving My Computer On Or Turning It Off There are definite benefits and draw backs to whether you leave a computer on all the time or whether you turn it off every night.

One of the chief differences is power consumption. The average laptop will cost between $4.25 to $5 per month if left on 24 hours a day. If the computer is only used 8 hours a day the approximate cost is between $1.50 and $2.00 per month. When deciding to leave the computer turned on or turned off there is a price difference though it is typically not a large amount.

Depending on the personal view and goal of the owner this information may affect the decision. One of the arguments about whether it is best to leave a computer on or turn it off is a view of when are electronic components most likely to fail? Is the failure most likely to happen when a constant flow of electricity is going through them or during the sudden surge of electricity when you first turn it on.

The alternative view is that components are only rated for so many hours so leaving the computer on uses up these hours. It is also important to consider the maintenance aspect of whether it is best to leave a computer turned on or turned off. Maintenance has to take place like the checking and installation of Windows updates. The schedule for updating is set by default to 3am. Other programs often schedule standard maintenance and running at early morning times so that the user is not forced to suffer from any system impact these maintenance schedule may cause to the way a computer may run.

When the computer is turned off these actions often take place during a certain period after the computer is turned back on and connected to the Internet. Six One Way Half A Dozen Another To address the issue bluntly it really comes down to six one way half a dozen the other. There are benefits and negatives to both choices. Hopefully this article makes it possible to make an informed decision that best fits your individual needs and desires.