When you finish doing your work each day, you are confronted with the following controversial question - "is it better to leave my PC turned ON - or should I turn it OFF?"
The answer is more complicated than you might think. OK, let me cut to the bottom line - turn OFF the PC - in my humble opinion, of course.
First, a little technical perspective. Your PC needs to be turned ON to run. Duh. When you press the power button, the electric power goes through the power supply (with built-in cooling fan), then to the motherboard, then to the individual components - the hard drive, CD drives, video card, et al. Power is consumed as you use your PC - generating heat - which then kicks off the fan to cool the internal components. In reality, a modest amount of electricity is used during typical PC use.
Most newer computers have an automatic energy-saving SLEEP mode that 'powers down' the PC when the PC is inactive. When you move the mouse or start typing, the PC 'wakes up' to resume full power mode. Most importantly, when waking up from SLEEP mode, all of your open programs remain exactly where you left them - and you can continue with your work without reopening everything. So, when you're PC is turned ON and becomes inactive (you don't use it for several minutes), power consumption is minimal. If you frequently use your PC - and need to re-open numerous programs each time you turn ON your PC - this is a valid argument to leave your PC turned ON.
So, why turn it OFF? It's not about saving energy. Actually, I recommend turning OFF the PC for a different reason - to minimize the impact of power surges - which can destroy your PC components.
Where I live in Bergen County, we seem to have more than our fair share of power outages and "brown outs", a situation where the power doesn't go off, but changes its level. PC components, routers, modems, printers, et al, don't like brown outs. Surge protectors don't protect you from brown outs. Brown outs kill electronic components. As such, when not using my PC, I prefer to turn it OFF.
By the way, you should also invest in a high quality surge protector, not one of those glorified extension strips. Get yourself a 10 electric plug highest possible protection surge protector for about $50-$75. It's the best insurance you can buy to avoid computer and data disaster.
Surge protectors are always a good idea. However, if your home or office has frequent electrical problems, consult your electrician and ask to have enhanced surge protection added to your fuse box. I did this in my home after I lost over $1,000 in electronic equipment and, I am happy to report, I haven't had a problem since.
This article was provided by Fred Litt, Family Technology Associates, Allendale, NJ. Fred welcomes your comments and questions. Visit http://www.FamilyTechnology.com to learn more about Fred's professional efforts.
Email Fred at mailto:Fred@FamilyTechnology.com
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