Turning Your Computer Off At Night vs. Leaving it on 24/7

[Niels Bohr 72]

Whats the largest SSD on the market? 250ishGB?

Just checked newegg.com, it's 256 GB. Install the OS data on it. For everything else such as apps, use a secondary HD that is not a SSD. That way you don't have to wait on boot.

[rogerj 0]

Tell you what, my graphics car uses about 350 watts, CPU about 125 watts. So, leaving it on 24/7? Ridiculous.

Why hibernate when computers boot in no time at all if it's modernized. Heck, just turn the friggin things off. If there's no power condition or line conditioner (UPS Battery Backup devices), turn the computer off so that any inconsistency in electricity will not cause any problems for your machine.

Nearly half a kW (350 +125)? On a 115 volt circuit, that is over 4 amps. Leave you system on in winter, and heat you house!

[William33 110]

Why leave them on 24/7?

Most up-to-date computers boot in 2 minutes or less. Less wear, less energy and less chance of port attack.

[anitacastillo 0]

I thought some company IT guys wanted them on night so they could run updates and virus scans and stuff????

[Niels Bohr 72]

Tell you what, my graphics car uses about 350 watts, CPU about 125 watts. So, leaving it on 24/7? Ridiculous.

Why hibernate when computers boot in no time at all if it's modernized. Heck, just turn the friggin things off. If there's no power condition or line conditioner (UPS Battery Backup devices), turn the computer off so that any inconsistency in electricity will not cause any problems for your machine.

Nearly half a kW (350 +125)? On a 115 volt circuit, that is over 4 amps. Leave you system on in winter, and heat you house!

Technically, 115 volts is the RMS voltage and not the actual voltage. It's more like 162 volts in actuality.

[Captain Ewok 1,900]

Prove it in dollars (which people want to see):

typical office PC computer draws lets say 200 Watts when idle (built in or cheap graphics card)

so

200W x 15 unused PC hours per day x 365 days a year = 1095 kilo Watt hours (kWh)

attached below is the kWh cost break down for 2009 in the US...

so lets say in California that is 12 cents (0.12 dollars) per kWh. That means it costs 1095x0.12 = $131.4 a year to power a PC during off hours (15 hours a day). A typical company (and the IRS) depreciates a PC over three years (lets say they replace the PC every three years). That means that over three years you pay $394.2 in electricity during off hours to power each PC (you can save this...). A new PC for an office purchased in volume may cost $600dollars (maybe less). This means that you are paying back yourself well over half of the PCs cost in power savings. Additionally lets say you have 50 computers at work. Powering down would save you $6570 a year and $19,710 over three years.

Thermal stress is BS over a three year life cycle. Hard drives too.... they power down and park the read/write heads when not being used anyhow.

Edited December 1, 2009 by Captain Ewok
edit to fix image that had potential hotlink protection?

[LaL 418]

^^^ BAD ewok!!!

[Otto 83]

Can we see that chart again?

ETA: Direct Link

Edited December 1, 2009 by Otto und Karin

[NArocks 13]

http://www.grist.org/article/2009-11-15-as...-and-junk-mail/

Prove it in dollars (which people want to see):

typical office PC computer draws lets say 200 Watts when idle (built in or cheap graphics card)

so

200W x 15 unused PC hours per day x 365 days a year = 1095 kilo Watt hours (kWh)

here is the kWh cost break down for 2009 in the US:

edited out...

so lets say in California that is 12 cents (0.12 dollars) per kWh. That means it costs 1095x0.12 = $131.4 a year to power a PC during off hours (15 hours a day). A typical company (and the IRS) depreciates a PC over three years (lets say they replace the PC every three years). That means that over three years you pay $394.2 in electricity during off hours to power each PC (you can save this...). A new PC for an office purchased in volume may cost $600dollars (maybe less). This means that you are paying back yourself well over half of the PCs cost in power savings. Additionally lets say you have 50 computers at work. Powering down would save you $6570 a year and $19,710 over three years.

Thermal stress is BS over a three year life cycle. Hard drives too.... they power down and park the read/write heads when not being used anyhow.

[Captain Ewok 1,900]

Q. Dear Umbra,

I started a green team at my office and one of our initiatives is reducing energy consumption. The team had recommended turning off the computers at night and when not in use. Seems logical, right? Well, the IT department denied our efforts and recommends keeping computers on 24/7. I’m horrified! The rationale is that turning on and off your computer changes the internal temperature of the equipment and adds to the wear and tear. I need some data to back up our green claim that it is better and safe to shut down the computers. Can you please help?

Nervously awaiting,

Jennifer

A. Dearest Jennifer,

Little-known fact: I actually keep my computer turned off 24 hours a day. I just peek at my inbox over my editor’s shoulder, scribble my answers on recycled paper, and make her type them in. Saves boatloads of energy.

Congratulations on the formation of your green team, and condolences on the fact that you have already been strongarmed. I suspect it will not be the last time, as earnest eco-efforts are not always welcomed by those whose habits and patterns they affect.

There are two answers to your question, as far as I see it: a factual one and a philosophical one. The factual answer is, reputable sources including the U.S. Department of Energy say it is A-OK to turn your computer off at night, and that the various “wear and tear” arguments are no longer accurate. (Here is a fact sheet from the Oregon DEQ that, while a bit dated, cites many useful resources you might peruse.) The philosophical answer is, don’t ever, ever, ever alienate your IT department. Even for the sake of saving the planet.

I think there may be some middle ground here: more and more computers have a “hibernate” function, which is similar to a sleep function but even, well, sleepier. Talk to your IT people to find out if there’s a way to send all the computers happily into hibernation at the end of the day. Yes, they will still use a bit of energy, but far less than if they were left in full on mode, humming along. Other key things to do: turn off your monitor whenever you won’t be using it for 15 to 20 minutes. And remember that a screen saver is not an energy-saver; in fact, most screen savers are energy hogs.

Now go buy the IT guys some cookies, and keep up the good work.

RAMly,

Umbra

http://www.grist.org/article/2009-11-15-as...-and-junk-mail/

Prove it in dollars (which people want to see):

typical office PC computer draws lets say 200 Watts when idle (built in or cheap graphics card)

so

200W x 15 unused PC hours per day x 365 days a year = 1095 kilo Watt hours (kWh)

here is the kWh cost break down for 2009 in the US:

edited out...

so lets say in California that is 12 cents (0.12 dollars) per kWh. That means it costs 1095x0.12 = $131.4 a year to power a PC during off hours (15 hours a day). A typical company (and the IRS) depreciates a PC over three years (lets say they replace the PC every three years). That means that over three years you pay $394.2 in electricity during off hours to power each PC (you can save this...). A new PC for an office purchased in volume may cost $600dollars (maybe less). This means that you are paying back yourself well over half of the PCs cost in power savings. Additionally lets say you have 50 computers at work. Powering down would save you $6570 a year and $19,710 over three years.

Thermal stress is BS over a three year life cycle. Hard drives too.... they power down and park the read/write heads when not being used anyhow.

I especially call BS because over three years most large companies have service guarantees (warranties) anyhow.

[LaL 418]

I think Ewok isn't seeing that image the way we are

[Niels Bohr 72]

I think Ewok isn't seeing that image the way we are

Yeah. LOL. I'd suggest the Ewok log off and see for himself.

[Captain Ewok 1,900]

what image?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

:rofl: Best post of the day.

[Captain Ewok 1,900]

do they have hotlinking protection and put something horrible up?