One of the greatest technology debates is not about cell phones causing cancer or Yahoo versus Google, but something more domestic. Does shutting down a PC on a daily basis shorten its life? Do you have to compromise saving energy for the health of your computer? Here is the answer.
This question comes up so very frequently, although not usually as a question. There are users on both sides who adamantly believe (and share) that it is better to either leave your computer on all of the time or shut it down when you aren’t actively using it. The pro “leave it on” camp says that each time you shut and restart a computer, you risk stressing the components. The pro “shut it down” camp argues that not only does leaving the computer on when not in use waste energy, but it can go wonky if it doesn’t get regular shut downs.
So who is right?
While there is no proven study, I personally take the expert’s advice and shut down my computer when it is not in use. Shutting the computer off generally does more good than harm. Going through the shut down mode tends to help the PC organize the changed that was made to it and apply any new updates or changes (how many times do you have to restart your computer after installing new software?). It also, obviously saves energy and probably the life of your monitor. In addition, experts tell us that most PC processors have a 10-year life-span, and the PC will probably be outdated and useless before turning it off and on could affect the CPU. We have an older mac desktop (seven years old to be precise) that is still used (and shut off and on) on a daily basis.
Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, technology in the Computing Blog, and creating a home in the Home Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.
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