Is it safe to leave the computer running 24/7 without any downtime?

Is it better to leave the computer on all the time even if you are not using it, or is it always better to turn it off? This question will never become a thing of the past and is always the focus of discussion in the technical community and the world of computers. Fortunately, there are two different arguments or directions, and you are free to choose the right direction for you, meaning that it always depends on the way you use it and the number of hours you spend on the computer throughout the day. But each direction has advantages and disadvantages, so let us know them in detail.

 

Better than leaving the computer running all the time

First of all, you have a very strong case for leaving the computer running all the time, which not only eliminates the system startup period every time you restart the computer but also helps you boost the performance of the entire computer system.

 This means that you seek comfort and speed at the same time, and you will not wait until the device is booted every time, it is always ready to go and at your disposal at any moment you want.

Of course, the Windows system takes a period of up to 30 seconds to finish the boot phase, enter the main interface screen of the desktop, and download applications, this period is while relying on SSD solid storage solutions. While the time is up to 60 seconds while using HDD storage disks, it can be up to 2 minutes or more while there are a large number of applications and programs loaded in the startup process.

 

Therefore, not turning off the computer frees you from waiting and procrastinating, especially if you have mediocre technical specifications or old hardware. In order to wake your computer from sleep mode, it will only take a few seconds, then all your business programs will be ready to run or complete your work on them without any problem.

 

Leaving the computer running all night has many benefits or advantages, as it will take care of downloading all updates on its own, which usually takes a long time to download and install. You can also take advantage of the night periods to move huge files from one folder to another or upload your files to cloud services.

This type of business consumes hardware resources which include internet speed, central processor, and disk storage. If you try to perform these operations during the daytime while using your computer, you will suffer from computer slowdown and bandwidth bottleneck to your internet speed, and you may not be able to run your essential business or entertainment programs in some games.

Not to mention virus scans that require long periods of time and significantly drain hardware resources. Also, you can finish intense rendering while you sleep.

 All this hard work puts a strain on your hardware resources and makes you unable to use your computer freely in the daytime, which may cause a delay and slow down your completion of the rest of your other work.

 

Another thing that is distinctive and may be one of the most important priorities for business owners who need to access their desktop computers while they are in their functional offices.

If the computer is on all the time, you will be able to access the contents of your computer remotely using your phone with the help of some software that allows authentication between two or more devices.

 Without this, you will need to ask a member of your family to turn on the computer and then run a remote authentication program such as TeamViewer, Chrome Remote Desktop, or AnyDesk, then connect the two devices to each other, and then start retrieving the files you need, and all this if we assume that there is someone in the house who can help you It helps you in this matter.

 But imagine the result if your home computer is on all the time, then you won't be waiting for anyone's help, and you will be able to access and recover your files in just a few seconds.

 

It is better to turn off the computer while you are not using it

 

You may think, is it possible for the computer to be damaged by continuous operation? In fact, there are logical and convincing reasons for you to close the computer as long as you do not use it. It is natural that any hardware part has an estimated life span and after that, it is subject to wear, these hypothetical periods are very long and estimated at thousands of continuous working hours that may range in value from one to two years or more of continuous operation.

 Despite this, there are some components that are susceptible to damage faster than others or prone to decline in efficiency over time and with frequent use, such as a laptop battery. If you turn off your computer while you are not using it, you are helping to extend its life span.

 

Another downside is that you waste more energy with no real benefit. Here, it depends on the type of device and hardware specifications that your personal device contains. A laptop is a much smaller resource than a desktop computer, and in this way, it is very energy efficient and will not cause a noticeable increase in your electricity bills. While desktop computers consume huge amounts of energy.

But fortunately, once it enters the idle phase, the percentage of consumers will drop completely, and turning off the screen will also help to save more on energy consumed. At the same time, once you return to wake up the computer and turn on the screen, it will only take a few seconds and your work will simply be done.

 The only downside to idle mode is that you won't be able to access the computer remotely. It should also be noted that turning off the computer while leaving the power cable in the wall socket consumes a percentage of the electric current, even if it is small, so if you are looking to save electricity expenses in the best possible way, it is necessary to remove the power cable from the wall.

 

The added advantage of shutting down your computer while you're not using it is that you'll rest assured if a sudden power outage or computer malfunction causes it to restart on its own and all the problems that need manual intervention.

 Therefore, leaving the computer running while you are away from it or while you sleep may be subject to some potential and unexpected risks. Therefore, shutting down the computer may be a good idea while you are away from it because you will be assured of not being messed with by others and not causing any serious damage or problems.

 

Also, we will not forget that restarting the computer is reviving the computer system, which may help in many cases to get rid of many problems and malfunctions that may be related to the work system of some programs or operating system management processes. Therefore, you may be surprised the next day, while turning on the computer again, the disappearance of some of the problems you were facing yesterday. Definitely thanks to the Windows system and the development of programs that reform themselves and get rid of corrupted records that are stored in memory when you restart the computer.

 

Turning off the computer at night provides you with the quiet factor, which greatly helps you to rest, relax and enjoy a night of deep sleep. Sure, you can mute the sound of your desktop computer or laptop, but a desktop computer has fans running all the time and maybe loud depending on the temperatures and the work you've scheduled yourself to do while you sleep.

 Also, the sound of mechanical storage disks may be annoying sometimes as a result of the clicks of the writing and reading needle and the rotation of the motor drive. This will not be a problem for laptops that have hard drives.

 

Now, which one is better for you?

 

Of course, you can leave the computer running all the time without interruption, many servers and workstations work 24/7 without interruption. But we will not forget that the servers are configured to perform the tasks in this case, but this does not mean that personal computers are not capable of the same thing, on the contrary, some personal computers are able to accomplish the task, and even better than servers, due to the modern cooling methods that we are interested in purchasing High-quality hardware and components. The only advantage of the servers is the ECC RAM which does not require a reboot of the computer every now and then.

 

But in the end, desktop and laptop personal computers typically have the ability to disperse their high temperatures, and hardware and micro components such as capacitors, transistors, and electrical circuits are capable of continuity while operating continuously for thousands of hours without interruption. Therefore, there is no need to turn on, close, turn on, and shut down the computer several times in a row during the day. You can leave it working throughout the day without the slightest problem as long as you are assured that its temperatures are normal and within the permissible limits, and you can give it the power to perform some work during the night, such as checking viruses or Upload files to the cloud, archive your new files to your backup hard drive, or do some extensive rendering and 3D modeling.

 

At the same time, it may be a good idea to give it a little rest so it can cool properly, higher temperatures and continuous work will speed up the estimated lifespan of hardware components. Nvidia previously stated that running graphics cards normally may make them able to continue for more than 5 years, while running them continuously without interruption and under hard effort such as mining operations robs them of at least three years of age. But regardless of the stats, it depends on your needs and the way you use it. If you have a lot of work, you can keep your computer running for several days straight without any problem. There is no objection to letting the hardware components cool down for several hours as a result of the operation that lasted for several continuous days. In the end, you are completely free in which of the two you choose.