• News
    • Tech News
    • AI
  • Gadgets
    • Apple
    • iPhone
  • Gaming
    • Playstation
    • Xbox
  • Science
    • News
    • Space
  • Streaming
    • Netflix
  • Vehicles
    • Car News
  • Social Media
    • WhatsApp
    • YouTube
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
TikTok
Snapchat
WhatsApp
Submit Your Content
Expert reveals if you should completely power off your PC nightly

Home> News> Tech News

Published 16:26 8 Feb 2024 GMT

Expert reveals if you should completely power off your PC nightly

It depends on how often you use your computer.

Rebekah Jordan

Rebekah Jordan

Featured Image Credit: Olivier Le Moal/Alistair Berg/Getty
Computers
Gadgets
Tech tips

Advert

Advert

Advert

Some claim that leaving a computer on all the time causes wear and tear, while frequent restarts affect its longevity.

So, what do you do?

Should you close everything down and let the device sleep like the rest of us, or just close the lid so all your stuff is waiting for you the next morning?

According to a poll by Panda Security, only 37% out of 1,000 Americans shut down their computers every night.

Advert

How often you use your PC depends on when you should turn it off / Olivier Le Moal/Getty
How often you use your PC depends on when you should turn it off / Olivier Le Moal/Getty

Tech expert, Steven Leslie of Geek Squad, said it all comes down to how often you use your computer.

'If you use your computer multiple times per day, it’s best to leave it on. If you use it for a short time — say an hour or two — just once a day, or even less, then turn it off,' Leslie explained.

Computers go into 'sleep mode' after a certain amount of time regardless of whether the lid is closed.

Although it's called sleep mode, it's more of a low power state. The computer consumes very little energy to keep all your tasks and programs running in the background.

Just a quick wiggle of the mouse or a tap of the keyboard means you can immediately continue where you finished off.

Leslie added: 'Sleep is fine because it puts the computer into a low power state without turning it completely off.'

This is similar to the way that consoles like the PlayStation 5 go into rest mode, which is a quicker way to download games or software updates without having to keep the console on full power.

Whilst it's the more convenient option, Leslie warns that it comes with some drawbacks.

Sleep mode is a way to keep all your files and tasks running in the background / Alistair Berg/Getty
Sleep mode is a way to keep all your files and tasks running in the background / Alistair Berg/Getty

Leaving your computer in sleep mode whilst on an unsecured (public) network leaves it open to cyberattacks.

Additionally, the device isn't officially turned off, thus it still uses electricity - which might be something to consider if you're keeping an eye on the bills.

Leslie continued: 'In hibernate, your computer stops using power and resumes where it was when you put it in that mode. Hibernate is a less desirable option because it produces wear and tear that is similar to start and stop.'

On the contrary, turning the device off once in a while helps to clear the RAM which allows it to operate more smoothly.

Bear in mind that powering on the device takes a large amount of energy and over time, this can decrease the lifespan of the computer.

Meanwhile, according to Leslie, leaving a computer on all the time is 'less stressful' than turning it on and off multiple times during the day, but he notes instead that it is a 'constant stress.'

Either way, the Geek Squad agent points out that when you do fully power down your computer, make sure you give it an extended amount of time before you load it back up again.

  • Changing these iPhone settings can almost double your phone's battery life
  • Tech expert issues warning over why you should turn your iPhone off at least once a week
  • Little-known reason why you should always place your phone face down on a table
  • You should delete these 5 pre-installed apps if your iPhone is beginning to slow down

Choose your content:

an hour ago
3 hours ago
  • Chris Unger / Contributor via Getty
    an hour ago

    Joe Rogan reveals real reason he refused Golden Globe nomination for Best Podcast and people are baffled

    It's the #1 podcast in the USA

    News
  • NASA
    an hour ago

    Scientists are about to drill into 'the most unstable glacier on planet Earth' dubbed 'Doomsday glacier'

    It's one of the largest of its kind in the world

    Science
  • Facebook/Michelle Saaiman
    3 hours ago

    Toddler lost sight as eye began to 'melt away' after being kissed by someone with herpes

    His mother has now issued a warning

    News
  • Amazon
    3 hours ago

    Crew members who worked on Melania Trump film reportedly ask to have their names removed from the project

    President Trump says tickets are 'selling out, fast'

    News