What is best for the computer? On all the time or on and off as you use it? Thanks?
155596
An idling computer does very little work.  Turning the computer off when not in use does not provide any real benefit.  Even the power savings are neglible (relative to other household devices).  Unlike a car, the parts inside a computer are mostly non-moving.  Those few parts which actually move (the fan and the hard drive) usually won't move if the computer is not being used.  You're better off just leaving the computer on, unless you plan on going more than 48 hours without using it.  But even then, leaving it on is no big deal.  Joverlien's point is largely accurate.\n\nIt doesn't hurt to turn off the monitor when the computer is not in use...but newer monitors will turn themselves on and off automatically.
48443
honestly, in terms of today's technology, it really doesn't matter at all.  Many times, people are worried that keeping it on will wear out the components, and sometimes that turning it back on will shock the components too much.  If you're buying a new computer every 4-5 years, it really does not matter
211157
Its better leave your computer ON.\nWhen you turn ON your computer, the PC uses the double of power. If you leave it ON, you may use half of power, but try to leave it ON with some Energy Rescue Resources, like "Suspend System".\n\nJuan. Bs As, Argentina.
693676
I'm assuming you run your computer on for long amounts of time. The best thing to do is to get a cooling pad like mentioned and to slow down the processor so that it doesn't produce extra heat when not in use/under a large load. http://www.pbus-167.com/chc.htm Notebook hardware control is a great program you could look into to see temps and to slow the processor down when you don't need all 100%. It can also help save battery life when you're not plugged in.
590262
You should be ok if you have it on a hard surface like a desk or table. \n\nIf you have it on the floor, or couch, or table with tablecloth, it may overheat due to the fan being blocked by the fabric.  Overheating is bad as it can kill the motherboard and/or drive and you would have an expensive paperweight.\n\nLeaving a computer on is supposed to be good for it since booting from the off state over and over adds wear and tear to the system.  I have a PC that I power off every night, and a work laptop that gets shut down once or twice a day, both work fine.  I haven't rebooted my mac in over a month and it too works fine.
1162487
Start / Control Panel / Power Options\n\n Set to "always on". Press Okay
134849
On LapTops definitely turn it off, it will wear down the battery. On desktops I will turn it off, if your not gonna use it within six hours. The reason for this is I find I have to replace more fans on computer used 24 hours than on the ones that are shut down everynight. If your cpu fan burns out while no one is using the computer, your cpu can burnout as well, costing a bit.
1094916
Same as anything..."ON" turns it on, and "OFF" turns it off...I'm guessing.
164214
Besides adding/reconfiguring fans, or removing/reapplying thermal paste to your processor,  I would STRONGLY advise using CPUidle.  This small program runs in the background and tells your computer to "relax" when you are not doing something on it, or are just using it to do basic things.  \nIt basically keeps your cpu occupied when it isn't doing power tasks and thus LOWERS the cpu temperature DRAMATICALLY!  I use it on both my desktop and notebook, cause remember, the lower the temp the longer life you will get out of your processor!  Try it!
1039508
I leave mine on all the time and the dell guy told me to turn it off a couple of hours a day.\n\nMake sure you have a screen saver that moves or something because if the screen sits to long it can burn the image into your monitor
157563
It depends if you need it on all night. If you're doing some maintenance, from time to time, it's okay to leave your computer running all night? Why would you want to leave it running otherwise? Your computer isn't going to last forever. Leaving it running 24 hours a day, seven days a week is just a waste of energy and your computer, if you ask me.
946543
My computer's on almost all the time, but I'm rarely home. During it's idle hours it crunches SETI@Home and Rosetta@Home.\n\nWhen I'm using it I'm doing homework or playing games.
220801
No if the PC is off no programs can be active.But you can set a program to start when the computer starts if you want to automate tasks while away from the compurer.
40304
Depends on how long ur gonna leave it 'idle' for, if its for more than 5 hours, turn it off (eg over night) any less and i'd say let the screen saver run.\n\nOr better yet, use the hibernation option :D It saves all work on ur pc in temp memory than shutsdown, once restarted it opens all the programs that were open previously :D
479088
Nope - turn off the monitor, though, because that consumes a lot more power than the computer itself. Leaving your computer on is actually even better for it, because most failures happen when you turn it off and back on.
731536
there is no set answer to this it depends on how often you use your PC, how many new programmes you install / install, how much stuff you download / delete etc..... If you are a heavy user once a week is fine. Average user once a month. In the old days defraging your PC was not good for your drive as it makes it work very hard and would shorten the drives life, technology is much better now but a drive still gets an extreme work out when you defrag....this must shorten its life a little
605953
You can go for standby mode if you are going for some work and want quick on after you come back. when you come back and make it on it will start quicky from where you have left. no tme wastage in starting . less power consume in standby mode and it look that system is off.