Dumb question

[gatorbait]

It has been noted several times that Im not the most computer savvy fella so here is a dumb question. How much power does a computer pull while sitting idle? The reason I ask is my wife and I both check email and stuff several times a day and was wondering if we're running up the light bill leaving it on all the time or should we shut down every time we get off and restart when getting back on? We usually leave the computer on and let the screen saver do its thing. Usually turn it off before bed and restart next day sometime. Would it make a difference to leave it on all the time? Just curious

Zac

[MT Stringer]

I dunno, Zac but I don't ever shut mine down unless bad weather is moving through. The surge protector does it job well.

[bill]

This one has been around since computers have been in homes. Well, they will not use much energy. The big debate is to turn them off when not in use each time. I know that having them run and get hot/warm then shutting them off and then turning them back on could be a problem. It's the heat expand cool contract thing for the boards. I will turn one off if I'm not using it for several hours. I know people and companies that never turn them off. I always keep my monitor off when not in use, the older models and possibly the new, would burn an image on the screen if the same image was on all the time.
I will say this, if you have a Windows system, a daily reboot always helps.

[gatorbait]

I was curious since I work in a power plant and we run it 24/7 ours never goes off and we have had no problems. Most of us use screen savers so the burning image has not been an issue. Our only issue at work is probably all plants IT nightmare. We have 16 users who share 3 PC's at one time or another. They take a pounding in that dept. As far as my home usage Ill just continue doing what Im doing. If Im off and bee boppin around the house I usually turn it on in the am and leave it on unless I leave for a few hours. Otherwise it gets shutdown at bedtime. I was just curious as to if it could make a noticable difference on my light bill by leaving it on. Im guessing from your post that it wont. Thanks

Zac

[ShadMan]

Zac - You work in a power plant...you should know this stuff! ;)

You probably have a power supply that draws somewhere in the range of 400W, or about 5-6 times the power of a standard lightbulb.

I leave mine running most of the day, and off most nights.

[gatorbait]

But I work with MEGAwatts. I dont understand all this lil stuff! LOL Lines Im running at work are so hot if'n you decide to touch it you wouldnt know it. Too bad I dont get a compnay discount on my light bill. I wish I could box up a megawatt and bring it home. It would run my house for about a month.LOL

Zac