This simple question is directed to trying to keep our PCs in the best possible condition. After a day of work or simulation, we can decide to turn them Off, put them to Sleep or to Hibernation every night.

Each condition is different and according to several sources on the web that I read a while ago, it would be better not to turn it on/off every day because it could cause a lot of stress on the machine, and on that occasion those sources recommended instead putting it in Sleep or Hibernation. I usually try to put it into Hibernation every night, but I tend to think that it is not too safe because a external power supply problem (a storm, a power failure, a voltage overload, etc.) to our homes could cause problems and damage compared to having them off, or, as has happened to me on some rare occasions, the Hibernation or Sleep do not work as intended during the restart of the computer the next day.

What is your opinion and your preferred practices?.

46 minutes ago, edpatino said:

Each condition is different and according to several sources on the web that I read a while ago, it would be better not to turn it on/off every day because it could cause a lot of stress on the machine, and on that occasion those sources recommended instead putting it in Sleep or Hibernation.

 

I don't believe it subjects our PC's to any stress to shut them down completely. 

However... there may be  an exception to the above. And that exception relates to the PSU. My strategy has always been to shut down completely, and that includes switching off at the wall socket. I don't think you guys in the US have switches on your power outlets but we in the UK do. So in essence, there would be no  power to the PC at all and the capacitors in the PSU fully discharged.

After having two PSU's bricked (both EVGA) as a result of inrush thermistor failure I now shut down Windows completely but leave the switch on at the wall socket. That way there is still some charge in the capacitors.  Thus, less strain on the inrush thermistors. I have to say though, that in my opinion, if a PSU is designed properly, then it should have inrush thermistors up to the task of handling the inrush current and shutting down at the wall shouldn't be an issue.  

If I am away from home, then I turn off at the wall too. 

 

 

Edited June 1, 20242 yr by martin-w

I have a three computer network and they are all at least six years old.  I turn them off every time I finish a flight.  Only two of the three will come out of sleep mode properly anyway.  In six years I have not had a single hardware failure with this practice.  And no worries about electrical surges causing damage.

I also believe starting a new flight from a 'fresh bootup' is less likely to cause glitches than beginning a new flight after a previous one.

Yes, I do for both my sim rig and my work desktop (since hibernation is disabled there). For my sim rig I also turn off my power strip. For my laptop, sometimes I put it on hibernation,  other times I simply close it.

I always shut down everything except my work laptop which has an uptime of 7 months already lol. But that's linux and linux behaves 😛

Always shut down the PC, the monitor, and turn off the wall socket when I am not using it.

Sometimes I do the same to the cable router and TV box before leaving home when I plan to be out for more than 2 days.

I shut down, but leave the PSU plugged into a surge suppressing, uninterruptible power supply.

1 hour ago, martin-w said:

I don't think you guys in the US have switches on your power outlets but we in the UK do

I don't have those power outlet switches, but my PSU (Corsair, desktop) has a switch I only use to turn off everything when I'm away from home (usually three/four weeks trips).

 

I always turn off my flight sim desktop pc before I retire at the end of each day.  However, I often leave my laptop on for days and days before doing a full shutdown or simple restart.  My logic is my laptop is more disposable, my flight sim pc is NOT! 😉

I guess I'm a wasteful baddie. I put mine into sleep mode and that's it.

I only turn it off when cleaning/dusting.

I turn my PC off every night.

Turn mine off every night. Feel it's wasteful and Denmark has some of the highest electricity prices in the world, no need to just throw my money away.

Mine are fully depowered when not in active use.  The PCs are powered via a power distribution control center, so there's no power on the PC at all when it's off.

Have several computers (home built except lab top), all are shut down, power strip switch for each turned off (computers completely disconnected from power) after each use except family computer which is shut down before evening. 

I turn off my PC and can reach round and throw the off switch on the PSU. No power into the PC. But I put my OLED monitor in sleep mode to allow the LG cleaner to work never switch the power off. My PC room has surge protection on all extensions.