Is it ok to always keep your computer running?

[Tommaso]

Just a general computer question, Is it Ok to keep your computer running 24-7, or does it reduce the life of all of your components making it better to turn it off at night.

[fingal]

I switch mine off all the time. That's 'cos I pay the electric bill!!

[chopin1810]

I leave mine on all the time. It's more convenient. Computers were originally designed to be left on all the time. And either way, you can set you system to go into standby mode after a certain amount of time. Don't worry about it.
One thing you should shut off when not in use is your monitor. Those get overstressed very easily.

[winter]

I switch mine off all the time. That's 'cos I pay the electric bill!!

via mini-itx boards are ye friend. yes i switch mine off despite owning stock in the elctricity company.......sorry had to crack the joke

[Workaphobia]

Don't turn off the computer just to conserve a bit of electricity, if you know you're going to need it in a reasonable amount of time. It puts more stress on the system to start it up than to keep it up - just like a car.

[anomie]

I only turn mine off when a severe electrical storm is about to hit. (Which happens pretty rarely in Austin.)

[kbk]

I only turn mine off if I something happens with it, like if it freezes up or whatever. Then I usually just leave it for awhile until I'm not mad at it for freezing anymore..

[budman7]

The only time I shut my computer off is if I am going to be away for days.
I also leave my monitor on all the time to, unless I am going to be gone for days.
With computers and monitors being Energy Star compliant, it doesn't make sense to turn them off.
You will use more electricity firing them up than you will if you just let them go into standby mode.

[fingal]

Does anyone know how much juice a computer consumes over 24 hours? I think the monitor is probably the biggest drain on juice. My PSU is 450 Watts, which ain't a lot.

I have an old CRT monitor (which I actually found lying in the street!) It works well. I'm pretty sure that TFT monitors are cheaper to run, so probably worth the investment just for that alone.

[winter]

Does anyone know how much juice a computer consumes over 24 hours? I think the monitor is probably the biggest drain on juice. My PSU is 450 Watts, which ain't a lot.

I have an old CRT monitor (which I actually found lying in the street!) It works well. I'm pretty sure that TFT monitors are cheaper to run, so probably worth the investment just for that alone.

and their better for your eyes, tft monitors sont consume alot and thus are cheeper to run