10 replies to this topic

[Lop]

I'm very interested to know how leaving a computer on day and night will affect my power bill. The reason I ask is I intend on running a web server (standard desktop) from home on my dedicated IP address. Would the bill increase more than what I currently pay for a server?

[dirkfirst]

I leave all of my computers on 24x7. I haven't noticed the big of a difference in my power bill ever and I have 3 computers. I need to cut one off at the start of a new bill and see if there is any decrease. Its probably a lot cheaper than renting a server. How much is your server????

[M.Jordan]

well its not a good idea to leave pcs on at night if they are not been used. But if using them for good at night its a must i suppose.

[Jimbo]

M.Jordan said:

well its not a good idea to leave pcs on at night if they are not been used. But if using them for good at night its a must i suppose.

It is actually better and will prolong the life of a computer to leave it on 24/7 than to turn it off and on when needed.

Suppose you could easily work out if cost effective though, average PC for simplicity sakes is 500watts, 24 hours = 12KwH, average KwH price is 10pence = £1.20/day = £438/year.

Methinks may start turning my PC off at night now!

[DevilsCharm]

438... euro? That's what the symbol means, right? That can't be right... 438 extra euros (which is a lot more US dollars)? Doesn't make sense!

[Jimbo]

DevilsCharm said:

438... euro? That's what the symbol means, right? That can't be right... 438 extra euros (which is a lot more US dollars)? Doesn't make sense!

No, its a pound sterling sign, its nowhere near an exact amount, just an approximation, if you were to leave a PC on 24/7 for 365 days of course your power bill is going to shoot up! And thats without anything like monitor/speakers etc turned on

[Sionofdarkness]

What if the computer was on "sleep" or something, that would reduce the energy it was using, right? I leave this computer on all the time, but when I'm not using it it's on sleep.

[PC101]

I don't recall the actual dollar amount but it was in the $xx range. When the computer goes to "sleep" the HD stops spinning and the monitor turns off... if you have it set to do so. The cost is minimual.

Lyte

[Jimbo]

Kaabi said:

What do you mean the HD stops spinning? You mean the platters?

Yeah, the head parks itself and it stops spinning

[WingedPanther]

I've noticed very little difference between when my computer is mostly off vs mostly on.