Is it Beneficial to Unplug my Computer When I Leave the Office?

Although sessions vary according to usage, everyone needs to step away from their desktop from time to time. Most users wonder whether they should leave their computers on or turn them off.

The short answer is you can do either, depending on the ramifications of your choice and specific precautionary steps. From your electricity bills to concerns about wear and tear, you’ll have to consider several factors.

Here, we discuss which is more beneficial for you:

What Things Can Harm My Computer

All components of your computer boast a limited lifetime. The RAM, graphics cards, and processor experience heat, temperature, and various other factors. In addition, failure modes may come from the stress of turning your computer on and off.

It not only harms your computer’s semiconductors but also damages mechanical components, including hard drives, optical drives, scanners, and printers. In most cases, peripherals like your external devices and printers contain circuitry that senses when your computer is powered on and off. As a result, it initiates the same condition and undergoes a cyclic process of wear and tear.

Other failure modes, like power surges and power drop on your electrical circuit, may damage your computer. Thus, you need to consider all these failure types. Leaving your laptop turned on can reduce the impacts of several failure types.

On the flip side, turning your computer off can prevent external vectors, leading to the failure of your computer’s components.

Factors to Consider When Deciding To Unplug Your Computer

Let’s discuss the top factors impacting your final decision:

Time to Resume

The most critical factor in determining whether you should leave your computer on or off is when you’ll resume using it. If you leave your computer often for short spans of time, you wouldn’t want to reboot it every time.

Understanding the various power states of your computer can help you make a decision. These are:

Sleep

Here all your open files and applications are stored in RAM, whereas the rest of the computer components are present in a low-power state.

This option is perfect for you if you’re stepping away from your computer for a short time. This way, you can resume your tasks almost immediately.

Hibernate

In hibernate mode, all your open files and applications are copied on your computer’s boot drive. At the same time, the rest of your computer shuts down. This option is perfect for those who plan on staying away from their computer for a short time.

Shut Down

When you shut down your computer, all your files and applications close down, and power to your computer’s internal components is completely cut down.

Therefore, you must shut down your computer if you plan to stay away from it for more than eight hours.

Associated Costs

One other major factor you need to consider is your electrical costs. Your electricity bills are bound to be expensive when you add computers and other electronic devices to them.

If you’re planning to stay away from your computer for extended periods, you should turn it off. Otherwise, the price difference isn’t significant.

To Sum it Up

An in-depth study shows that the ignition of cable insulation leads to 36% of desktop fires. According to the US consumer product safety department, users should turn off their computers to ensure safety.

Unplugging your computer when you’re away for extended periods ensures the safety of your loved ones, as well as your treasured items.