Leaving a PC on Constantly

[bchampion96]

Hey guys,

 

I wasn't too sure where to post it so admins, feel free to move it if it's in the wrong place.

 

Basically, my computer is on pretty much all day and all night for weeks at a time. My internet is kinda crap so I'll leave it uploading youtube videos overnight so the internet is usable in the day time. That is a very low stress activity for the computer I know :P I game and watch youtube videos and do general stuff in the daytime, so it is in constant use then as well. Towards the end of the evenings, I render videos, so the CPU is often maxed out for long periods of time.

 

I run my CPU at 4.4GHz most of the time, but 5GHz when I feel like it :P Normally (at 4.4GHz), my Noctua NH-D14 keeps the temps under 54 degrees at max load. My question is; can this kind of use (being almost always on and doing high load tasks) harm the longevity of my computer? Is it a good idea to turn it off once in a while?

 

Thanks

 

bchampion96

[Thibaudv]

Depends on how often you upgrade your system I guess. 

[JordanMac]

i do the same thing as you due to my slow connection, download/upload overnight so i can actually use the internet in the day. im interested in know what leaving my computer on 24/7 is doing to the system. i'll follow.

[Scia]

Windows needs to be rebooted now and then, because it get's slow if you leave it on too long at a time.

 

Your HDDs are probably not made for 24/7 activity, usually not that big of a deal, but it might shorten their longevity.

 

CPU and GPU like to be cooled for a while, but as long as you are not running them both at 85°C 24/7 I don't think there's too much harm.

[bchampion96]

i do the same thing as you due to my slow connection, download/upload overnight so i can actually use the internet in the day. im interested in know what leaving my computer on 24/7 is doing to the system. i'll follow.

 

I'm really worried that having an overclocked CPU running all the time will roast it to death eventually. If the temps are fine, I dont see why it would...

[bchampion96]

Depends on how often you upgrade your system I guess. 

 

Why would that make a difference?

[Scia]

i do the same thing as you due to my slow connection, download/upload overnight so i can actually use the internet in the day. im interested in know what leaving my computer on 24/7 is doing to the system. i'll follow.

2 PCs for that ^^ Win for gaming / work, Linux in silent case / noctua and so on for night operation :)

[bchampion96]

Windows needs to be rebooted now and then, because it get's slow if you leave it on too long at a time.

 

Your HDDs are probably not made for 24/7 activity, usually not that big of a deal, but it might shorten their longevity.

 

CPU and GPU like to be cooled for a while, but as long as you are not running them both at 85°C 24/7 I don't think there's too much harm.

 

So do you think letting the thing cool down and settle for a couple of hours every so often would do it?

[Scia]

I'm really worried that having an overclocked CPU running all the time will roast it to death eventually. If the temps are fine, I dont see why it would...

The increased voltage can cause degradation overtime, but if you have stayed within a reasonable range it will probably be a difference of a few months rather than a year of 2 ^^

[bchampion96]

2 PCs for that ^^ Win for gaming / work, Linux in silent case / noctua and so on for night operation :)

 

That would be a good plan, but for me, I'd need to move raw files or tons of rendered ones somehow before uploading from the night PC :P

[That Norwegian Guy]

I'm pretty sure leaving a computer on more as opposed to turning it off and on more often, actually is beneficial to it's life span, or at least, to most of it's components - especially hard drives, power supply and fans.

[bchampion96]

The increased voltage can cause degradation overtime, but if you have stayed within a reasonable range it will probably be a difference of a few months rather than a year of 2 ^^

 

I'm at 1.37 atm. I could do better, but I havent had the time :P

[Scia]

That would be a good plan, but for me, I'd need to move raw files or tons of rendered ones somehow before uploading from the night PC :P

Well I use it mostly to watch my movies / serials when I go to bed, so it has to be silent, because the TV has a timer, but the PC will stay on if backing up and so on ^^

[Scia]

I'm at 1.37 atm. I could do better, but I havent had the time :P

What CPU u got?

[bchampion96]

Well I use it mostly to watch my movies / serials when I go to bed, so it has to be silent, because the TV has a timer, but the PC will stay on if backing up and so on ^^

 righty

[Thibaudv]

Why would that make a difference?

Well how much extra voltage you put on your CPU/GPU might change the lifetime of your CPU/GPU. I think running it 24/7 at 5.0Ghz would decrease its lifetime from like 12 to 7 years. This is however not based on any scientific research, just knowledge I gathered through my exploring the internet

[Godlygamer23]

It shouldn't harm your computer's longevity.

[bchampion96]

Well how much extra voltage you put on your CPU/GPU might change the lifetime of your CPU/GPU. I think running it 24/7 at 5.0Ghz would decrease its lifetime from like 12 to 7 years. This is however not based on any scientific research, just knowledge I gathered through my exploring the internet

 

Oh I see how you mean. Yes, I probably will have upgraded CPU by then :P

[Scia]

Oh I see how you mean. Yes, I probably will have upgraded CPU by then :P

 

It really depends on the amount of extra voltage you added. Say you are running a 3570k those voltages seem quite high, if you are running 2011 they'd be fine ^^ And it's hard to tell. If I put mine up to 5ghz [hypothetically never had the time to try lately stuck at 4.5 completely stable 2500k @ 1.3] at 1.45V I'd roast it much quicker than at 1.32 or something ^^

[bchampion96]

It really depends on the amount of extra voltage you added. Say you are running a 3570k those voltages seem quite high, if you are running 2011 they'd be fine ^^ And it's hard to tell. If I put mine up to 5ghz [hypothetically never had the time to try lately stuck at 4.5 completely stable 2500k @ 1.3] at 1.45V I'd roast it much quicker than at 1.32 or something ^^

 

I have a 2500k as well. When I first overclocked it, I loaded up one of the stock overclocks and fiddled for a bit but I havent been back since to get it perfect. I might ask a friend to do it. He's better at overclocking stuff than me :P

[Guest]

As far as hardware is concerned, I don't see an issue. Though it may be a little more expensive, look at enterprise grade hardware - that stuff runs 24/7 without a break.

With software though, it's often good to restart as I've noticed with Chrome and a couple of other program's, you get memory leaks.

[Scia]

I have a 2500k as well. When I first overclocked it, I loaded up one of the stock overclocks and fiddled for a bit but I havent been back since to get it perfect. I might ask a friend to do it. He's better at overclocking stuff than me :P

 

You should try to lower it at some point, 1.37 is quite high for 4.4 [if you are using that for 5ghz then cudos on golden chip =P]

It's quite simple really:

Start at stock V. Increase Multi until it's unstable, in crease voltage until it is stable, increase multi. And I have made quite nice experiences with setting PLL to 1.7 instead of 1,8, cooler and was able to get better oc with less power. But really you have to try, much more fun to do it yourself ^^

 

And gn8 now, exam in 8 hours ;P

[bchampion96]

You should try to lower it at some point, 1.37 is quite high for 4.4 [if you are using that for 5ghz then cudos on golden chip =P]

It's quite simple really:

Start at stock V. Increase Multi until it's unstable, in crease voltage until it is stable, increase multi. And I have made quite nice experiences with setting PLL to 1.7 instead of 1,8, cooler and was able to get better oc with less power. But really you have to try, much more fun to do it yourself ^^

 

And gn8 now, exam in 8 hours ;P

 

Thanks. Hopefuly I'll get round to it after exams. Good luck in yours! 

[bchampion96]

As far as hardware is concerned, I don't see an issue. Though it may be a little more expensive, look at enterprise grade hardware - that stuff runs 24/7 without a break.

With software though, it's often good to restart as I've noticed with Chrome and a couple of other program's, you get memory leaks.

 

How much of that enterprise grade hardware will be usable in a gaming rig? :P

[Guest]

How much of that enterprise grade hardware will be usable in a gaming rig? :P

RAID cards, hard drives, CPU's to a certain extent..