When do you turn off your Ubuntu boxes?

David Restall - System Administrator dave at restall.net
Fri Dec 1 13:47:43 UTC 2006


Hi,

> norman wrote:
> >>> I leave my box on most of the time. It is probably because I believe
> >>> that there is more strain on components with switching on and off rather
> >>> than running constantly. 
> >>>       
> >> I don't really believe that.  I think the components that are most
> >> likely to wear are the mechanical ones: drives and fans.  Those wear out
> >> with every spin. 
> >>     
> >
> > < snip >
> >
> > You must understand that I am quite ancient and my memory goes back to
> > the days before transistors were invented. We used 'valves' or 'tubes'
> > and these lasted much longer by being left on permanently. Also I
> > suspect that the quality of resistors, capacitors etc was no where near
> > as good as those used today.
> >
> > Norman 
> >
> >
> >   
> 
> Warmed-up components wear less than cold ones. As for the bearings in 
> fans, these are non-contact so don't have any friction or wear.

Hmm, I think you're quite well wide of the mark here John.  There is no
proof anywhere that I have read that definitely backs up the warm vs
cold wear life though if you can point me to some definitive work I
would be more than happy to change my mind.  As for bearings, how do you
explain noisy fans or even siezed fans.  There is contact and the
bearings wear.

Have a look at <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Service_life> for further
info.

TTFN


D
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