Comments on: What does it cost to leave your computer on? http://blog.osministry.com/2007/06/26/what-does-it-cost-to-leave-your-computer-on/ Because you can observe a lot just by watching. Thu, 21 Aug 2008 19:47:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Bob Brown http://blog.osministry.com/2007/06/26/what-does-it-cost-to-leave-your-computer-on/#comment-18151 Bob Brown Fri, 02 Nov 2007 03:04:16 +0000 http://blog.osministry.com/2007/06/26/what-does-it-cost-to-leave-your-computer-on/#comment-18151 I can stick my Kill-A-Watt on some representative systems, but I doubt many of them are doing power downs. I sneak in and do that to some of them on occasion, but I know people are changing them back. We probably ought to set these configurations up as part of group policy. One problem is that some people use Outlook forwarding so they want their system awake and active all the time. With outlook constantly checking the server the hard drive won't power down. We do use LCDs, so that helps with the power options. I can stick my Kill-A-Watt on some representative systems, but I doubt many of them are doing power downs.
I sneak in and do that to some of them on occasion, but I know people are changing them back.

We probably ought to set these configurations up as part of group policy.

One problem is that some people use Outlook forwarding so they want their system awake and active all the time. With outlook constantly checking the server the hard drive won’t power down.

We do use LCDs, so that helps with the power options.

]]> By: Steve F http://blog.osministry.com/2007/06/26/what-does-it-cost-to-leave-your-computer-on/#comment-18123 Steve F Thu, 01 Nov 2007 17:05:52 +0000 http://blog.osministry.com/2007/06/26/what-does-it-cost-to-leave-your-computer-on/#comment-18123 One problem with your numbers... Since the majority of systems today are "green" systems, they power down after a period of inactivity to a low-power mode. You need to look at the total kWh usage of the system, including when it is in power-save mode, rather than the raw number of hours it is up. (I.e., if you have the system up for 8 hours, in constant use, you will use a lot more power than having it on for 16 hours in power-save mode.) You can always check your power settings by going to Control Panel / Power Options. From there, you can select from the presets (Home/Office Desk, Portable/Laptop, Presentation, Always On, Minimal Power Management, Max Battery) or configure your own custom settings by tweaking the values given for turning off the monitor, the hard drives, and putting the system in to standby. One problem with your numbers… Since the majority of systems today are “green” systems, they power down after a period of inactivity to a low-power mode. You need to look at the total kWh usage of the system, including when it is in power-save mode, rather than the raw number of hours it is up.

(I.e., if you have the system up for 8 hours, in constant use, you will use a lot more power than having it on for 16 hours in power-save mode.)

You can always check your power settings by going to Control Panel / Power Options. From there, you can select from the presets (Home/Office Desk, Portable/Laptop, Presentation, Always On, Minimal Power Management, Max Battery) or configure your own custom settings by tweaking the values given for turning off the monitor, the hard drives, and putting the system in to standby.

]]> By: Joe M. http://blog.osministry.com/2007/06/26/what-does-it-cost-to-leave-your-computer-on/#comment-11056 Joe M. Tue, 26 Jun 2007 13:54:34 +0000 http://blog.osministry.com/2007/06/26/what-does-it-cost-to-leave-your-computer-on/#comment-11056 My Mom always has us turn off the computers at night just go give them a rest or something from being used all day. We have five running computers in the house and we use to have seven at once, and most of the time somebody's on one all the time. My Mom always has us turn off the computers at night just go give them a rest or something from being used all day. We have five running computers in the house and we use to have seven at once, and most of the time somebody’s on one all the time.

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