Standby sleep or shut down

[Tyehead]

What is better for My IMAC
Putting it to sleep or shutting it down and why? Also if using time machine for back up can the Mac be turned off?

Thank you I realize these are pretty basic questions but I'm new to the Mac world.

 

[IWT]

"Pretty basic questions" are vital to getting the best out of your Mac. Never fear asking the simple.

The answer to your first question may differ according to whether your Internal Hard Drive (IHD) is a spinning platter drive or a Solid State Drive (SSD).

The spinners, by definition, spin and are thus moving parts. Powering down (switching off) and then powering up (switching on) causes a large power surge to be delivered to the Drive and the more times you do this, the more likely, in time, the Drive is likely to fail.

Think of a domestic light bulb in your home. When does it fail? Nine times out of ten, when you switch it on.

So, I would say, limit the number of times you power down. Many of us, myself included, keep our Macs running 24/7. Next best, is putting the Mac to sleep. Here again, there is a power surge when you waken the Mac, but some people believe this to be less of a strain on the Drive.

If it is of interest/relevant; the big companies running thousands of Drives keep there's on 24/7.

Solid State Drives have no moving parts, so it is argued that the power surge is of less import. Nevertheless, I, and many others, still keep our Macs on 24/7 or sleep them occasionally.

Your choice, really and if you want to read more about this controversial subject, Wikipedia has much to offer.

Next: if your Time Machine Hard Disk Drive is permanently attached to your Mac, sleeping or powering down the Mac, rests the HDD as well. And powering up has the same effect as on all spinners. Unless you can afford a SSD, in which case the power surge is much less of an issue.

There you have it.

Caveat: This is a personal opinion and although many would share my views, there are plenty of users who - they say - power down their Macs several times a day.

Ian

 

[MacInWin]

Ian nailed it. One thing to add, even though the total power surge for an ssd is lower than a spinner the threshold for damage is lower, too. What will fail probably won't be the SSD, or the spinner, but some small component (usually a capacitor or resistor) that then exposes the chips to current flow that they are not designed to handle.

If it's of interest, I have a 2008 iMac that is on 24/7/365 as a home automation server, and has been in that role for 7 years running.

 

[pigoo3]

Putting it to sleep or shutting it down and why?

For me the easy answer is convenience.

- If you "sleep" your iMac...then the next time you want to use it...all you need to do is tap any key on your keyboard or the mouse...and BAMM...it's instantly ready to go.
- If you shut down your iMac all the time. Then you need to wait for it to completely reboot...and you need to reopen all your applications.

Convenience is the #1 reason I sleep all my computers 99.9% of the time.

- Nick

 

[usagora]

I've had no issues keeping my iMac on and running (never sleeping) 24/7. At night, I'll simply sleep the display by using Ctrl+Shift+Eject, but the computer remains on. This way, there's no issues with external drives that can sometime come up during sleep or cloud-based services updating in real time.

 

[toMACsh]

Well, another thread about shutting down or sleeping, etc.
From my experience, it doesn't matter even a little bit. I have always shut down at night and rebooted the next morning. This has never caused a problem.
I also have the original 75-watt incandescent light bulb in a ceiling fixture in the Laundry Room. It's been there since the house was built, in 2003. YMMV

P.S. Yeah, I'm positive I've never changed that bulb. Just before moving in, a friend said, "Wait til all your light bulbs burn out at the same time!" I was curious, and equipped with a list of all the fixtures, and what type of bulb(s) were in them. So, of course, I created a spreadsheet. At first it was just to see if my friend's prophecy would come true. It didn't. But, I was addicted, and still enter the date for each fixture whenever I change a bulb.

 

[toMACsh]

- If you shut down your iMac all the time. Then you need to wait for it to completely reboot...and you need to reopen all your applications.

I turn mine on just before getting dressed, then go back to it after it has rebooted. And the apps I use every day are set to open automatically.

 

[usagora]

Well, another thread about shutting down or sleeping, etc.
From my experience, it doesn't matter even a little bit. I have always shut down at night and rebooted the next morning. This has never caused a problem.
I also have the original 75-watt incandescent light bulb in a ceiling fixture in the Laundry Room. It's been there since the house was built, in 2003. YMMV

Maybe I'm just slow, but what does your laundry room light bulb have to do with you shutting down your Mac every night and rebooting every morning? I'm not seeing the correlation...

 

[pigoo3]

I turn mine on just before getting dressed, then go back to it after it has rebooted. And the apps I use every day are set to open automatically.

Yes...but maybe (years & years ago) you created this routine totally due to the fact that the computer does take time to startup from a fresh boot...giving you time to get dressed while the computer booted.

If you put the computer to "sleep" each night...you could actually get dressed first...then sit down in front of the computer after dressing...tap a key on the keyboard...and instantly start using your computer (no boot time necessary).

This is exactly what I've done for at least the past 15-20 years! And this isn't just a first part of the day routine...but many times throughout the day when the computer goes to sleep (when idle). Then I just tap the keyboard again to wake it up again...and instantly start using it.

- Nick

 

[usagora]

Yes...but maybe (years & years ago) you created this routine totally due to the fact that the computer does take time to startup from a fresh boot...giving you time to get dressed while the computer booted.

Since upgrading my 2012 iMac to a SSD, I wouldn't even be able to make it to my closet before the sign-in screen pops up It's actually a pleasure to restart it now

 

[IWT]

Maybe I'm just slow, but what does your laundry room light bulb have to do with you shutting down your Mac every night and rebooting every morning? I'm not seeing the correlation...

My point was very simple or, maybe simplistic, but all electrically powered devices, be it a light bulb or computer, tend to fail when switched on after a period of being switched off. It's an everyday experience. Electrical devices left on permanently or for long periods at a time, tend to have a longer life.

You don't switch off your fridge or freezer on a regular basis and they usually last for years. Light bulbs, switched off and on as required, fail when switched on - because of the power surge.

As I predicted in my first post, people have their own routines and preferences. I accept this. I merely pointed out that, like light bulbs, electrical devices tend to fail when powered on.

Each to their own. I answered a question and accepted that there are alternative views; which I respect.

Ian

 

[pm-r]

Standby sleep or shut down

If you're using a "spinner" HDD, probably the more critical part to be concerned with is the option "Put the hard disk(s) to sleep when possible" in the Energy Saver System Prefs:

For a good discussion check out the article that's still valid here:
Hard drive sleep
Hard Drive Sleep





- Patrick
======

 

[usagora]

My point was very simple or, maybe simplistic, but all electrically powered devices, be it a light bulb or computer, tend to fail when switched on after a period of being switched off. It's an everyday experience. Electrical devices left on permanently or for long periods at a time, tend to have a longer life.

You don't switch off your fridge or freezer on a regular basis and they usually last for years. Light bulbs, switched off and on as required, fail when switched on - because of the power surge.

As I predicted in my first post, people have their own routines and preferences. I accept this. I merely pointed out that, like light bulbs, electrical devices tend to fail when powered on.

Each to their own. I answered a question and accepted that there are alternative views; which I respect.

Ian

I wasn't challenging you, but just wondering what the point of the light bulb anecdote was. You explained it now, so it makes sense. Thanks!

 

[IWT]

Jonathon, (usagora)

You are right to challenge or question. Nobody has the ultimate answer to anything. One of the joys of this Forum is that people can ask for an explanation without rancour or criticism. I'm glad you did.

Ian

 

[pigoo3]

Since upgrading my 2012 iMac to a SSD, I wouldn't even be able to make it to my closet before the sign-in screen pops up It's actually a pleasure to restart it now

Absolutely. SSD vs. spinner HD makes a big difference...and does "blur" the answer to the question..."To shut down or to sleep a computer?"

I think I still vote for sleep. Even with an SSD...booting & launching of apps still takes more time than waking from sleep. But...booting from an SSD is certainly wayyy faster than a spinner!

- Nick

 

[pigoo3]

I think this discusison has taken two paths:

1. To sleep or to shut down a computer?
2. To leave the computer running 24-7 or power it down (shutdown or sleep)?

The answer to each of these can be somewhat different. One main factor of difference being energy use.

- Nick

 

[pm-r]

The answer to each of these can be somewhat different.

I think another thing to consider is how long a period of time one actually uses their computer for.

Mine for example is usually running for about 12 hours constantly daily where someone else may only use their's for a short period of time and maybe just to check on some things.





- Patrick
======

 

[toMACsh]

Maybe I'm just slow, but what does your laundry room light bulb have to do with you shutting down your Mac every night and rebooting every morning?

I guess you got your answer. I was just tagging onto an earlier post.

Yes...but maybe (years & years ago) you created this routine totally due to the fact that the computer does take time to startup from a fresh boot...giving you time to get dressed while the computer booted.

Precisely...

If you put the computer to "sleep" each night...you could actually get dressed first...then sit down in front of the computer after dressing...tap a key on the keyboard...and instantly start using your computer (no boot time necessary).

Doesn't matter to me...

... One main factor of difference being energy use.

- Nick

Every analysis of energy use related to sleeping or shutting down a computer that I've read has been inconclusive. If there is a difference (and there must be) it's apparently not very significant. There are lots of variables. A blanket statement one way or the other does not take that into account.

 

[pigoo3]

Every analysis of energy use related to sleeping or shutting down a computer that I've read has been inconclusive. If there is a difference (and there must be) it's apparently not very significant. There are lots of variables. A blanket statement one way or the other does not take that into account.

I wasn't referring to energy use differences between sleeping & shutting down...was referring to energy use between a computer running non-stop 365 days a year vs. sleeping/shutting down.

- Nick

 

[MacInWin]

I did some quick math. The MBP now has an 85w power brick, although in most modes it draws much, much less than that. But assuming 85 w continuously used, in a year that is 744KwH. In my home state of Virginia, the average cost of a KWH of electricity is 12.33 cents, which means that at max usage, a Mac will draw no more than $91.81 per year, or about $7.65 per month. If the average usage is, as I suspect, about 33% of the power brick max, then the figure is closer to $30 a year and about $2.40 per month.(I got the 33% through Coconut battery, which showed a power usage of 28 watts just now.)

Bottom line, the MBP doesn't take much power to keep on 24/7. And the delta between being on, say 12 hours and 24 hours is even smaller.