Energy consumption.

[BOZ]

Sounds like a job for Mythbusters

not particularly dramatic or exciting though.

 

[drothgery]

As to the oringal question, you defintely save more power by turning the computer off (or at least going to Stand By or Hibernate).

Myself, I decided my P4 made too much noise and replaced it with a Core 2 Duo notebook last month.

 

[Umbran]

not particularly dramatic or exciting though.

What, you think they couldn't drive the thing hard enough to make it burst into flames, or something

 

[BOZ]

that would be both dramatic and exciting!

 

[werk]

I always thought that turning off computers would save enrgy, but I friend of mine says that the switching on and off uses a lot more power, so you save power and energy by leaving your computer on. Does anyone have facts and figures to back these views up?

This is true for diesel engines, not for computers. Turning on a computer isn't going to use more electricity than using it. It will use more electricity than having it sit idle, but hopefully it doesn't take your computer very long to fire up.

I'll call it an urban legend...and read the rest of the thread

Also, turning it off will allow the computer to cool, which makes it more efficient, even if it is short-term. The main energy suckers are your proc, video card, and CRT monitor (if you still have one).