How long can I leave my PC on?

[Ericisspicy]

I'm downloading games while I'm at work (8 hours) and I plan on playing them when I get home. Is there a maximum time I can/should keep it on for?

 

[OhsHiasTheres]

You're fine if you leave it on 24/7. You shouldn't have a problem.

 

[weberdarren97]

Assuming it's in a healthy physical condition, you can leave it on for as long as you want to.

I only power down my machines once every three months. I don't count restarting to install updates a full shutdown because the power is never interrupted, the machine is still physically running through the restart.

 

[R_1]

if you have a battery the limit is the charge of the battery
for a desktop no limit at all

 

[Ericisspicy]

It's from a power supply. 550w to be exact. So I can leave it on 24 hours and it will be fine?

 

[R_1]

It's from a power supply. 550w to be exact. So I can leave it on 24 hours and it will be fine?

I hope so mine has been on for a few years straight, barring the occasional reboot.
Seriously though no problems with that 24/7/365 if you can afford the power

 

[weberdarren97]

It's worth noting that desktops are built to be running 24/7 for years on end. Actually it's when you turn it off then turn it on again that it's lifespan could be shortened because of how the internals have heated up while running (but not dangerously hot) and then cooled down when the system was turned off. This expansion and contraction as temperatures change can cause chip creep, a phenomenon in which chips become loose and may even lose their connection to the boards they're attached to. But this usually doesn't happen until the system has been turned off and on at least 10,000 times.

 

[R_1]

as an addition to weberdarren97s thought, the expansion and contraction from the cooling and heating cycles can also effect the solder joints causing cracking and loss of proper connection in addition to the thermal creep experienced by the chips in sockets, but this is after many many many on/off cycles

 

[weberdarren97]

as an addition to weberdarren97s thought, the expansion and contraction from the cooling and heating cycles can also effect the solder joints causing cracking and loss of proper connection in addition to the thermal creep experienced by the chips in sockets, but this is after many many many on/off cycles

That would be after turning it on and off dozens of times a day for years. I don't think the average person does that. And if they do, then they need to change their habits.

 

[Ariunbold]

I never turn off my pc lol.