Is there any practical difference between different power switches on the PC?

[steffeeh]

When and why should you use the various power switched on and inside the PC, for instance during a freeze or error?

I'm currently thinking of when I should use the kill switch (holding the power button), when I should use the RST_SW (reset/reboot switch) on the mobo, as well as the PWR_SW (power switch).

 

[EricFarmer7x]

I only use the power button on my tower when my computer is completely frozen or non-responsive and I am frustrated.

 

[apk24]

In most modern computers, pressing the power switch and releasing it sends a shutdown command to the system and all of its components. Basically, all of the software running on the computer is told to shutdown as soon as safely possible. Generally speaking, there is little difference between tapping the power button and telling the computer to shutdown via system menus in your operating system. Since this is not really a hardware power off, it is possible for you to change how your operating system interprets this signal, for example, in windows, when the power button is pressed you can configure the machine to either sleep, hibernate, shutdown, or do nothing via the power options in control panel.

Long pressing the shutdown key is a hardware level power off. Power is literally cut off from the machine and it is somewhat equivalent to pulling the power cord out of the wall (just that this way there is less risk of damaging your PSU).

Pressing the reset button is like long pressing the power button (cutting off the machine from power) and then pressing the power button again (starting the machine back up).

Edit: Realized I didn't actually answer your question. Press power button whenever you need to turn off the machine and can't for whatever reason using the system menus. If the machine does not respond to that, then long press or hit the reset button depending on whether you want the machine starting back up again.