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Keeping the nMP always ON

SamTheeGeek

SamTheeGeek

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jan 12, 2010
569
51
United Kingdom
Hello members,

Would like to ask if there is any problem if i keep my nMP ON all the time without shutting it down?


Thank you
 
SamTheeGeek said:
Hello members,

Would like to ask if there is any problem if i keep my nMP ON all the time without shutting it down?


Thank you
Click to expand...

They're meant to be running 24/7. Actually most of us don't restart, unless for updates. My uptimes easily reach 20 days and more.
 
As with most UNIX-based systems, you should be OK rebooting every month or so. For the most part, my Pros have been rebooted only after hardware upgrades and OS/firmware/software updates requiring reboot.
 
Mine never goes off except for software updates. It's nice being able to remotely access it when needed.
 
Rock Hound said:
As with most UNIX-based systems, you should be OK rebooting every month or so.
Click to expand...

Most Unix-based systems don't need to be rebooted at all. My company has FreeBSD systems with uptimes measured in years. If not for upgrades, we would never reboot them, e.g.:

--> uptime
8:18PM up 1576 days, 21:18, 2 users, load averages: 0.12, 0.13, 0.08

A.
 
lemonade-maker said:
Why restart once a week? It's not winblows.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, we had a campus-wide power shutdown in mid-November for an electrical system upgrade.

You forgot the smiley for your joke. :D
 

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Looks like I missed the rush to say “pah!” to regular reboots, but I will add this: the new Mac Pro is going to be a LOT cheaper to leave on all the time than the last one was…
 
borad said:
Looks like I missed the rush to say “pah!” to regular reboots, but I will add this: the new Mac Pro is going to be a LOT cheaper to leave on all the time than the last one was…
Click to expand...

What is the idle wattage difference between the two?
[edit: and please compare a late 2013 "old Mac Pro" to a "new Mini Pro" - not to a 2006 system]

My Dell Precision workstation with PCIe slots and real disk bays sits at about 40 watts when doing nothing.

Don't equate the size of the case with the power consumption.
 
Last edited:
Omg!

borad said:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2836

Replacing a 2008 Mac Pro with a 2012 Mini (+ drive box) saved me about 250W/hour, or $500/year. Actual figures, not theoretical.

At idle (or general use), the nMP will be a lot closer to the Mini than the oMP.
Click to expand...

Is that why my electric bill is so high at home and the office? I have one 2008 Mac Pro at the office and one at home. Both are on all the time -- they are quiet enough so I don't really think about them, but boy, are they thirsty if your figures are true. Guess it is time to upgrade to a nMP so I can be a bit more green :D
 
borad said:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2836

Replacing a 2008 Mac Pro with a 2012 Mini (+ drive box) saved me about 250W/hour, or $500/year. Actual figures, not theoretical.

At idle (or general use), the nMP will be a lot closer to the Mini than the oMP.
Click to expand...

I asked for the idle consumption of an early 2013, not an old 2008.

And the comparison should be with a new Mini Pro, not a MiniMac.

And they should be actual consumption as measured by a Watt's Up? or similar real-time watt meter.

Apple says that an early 2013 idles at 125 W, and a 2008 at 155 W, and the new Mini Pro at about 45 W. Not sure how you can save 250 W from a system that uses 155 W. http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2836

That's about 20¢ per day difference for the two 2013 models....

Hardly a LOT ;)
 
Touchy much?

Ignore official figures, ignore actual recorded figures (which include the effect of extra drives and different video cards), ignore varying power costs, and ignore, then post as new, the link to Apple.

Somewhat surprising to see you group the nMP more like an oMP than a Mini, though.
 
SamTheeGeek said:
Hello members,

Would like to ask if there is any problem if i keep my nMP ON all the time without shutting it down?


Thank you
Click to expand...

No problem. It should be able to run 24/7; my Mac Pro has basically never been turned off (nor has my monitor); and I have a UPS for backup in case the power goes out.
 
stjames70 said:
Is that why my electric bill is so high at home and the office? I have one 2008 Mac Pro at the office and one at home. Both are on all the time -- they are quiet enough so I don't really think about them, but boy, are they thirsty if your figures are true. Guess it is time to upgrade to a nMP so I can be a bit more green :D
Click to expand...

$500 a year to run the 2008 Mac Pro? Please tell me this is wrong, kinda seems far fetched. If it is true than it more than justifies my upgrade from the 2008.
 
wesk702 said:
$500 a year to run the 2008 Mac Pro? Please tell me this is wrong, kinda seems far fetched. If it is true than it more than justifies my upgrade from the 2008.
Click to expand...

Most definitely true. I notice a heavy increase in my power bill when my Mac Pro isn't reliably sleeping, and a large decrease when I either keep it shut down or sleep most the time.

It's usually in the ballpark of $40-$60 a month to run my Mac Pro (the increases in power cost I see can be $30), so $500 a year sounds about right.

When my nMP comes in I'd keep this thing as a server, but at that price to keep it running 24/7, better to just use a Mini.
 
That’s ~$500 more than the Mini+drives, for my use case (which includes 25¢/KWh).

Sure, nMP+drives is double Mini+drives, but it’s still half of a recent oMP (based on quoted idle figures for the MPs and Mini, and measured figures for my 4-drive external box).
 
Are people that really need Mac Pros really concerned if it costs $1.37 per day to use it?

I don't know that those numbers are right or wrong, just asking..
 
SamTheeGeek said:
Hello members,

Would like to ask if there is any problem if i keep my nMP ON all the time without shutting it down?


Thank you
Click to expand...

Turn it off every time you walk away for more than five minutes.

Nah, just kidding. Wanted there to be a contrary view, even if it's worthless and wrong. :p
 
brentsg said:
Are people that really need Mac Pros really concerned if it costs $1.37 per day to use it?

I don't know that those numbers are right or wrong, just asking..
Click to expand...

Over a five year lifetime of a Mac Pro, it's $2500-$4000. That's potentially the price of the Mac Pro itself in electricity. It's business tax deductible and might not be much in the grand scheme of things, but every dollar counts, especially when that could be spent on other things. Like a new Mac Pro.

That's why people are saying the new Mac Pro could pay for itself in power costs over an old Mac Pro.
 
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