I have a Mac mini 2014 base line mode is it a good ideas to leave it on all the time or shut it down when not in use I leave my on all the time is this a good idea or no
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Mac mini 2014 help
- Thread starter Alexrat1996
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the genius will tell you its a good idea to shut it down and reboot once a while, that is true of all computers..
the mac mini is the most energy efficient desktop computer being sold today.
the most power it will take under a "load" which means, the cpu is being utilized at 100 % is 85 watts.
this is the average "idle" power a desktop pc uses when it just sitting there.
when the mac mini is just idling and not doing much, it only takes like 5 to 10 watts of power. which is less then a compact fluorescent light bulb.
this new 2014 mac mini is so energy efficient that a couple times i unplugged it from the wall while it was sleeping and it did not shutdown at all. it just keep sleeping for 25 or 30 seconds until i plugged it back in!
the only thing you should be careful of is not to let it lie flat on a carpeted surface, because it will overheat. as long as its on a smooth surface like a table, then it is fine.
other then that its okay to leave it on 24 hours a day
the mac mini is the most energy efficient desktop computer being sold today.
the most power it will take under a "load" which means, the cpu is being utilized at 100 % is 85 watts.
this is the average "idle" power a desktop pc uses when it just sitting there.
when the mac mini is just idling and not doing much, it only takes like 5 to 10 watts of power. which is less then a compact fluorescent light bulb.
this new 2014 mac mini is so energy efficient that a couple times i unplugged it from the wall while it was sleeping and it did not shutdown at all. it just keep sleeping for 25 or 30 seconds until i plugged it back in!
the only thing you should be careful of is not to let it lie flat on a carpeted surface, because it will overheat. as long as its on a smooth surface like a table, then it is fine.
other then that its okay to leave it on 24 hours a day
i used to get into mac vs pc arguments and i would tell these people that save money buying windows desktops that are more powerful then macs at less money, that you only save money as long as the computer was turned off. once you run your pc tower 24 hours a day, whatever money you saved by not buying a mac was spent on electricity.
that really upset people. but it was true.
i even used an energy calculator to show them how much it cost running a 10 watt computer vs a 300watt tower and they still did not believe me, i even tried to explain to them that part of your 600 watt power supply was used to heat up your apartment!!!
back in the old days we only needed big pc power supplies because we were using our power supply to run the monitor as well as the computer. they forgot about that , and now just use the extra power to run a 3d card.
that really upset people. but it was true.
i even used an energy calculator to show them how much it cost running a 10 watt computer vs a 300watt tower and they still did not believe me, i even tried to explain to them that part of your 600 watt power supply was used to heat up your apartment!!!
back in the old days we only needed big pc power supplies because we were using our power supply to run the monitor as well as the computer. they forgot about that , and now just use the extra power to run a 3d card.
I have a 2010 mini, only time it's switched off is if it needs to reboot as part of a software update.
Advice from Apple in the manual for my base model early 2009 Mac Mini….. which has only ever been shut down when I want to take it to work (just a few times in some semesters), when a software update requires it, or when I am going away for more than a few days since I bought it new, just over six years ago:
Putting Your Mac mini to Sleep or Shutting It Down
When you finish working with your Mac mini, you can put it to sleep or shut it down.
Putting Your Mac mini to Sleep
If you’ll be away from your Mac mini for less than a few days, put it to sleep. When your Mac mini is in sleep, the display’s screen is dark. You can quickly wake your Mac mini and bypass the startup process.
To wake your Mac mini, press any key on the keyboard or any button on the optional Apple Remote. When your Mac mini wakes from sleep, your applications, documents, and computer settings are exactly as you left them.
Shutting Down Your Mac mini
If you won’t be using your Mac mini for more than a few days, shut it down. Choose Apple () > Shut Down. To turn your Mac mini on again, press the power (®) button.
The same advice will be valid for more recent models. As suggested above, the power use in sleep mode is negligible. Additionally, it is reckoned to be better for the longevity of electronic components to be powered up for long periods, rather than booted frequently.
I don't know if it was a factor, but the HDD and power supply on my first Mini, the 2005 original, failed after about four years. I shut it down most evenings, and rebooted it each morning.
Putting Your Mac mini to Sleep or Shutting It Down
When you finish working with your Mac mini, you can put it to sleep or shut it down.
Putting Your Mac mini to Sleep
If you’ll be away from your Mac mini for less than a few days, put it to sleep. When your Mac mini is in sleep, the display’s screen is dark. You can quickly wake your Mac mini and bypass the startup process.
To wake your Mac mini, press any key on the keyboard or any button on the optional Apple Remote. When your Mac mini wakes from sleep, your applications, documents, and computer settings are exactly as you left them.
Shutting Down Your Mac mini
If you won’t be using your Mac mini for more than a few days, shut it down. Choose Apple () > Shut Down. To turn your Mac mini on again, press the power (®) button.
The same advice will be valid for more recent models. As suggested above, the power use in sleep mode is negligible. Additionally, it is reckoned to be better for the longevity of electronic components to be powered up for long periods, rather than booted frequently.
I don't know if it was a factor, but the HDD and power supply on my first Mini, the 2005 original, failed after about four years. I shut it down most evenings, and rebooted it each morning.
No need to shutdown daily. Leave it on, but put it to sleep when not in use.
About once a month I restart my Mac mini when it gets sluggish.
I own 4 minis (2-2012, one base and one quad-core, 2-2009 base models). One is a server which runs 24/7 and never sleeps. Two sleep and are not shut down. The final one sleeps and is only shut down on weekends (I use it at work). This doesn't seem to harm any of them. Only repairs has been replacing the hard drives on one of the 2009 units and both hard drives on a 2009 server I replaced a year ago (with the 2012 quad core).
the new haswell cpus and the newest mac minis make leaving the computer fully turned on negligible just like putting a 2009 series mac mini series computer to sleep
( as long as the computer is not doing intensive tasks )
the cpu takes 11 to 15 w according to wikipedia. heh
