sleep mode question.

[Malus]

I know this sounds really dumb, but...if I would put my computer into sleep mode every night, and never turn it off til the weekend, would that damage it in anyway? Or make its lifespan shorter?

Thanks.

 

[iEdd]

No

The last time I shut down a computer was months ago

 

[Malus]

The last time I shut down a computer was months ago

I guess that answers my question, hehehe.

 

[mad jew]

From memory, sleeping only provides power to the RAM (excuse the pun if you want to ) so it's like shutting it down anyway, because from everything else's perspective, it's already been turned off.

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

Apple support more or less confirms mad jew's memory:

What happens when the computer goes to sleep (not just into idle mode or display sleep)?

On all computers:

- The microprocessor goes into a low-power mode
- Video output is turned off, and the connected display may turn off as well, or enter its own idle state
- Apple-supplied hard disks spin down
- Third-party hard disks may spin down

On PowerBooks and iBooks:

- The Ethernet port turns off (see Note below)
- Expansion card slots (such as PCMCIA) turn off
- The built-in modem turns off (see Note below)
- An AirPort card, if present, turns off (see Note below)
- The ADB or USB connection only responds to the power key on an external keyboard (see Tip below)
- The optical media drive spins down
- Audio input and output turns off
- Keyboard illumination, if a feature of your portable computer, turns off

As you might guess, a computer uses considerable less power when in sleep mode then when awake. The computer will continue to power RAM in sleep mode, so that whatever was in RAM when the computer went to sleep will still be there when the computer wakes. This also means that computers with more RAM use slightly more power in sleep mode.

 

[mad jew]

Apple support more or less confirms mad jew's memory:

There's a first for everything. I think I actually learnt that little fact from you anyway. Thanks for the link.

 

[ajampam]

But could keeping the RAm always powered on cause any heating/frying issues? Coz, I hear so much about peoples rams getting fried, etc....

 

[mad jew]

Nope. The RAM isn't doing anything other than just being on. From my little knowledge of such things, fried RAM is usually the result of heat from another component such as CPU or hard drive but even then, it's not a very common problem AFAIK.

 

[wdlove]

I know this sounds really dumb, but...if I would put my computer into sleep mode every night, and never turn it off till the weekend, would that damage it in anyway? Or make its lifespan shorter?

Thanks.

I leave my Mac on 24/7. Just have the monitor sleep. It allows Mac OS X to run routine maintenance programs on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. My Mac is almost five years old. Have being doing this for about a year and a half.

 

[AmigoMac]

I got my mac more than 1 year ago, may to be precise, and in my hands it only knows sleep mode since I got it out of the box

 

[mcmillan]

Hmm.. I didn't know that, I guess I'll start sleeping my Mac more often.

 

[MacNut]

If you have a Powerbook and you put it in sleep mode unplugged the battery life will ware down after a while.

 

[mad jew]

If you have a Powerbook and you put it in sleep mode unplugged the battery life will ware down after a while.

Well, it's still powering the RAM so yeah.