Should I turn off my computer when I'm not using it? It depends on many factors, especially the use you make of your PC
One of the questions that users with little experience in the world of computing cannot answer is "Should I turn off my computer when I go to sleep?". The answer, however, is not so simple even for experts. To this exact question the answer of many is "It depends". But what can it depend on? On the PC model? The computer's characteristics? The battery (in the case of notebooks)? It depends on all of the above, but also on a number of other factors.
Leaving your PC on even when you're not using it (e.g. at night) is usually a mistake. It consumes power, puts stress on your PC and decreases the life of the internal components. But in some cases it is advisable to keep your computer on at night when you go to sleep. For example, if you use your PC to control a server or keep an online service running. Or if you use your computer continuously throughout the day: instead of turning it on and off 3-4 times in a day, it's better to keep it on even when you're not using it.
Why keep your computer on when you're not using it
If you don't use your PC continuously throughout the day, our advice is to keep it on at least until the evening. Turning your PC on and off several times during the day is detrimental to the internal components and shortens its lifespan. The risk of constantly turning your PC on and off is greater, especially for old computers: mechanical components are put under stress and are more likely to break.
Also, if you leave your computer on all the time, program updates and virus scanning take place in the background.
Why turn off your computer when you sleep
If you only use your PC during working hours, it is better to turn it off at night. The reason is very simple: in addition to saving power, you won't damage the PC's less durable components, such as the SSD drive or the screen. LCD displays have a lifetime of about 15,000 hours, plus or minus two years if you use it assiduously. The same goes for the SSD disk: the longevity is related to the use you make of it.
The difference between hibernation and suspend
An alternative to shutting down your PC is to hibernate or suspend it. These are two modes that allow you to shut down your PC, but keep some processes running. Which of the two modes is preferable to use? Definitely suspend, which keeps your PC in a "sleep" state and doesn't create problems when you decide to turn it on again.