Should I shut down computer over night?

[cav58d]

Is there any benefit to shutting down the computer overnight and between uses, or does added cycles have an adverse effect?  Does it not matter at all?

Thanks!

[Skuzzy]

I only turn on my home computer when I need to use it.  I shut my work computer(s) down before I leave.

There was a time when the startup cycle was pretty harsh to the mechanical devices of the computer.  Today, the mechanical devices really do not suffer the startup loads of the older mechanical devices.

Ball, roller, and sleeve bearings have been replaced with magnetic bearings, for the most part, which reduces startup current draw quite a bit.

[cav58d]

Thanks Skuzzy!

[Bizman]

Since a second opinion is often asked for, here's mine:

Shutting down the computer serves for many purposes such as updates, not to mention flushing the RAM after badly behaving programs and applications.

My layman's approach to when to shut it down is to compare it with wintertime automobile use. Those living where it gets below freezing point in winter know that a cold start is as bad for the engine and bearings as driving a hundred miles. Even the exhaust levels are roughly the same. Letting the engine run idle overnight will also cause unnecessary wear for both the system and the environment. Thus the best compromise is to let the engine/computer run when needed and shut it down entirely for lengthy pauses such as overnight.

As a rule of thumb, I recommend my customers to use sleep mode for daytime pauses of less than an hour or so and shutdown for night and other longer periods.

[Vraciu]

I agree with both of the above. 

Shutting it down will clear a lot of errors one could experience using sleep mode instead.

[Brooke]

I almost never shut down my computers at home or work.

I let them go into hybrid sleep, wherein they use about the same power as being shut down and get closer wiggle mouse and everything is back up and usable right then without waiting.

Startup (and shutdown) times to me (using Windows) are longer than I want to wait.

[zack1234]

Since my psu went poo i shut down my pc and switch off the psu.

In regards to being probed or violated if pc is left on i can not possible say