topic How long is a laptop designed to be left on? in PCs & Accessories

How long is a laptop designed to be left on?

shenyap — Sun, 14 Nov 2004 23:43:14 GMT

Hi all, hope you are all enjoying your Vaios. I am interested to know how long a laptop can be left running. I also wonder if laptops have a run-in period. Who knows please?

Just curious.

Regards
Shen

Re: How long is a laptop designed to be left on?

Woody27 — Sun, 14 Nov 2004 23:47:51 GMT

Shenyap,

As far as I know a laptop can be left on as long as you like (we have some at work that have been on for years... ...literally!). However, the longevity of laptops seems to vary widley. I thing some of it is just luck, some keep going for years, no problem! :smileygrin:

Others fail within a few months!

As for running-in, noooooo, just go for it!

CW

Re: How long is a laptop designed to be left on?

Foxhound — Mon, 15 Nov 2004 02:05:31 GMT

I use my laptop as a desktop replacement which means I sometimes leave it on for days to download things.
I am on my second laptop, the first one needed to replace because I cracked the screen and not because it "died" on me.
So you can leave your laptop on with out worring to much.

Re: How long is a laptop designed to be left on?

JohnRatsey — Mon, 15 Nov 2004 03:06:55 GMT

A laptop left running on a desk is likely to last longer than one that is frequently opened and shut, disconnected, put in a bag, carried around, etc.., with one possible exception - the fan may wear out sooner.

Laptops used as portable machines tend to develop problems such as internal connections working loose, hinge fatigue and loose or broken sockets.

Given that a laptop consumes 10% to 20% of the electricity of a typical desktop computer, it may well prove to be cheaper overall than a desktop when purchase and running costs are combined, for situations where the equipment is left running for long periods.

John

Re: How long is a laptop designed to be left on?

Woody27 — Mon, 15 Nov 2004 08:46:39 GMT

John raises some good points!

I have noticed on many occasions when performing internal cleans or upgrades on laptops that frequently screws are either very loose, or simply missing!

I am sure, as John states this is to do with their constant opening and closing and general movement! A bit of a bummer for a mobile computer.

Dell laptops used to be particlarly bad (there better now)! One we had a work got a screw jammed in the cooling fan and the screen would suddenly slam shut whilst you were typing (it did amazingly still work though)!. I am afraid to say the VAIOs are only slightly better!

CW

Re: How long is a laptop designed to be left on?

TygerTyger — Mon, 15 Nov 2004 13:13:08 GMT

The only real restriction on leaving a laptop on is the risk of overheating. I leave mine on a lot, but I check the temperature every so often to make sure I'm not knackering my computer. It knackered anyway, but nevermind.

Anyway this program will help you keep an eye on the temperature if you are worried. The most important one is the CPU, which should absolutely not pass 75 on a laptop.

Re: How long is a laptop designed to be left on?

kee-lo_ — Mon, 15 Nov 2004 13:19:15 GMT

John is right, moving it around probably causes most of the problems, accidental hits in the car, on the bus etc have effects.

I wouldn't leave mine on > 12hrs.

Re: How long is a laptop designed to be left on?

Pjay — Fri, 19 Nov 2004 02:50:46 GMT

this program will help you keep an eye on the temperature if you are worried. The most important one is the CPU, which should absolutely not pass 75 on a laptop.

In that case I have problems because i just downloaded that proggie and my cpu temp is 76 to 79. I leave mine on for like 14hrs every day. Very rare It moves off the table, maybe it needs a service & Clean.

Pjay

Re: How long is a laptop designed to be left on?

TygerTyger — Fri, 19 Nov 2004 11:18:03 GMT

Yeah that's a little high. I was refused permission to look at this thread (?) because it insisted I wasn't logged in, but if I remember there's a bit about cleaning out your vents in Nick Pans Cooling Guide

Re: How long is a laptop designed to be left on?

kee-lo_ — Fri, 19 Nov 2004 12:51:28 GMT

Yep a clean out is probably required

Re: How long is a laptop designed to be left on?

Pjay — Fri, 19 Nov 2004 19:57:02 GMT

:smileynerd: Yup gonna clean it tonight. Thanks for the link TygerTyger will post the results soon as.Cheers

Pjay

Re: How long is a laptop designed to be left on?

Woody27 — Fri, 19 Nov 2004 22:51:13 GMT

:smileynerd: Yup gonna clean it tonight. Thanks for the link TygerTyger will post the results soon as.Cheers 

Pjay

Hope the clean..... .....stop it Kes! You little F****r, I tell the!.... ...out goes OK!

Bo-Selecta!

CW

Re: How long is a laptop designed to be left on?

kee-lo_ — Fri, 19 Nov 2004 23:11:18 GMT

Actually it's Bad a$$ M f***king Jay !

Hehe
I think that show has gone down the banks but the first two seasons were good.

Re: How long is a laptop designed to be left on?

Pjay — Fri, 19 Nov 2004 23:20:02 GMT

eeehee im stuck on base 1 at the mo..... just 5 mins back I shut it down removed battery what a stinker of a port cover that is on the GRT795MP bet load of them get broken..anyway I looks for the screws that remove the keyboard n top pannels and can I f**k find em :smileythinking:. so I just rebooted to look at the manual, Little Britains my fave at the mo

**EDIT** Well I looked but I kinda knew I wouldnt find the answer in the manual.
I have removed every screw n clip I can find but the thing still wont come apart I just cant figure it out
No chance of finding info on this site without trawling thru s**t loads of pages.its so crazy I say CRAZY that we still dont have a SEARCH FACILITY HERE.
Pjay

Re: How long is a laptop designed to be left on?

Pjay — Sat, 20 Nov 2004 18:58:42 GMT

Got it sorted ...now its clean I got a right lump of fluff from the back of the vents it actually looked like a filter screen and was about 5mm thick , the wife said "isnt that supposed to be there it looks like it should". my temps down to 55 instead of 79 with loads off apps running. oh yeah and its as quiet as a mouse. Im really chuffed. thanks guys..........`Bo selecta'

Pjay

Re: How long is a laptop designed to be left on?

robpaxton — Sat, 20 Nov 2004 19:01:02 GMT

That's proper Bo!

Re: How long is a laptop designed to be left on?

kee-lo_ — Sat, 20 Nov 2004 19:57:34 GMT

You're a bad cleaning VAIO using mother

Re: How long is a laptop designed to be left on?

Pjay — Sat, 20 Nov 2004 21:06:34 GMT

sha mon Keelo ....:smileydancing: can u tell me how to upload a pic please

Pjay

Re: How long is a laptop designed to be left on?

kee-lo_ — Sat, 20 Nov 2004 21:23:47 GMT

Shamon brother.

Do you have webspace? If not use http://www.hostmyimages.net/

Then you do

without spaces.

Re: How long is a laptop designed to be left on?

Pjay — Sun, 21 Nov 2004 00:16:05 GMT

Cheers Keelo i put it on my webspace ......wanna have a look at me fluff

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/michelle.coffey5/PCG-GRT795MP.html

Pjay