Leaving PC on while on holiday

CaptainRAVE · 5 Apr 2015 at 18:36

How safe is this to do? I have done it before with a previous computer in the middle of summer and I guess it is left on a fair bit when I am not in the room. Being on a slow internet connection I really need to get GTA downloading while I am away for a week! Will probably turn the overclock off on my cpu and gpu.

Glaucus · 5 Apr 2015 at 18:38

What do you think is going to happen.
Off course it's fine.

ebilcake · 5 Apr 2015 at 18:42

Probably safe, but a week is a long time to a leave computer untended.

Some might say that's irresponsible, what do you tell the authorities in event something goes wrong? surely not that you needed to download GTA V.

Very low chance of something happening but I don't see why you would take the risk for a game.

Mynight · 5 Apr 2015 at 18:44

http://www.ampsoft.net/utilities/WinOFF.php

I use this on long downloads if I'm not around.

Obviously if your connection drops out it would still start shutdown though.

the shadow · 5 Apr 2015 at 18:47

[http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18664593

flame696 · 5 Apr 2015 at 20:25

It should be fine as long as there is plenty of ventilation

TheVoice · 5 Apr 2015 at 20:28

There's no reason for it to overheat or anything, it'll be sitting idle.

ebilcake said:
Probably safe, but a week is a long time to a leave computer untended.

Some might say that's irresponsible, what do you tell the authorities in event something goes wrong? surely not that you needed to download GTA V.

Very low chance of something happening but I don't see why you would take the risk for a game.

Antar Bolaeisk · 5 Apr 2015 at 20:29

While you're away it will hack all your electrical appliances and slowly take over your house, awaiting for the moment of your return to strike.

Probably safer to leave the computer on than the fridge! Is the cost of leaving the computer running for the week cheaper than just buying the game on disc?

arc@css · 5 Apr 2015 at 20:30

Not ideal of course, but it should be fine.

ShaolinDreams · 5 Apr 2015 at 20:30

Just think worse case scenario.. or do i really need to download GTAV mega quick because nothing.

bitslice · 5 Apr 2015 at 20:32

I hear Google turn off all their servers when they go home at night

Jonny69 · 5 Apr 2015 at 20:32

ebilcake said:
Some might say that's irresponsible, what do you tell the authorities in event something goes wrong?

GTA MADE ME DO IT!!!

Feek · 5 Apr 2015 at 20:33

I used to have a room with about ten to fifteen (I forget the exact number) of bare bones PCs all crunching away for SETI. They ran 24/7 at 100% CPU whether I was here, working, on holiday or anything like that.

You'll be perfectly fine. Providing it doesn't catch fire and burn the house down, of course.

xGBHxPegasus · 5 Apr 2015 at 20:38

Feek said:
I used to have a room with about ten to fifteen (I forget the exact number) of bare bones PCs all crunching away for SETI. They ran 24/7 at 100% CPU whether I was here, working, on holiday or anything like that.

You'll be perfectly fine. Providing it doesn't catch fire and burn the house down, of course.

Someone's just jinxed it :rolleyes:

this_is_gav · 5 Apr 2015 at 20:43

A mate of mine bought a Qtec PSU as a stop-gap... it nearly set his house on fire. Scorched the wallpaper but thankfully stopped at that.

Personally, I keep my PC on while at work and have never had an issue.

Though my PC at work failed when I couldn't get to it due to Ofsted being based in the room next door (which I have to go through to get to my office). Once I could get to it I tried switching it back on... the Antec PSU gave an impressively loud bang and started belching smoke... haven't bought one of them again since!

If the PC is made of genuinely good components then feel free to keep it on with confidence. If compromises were made, especially in the PSU area... well, that's your call.

Randomface74 · 5 Apr 2015 at 20:51

It's fine unless your house burns down.

tres · 5 Apr 2015 at 20:52

It'll be fine. For peace of mind, why not use Teamviewer or something free, that you can log in and check from your phone/tablet, and if it's done, shut it down.

OracIe · 5 Apr 2015 at 20:58

tres said:
It'll be fine. For peace of mind, why not use Teamviewer or something free, that you can log in and check from your phone/tablet, and if it's done, shut it down.

Thats a good idea.
I think the only thing I would do, is it you have the PC on a carpet maybe put something under it like a plastic/metal tray so if the PSU did spark (assuming its at the bottom of the case) - it wont catch the carpet.

Kelt · 5 Apr 2015 at 21:01

I had one of those infamous Hiper PSU's blow up in my PC, wiping out two hard drives, graphics and soundcard.
Produced a nice bang, cloud of smoke and fire before I managed to switch it off.
I know it's unlikely to happen again, but I wouldn't risk it in my personal dwelling.

Haggisman · 5 Apr 2015 at 21:08

ebilcake said:
Probably safe, but a week is a long time to a leave computer untended.

Some might say that's irresponsible, what do you tell the authorities in event something goes wrong? surely not that you needed to download GTA V.

Very low chance of something happening but I don't see why you would take the risk for a game.

Do you turn off your fridge every time you leave the house?

Do you think companies turn off all their servers over christmas?

Kelt said:
I had one of those infamous Hiper PSU's blow up in my PC, wiping out two hard drives, graphics and soundcard.
Produced a nice bang, cloud of smoke and fire before I managed to switch it off.
I know it's unlikely to happen again, but I wouldn't risk it in my personal dwelling.

Why is leaving it on for a week more dangerous than leaving it on for an hour while you go to the shops?

If it decides to go bang after 5 minutes, then end result is going to be same...

Leaving PC on while on holiday

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