I'm considering using remote desktop access while I'm at college, but I'm uncertain whether I should keep my PC on all the time or if it would be better to use sleep or hibernation mode. Will turning sleep mode and hibernation off reduce the lifespan of my PC? I've also looked into WoWLAN, but I've heard it's pretty unreliable, especially since I'll be using college Wi-Fi to connect to my home PC which is on Wi-Fi, not Ethernet. Any insights on this?
5 Answers
Most laptops and desktops are designed for longevity, as long as you don’t push them too hard. Sleep mode helps save power but leaves some components active, whereas hibernation shuts everything down completely while saving your session. Just so you know, you can unplug a hibernated PC without losing your work, but not if it's in sleep mode.
I’ve set up my NAS with Tailscale for secure remote access, and I’ve successfully used Wake on LAN (WoL) on various networks, including heavily secured ones at work. It's a solid option if you want to access your home network remotely.
Keeping your PC on continuously might raise your electricity bill, but it won’t necessarily shorten its lifespan. You should watch out for Windows updates, though; they can restart your PC unexpectedly and disrupt your remote setup.
Your fans might wear out a bit faster, and if you’re using old-school hard drives, they could be affected too. But for other components, keeping your PC on can actually lead to less wear than shutting it down and booting it every day. I've run mine nearly non-stop for two years without any noticeable problems.
Don't stress about your PC running 24/7—it generally won't harm your components. Servers run continuously without major issues, and consumer parts can handle staying idle under load. Just ensure everything is in stock condition; the motherboard is usually the weakest part when it comes to longevity.
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