Go to HD Tune and download the free hard disk utility see what your read times are. This is what you need raise, your read speed. I average 577.6 MB/sec. http://www.hdtune.com/
Some of us actually built systems with lots of programs and utilities, so reinstalling is a no go. For those like tj that don't install anything and use Notepad for database work, they can reinstall Windows weekly.
I leave my computer on 24/7 but I turn the monitors off during the night. I think think it uses a great deal of power. Not $200 worth a year.
Because it costs 25-30 bucks a month to run a typical desktop PC continuously, depending on your power company rate of course. If you have more than one PC running that can start to be noticeable. You can save considerable money powering down or turning off when you are not using them. I will also add that they can add noticeably to the air conditioning requirements in the room you are using them in. I once considered putting a magic jack on a dedicated computer and leaving it on continuously until I realized the cost of doing this -- not to mention the problems with getting it to reset my modem and router and reboot automatically after my ISP went down, which it does periodically. (magic jack could be a serious competitor for land lines if some bright person could solve this problem cheaply.)
Doesn't it bog down a certain type of memory if you leave it on 24/7? I haven't gotten the message with my new system after leaving it on all the time but I remember I used to get a message saying my memory was running low when I used to leave my old system on (windows xp). Just curious
That is a bit of an exaggeration if one plans one's operations. I use standby (so cpu speeds down and ram goes into the chosen standby mode) so my restart is a few seconds at most. Re power, I have one switch for my screens, printer, routers etc and one for the computer itself. So the power in standby mode is probably around 10W which even at .20 would only be $12.50 pa (scaling your maths). Re memory. I run Windows XP and never have memory messages (4G of ram though). I do turn the system off on Sunday afternoons after I run virus scans, defrag, etc for Memory Hygiene.
Indeed, that's exactly what I do, and what everyone should do. But we both know people that just leave them on twenty four seven without using the hibernation mode -- very wasteful and environmentally unfriendly.
I just suspend my macpro when it is not used. go to apple menu, select sleep and done. instantly kicks in when I move the mouse. The nice thing about the mac is no Antivirus etc.. All that shit saps I/O performance, memory and sucks up CPU cycles.
..and for the price of Mac, you could buy 2 laptops and dedicate one completely for trading, no antivirus needed...