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power142 · Apr 16, 2004, 07:53 AM

This may seem like a stupid question, but I'm seriously thinking about getting a new eMac (1.25GHz) as a development web server as opposed to an older Power Mac for the same price.

Now, I think the eMac is a steal, but my question is, can I expect it to stay up (ie without hardware problems, like cooling, long-term effects or whatever) 24x7 if I do so? It's not going to be particularly heavily loaded (lightly most likely), but I actually want it to respond when I say so. I mean, it's not going to overheat or anything? I'm assuming I can shut the screen down in Energy Saver and the rest will still run.

I've used an iMac (flat panel) in this type of environment for a while without problems, but the eMac is significantly less expensive!

Any thoughts?

Tx.

djohnson · Apr 16, 2004, 08:11 AM

It should have the same quality engineering Apple pours into every other computer. If I were to get one, it would run 24/7. I dont believe in turning off a computer... Let it run and it will do fine! You might want to think about turning off the monitor in System Prefs though...

chabig · Apr 16, 2004, 08:17 AM

I think that sounds like a good plan. If it does break, you'll be able to get warranty service, and if it breaks beyond the warranty, you will have gotten good use out of an inexpensive machine for at least a year.

Of course, it shouldn't break. The screen can stay off, as you say, and the fan is quite large and capable. My son's 3 year old G3 iMac (no fan) is on 24/7 and it's still going fine.

Chris

ism · Apr 16, 2004, 10:06 AM

My imac g3 with no fan ran for nearly 4 years almost always 24/7 (shutdown when I went away for Christmas etc) It's still going, but now gets shut down a lot because I moved in with my girlfriend and shes scared about having it on all night (girls!)

The only problem I had was last summer when sone of the plastic (the inner bit around the screen) cracked, and a chunk now hangs down my about 1mm. I'm guessing this was due to heat! So I can't see a problem with an emac, even if the plastic eventually gives, it's only cosmetic.

iKevin · Apr 16, 2004, 10:17 AM

I've never been a fan of letting CRT displays sleep. My experience has been that they last longer and have fewer issues if you just leave them on all the time. Something about the CRT switching off and on alot seems to cause them to flake out faster.

power142 · Apr 16, 2004, 01:31 PM

OK - sounds positive - thanks for all your input!

MacNStein · Apr 16, 2004, 09:10 PM

Originally posted by power142:
This may seem like a stupid question, but I'm seriously thinking about getting a new eMac (1.25GHz) as a development web server as opposed to an older Power Mac for the same price.

Now, I think the eMac is a steal, but my question is, can I expect it to stay up (ie without hardware problems, like cooling, long-term effects or whatever) 24x7 if I do so? It's not going to be particularly heavily loaded (lightly most likely), but I actually want it to respond when I say so. I mean, it's not going to overheat or anything? I'm assuming I can shut the screen down in Energy Saver and the rest will still run.

I've used an iMac (flat panel) in this type of environment for a while without problems, but the eMac is significantly less expensive!

Any thoughts?

Tx.

About 30% of eMacs I've seen have had to have the analog assy changed in the first year, with the 2nd gen units being quite a bit better than the 1st. About 30% of the macs we sell are eMacs (25% iMacs, 25% PBs, 10% Power Macs, and 10% iBooks), but they make up about 40+% of our warranty service. That said, after the assy change (which makes up about half of the eMac) they seem to be pretty solid.

Personally, unless I were really strapped for $, I'd wait for the iMac refresh and get a 17" iMac with a 1.6GHz G5 for ~ $1500-$1600.

the_glassman · Apr 17, 2004, 06:32 AM

My emac has been on 24/7 for almost a year. Not a single problem!

tooki · Apr 20, 2004, 02:22 AM

I thought the analog problem was fixed in the second version of the eMac.

In any case, I totally disagree with iKevin about leaving a CRT on all the time: it is extremely wasteful with electricity, I don't think that it has any effect on overall longevity of the display (at least not on quality displays), leaving it on could result in burn-in if you don't use a screen saver, and even if you do, remember that CRT phosphors wear out (manifested by the screen getting dimmer), so it's smarter to not cause wear-and-tear on the phosphor by keeping the display lit when not needed.

tooki

the_glassman · Apr 22, 2004, 07:35 PM

Originally posted by tooki:
I thought the analog problem was fixed in the second version of the eMac.

In any case, I totally disagree with iKevin about leaving a CRT on all the time: it is extremely wasteful with electricity, I don't think that it has any effect on overall longevity of the display (at least not on quality displays), leaving it on could result in burn-in if you don't use a screen saver, and even if you do, remember that CRT phosphors wear out (manifested by the screen getting dimmer), so it's smarter to not cause wear-and-tear on the phosphor by keeping the display lit when not needed.

tooki

I agree completely! CRT's are not the most energy efficient devices, I have mine set to sleep after 1 minute. I'm either always doing something or not using the computer at all.