I am always sitting at my pc. I pretty much live at my pc. So my pc is pretty much always on. (I like saying "pretty much".) Then when I feel I need a break from staring at my computer monitor all day, I play a video (a movie or tv show mkv most likely tv show mkv) in VLC media player. And after the video finishes playing and my computer pc detects inactivity say after about 15-30 minutes of inactivity detected, it puts itself into Sleep mode.
Is this alright to do this? Is Sleep mode the same as Shutting down your PC via the power option in Start menu? Or is it better to completely shut down/power down your PC?
The only time I really shut down my pc is to clean out the case, take my can of compressed air and blast out all the dust balls that's been living inside for so long. Which I need to do right now lol.
Also you should give your a computer a break sometimes and let it rest.
Let your computer rest sometimes (put it in Sleep mode or shut it down) from being on all the damn time. Let the thing rest!
I say about at least 15 minutes in Sleep mode (or shut down completely) should be enough to let your computer components rest.
Anyways, which is better for your pc: Shut down or Sleep mode? Or are they pretty much the same thing? Is there no difference other than your PC has to boot up (shut down option) which our PCs literally takes no time to do now (in my other thread "How fast does your PC boot up?")