Sleep or Hibernate?

I know this question has been asked before multiple times, but all my research still doesn't answer the questions I have.

Let me sum up what I know, so there won't be any repeats.

* Sleep - Uses some power to keep data in RAM. Faster restore, almost 0 wait time. Good if you're stepping away for a couple of hours.

* Hibernate - Basically shut down but keep data in HDD. Saves power, but slower restore. Uses a huge hiberfil.sys that takes up disc space.

That's the gist of it. However, I can't find info for the following questions:

1) How much power is used during Sleep in comparison to Hibernate or shutdown? I mean, how much power are we looking at here for a laptop, since it is already low powered? Is it worth it to hibernate in terms of energy saving?

2) Which is actually better for the hardware components? Yes, Sleep basically keeps your system running at lower power, only necessary to keep the data on the RAM. The fan is turned off, HDD turned off, wifi turned off, etc... So essentially it means your RAM is working the whole time, is that bad?

Shut down means more wear and tear on your HDD each time you update the hiberfil.sys. Also, doesn't it wear and tear electrically your whole system each time you power up and down? Is it safe for the hardware components to constantly being drained and repowered?

I was told back in the days when I had a desktop not to constantly shutdown and turn back on for this very reason. It is also why major companies such as Apple, Google, etc... their company computers are not shutdown daily. I mean, just the power button alone, how much wear and tear can that take mechanically before it starts to give problems and you have to replace the whole laptop surface cover?

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I use my laptop everyday for work and for entertainment. The longest I have it off is during sleep (6-8 hrs a night). I only shut it down when I need to upgrade the hardware or if I'm traveling. Basically I have disabled hibernation for 8 years on this laptop. My main reason is I don't want a 12GB hiberfil.sys sitting on my C: and also because it restores quickly and I don't have to press the power button. All I do is run my fingers on the touch pad or move my mouse and the system wakes up.

However, recently read that b/c it is not completely shutdown, it is in fact on, so my greatest concern is how does that affect the RAM and the system board if the power is constantly on even at low power? And would constantly turning on and off be an even greater wear and tear on them electrically?

Thanks!

 

I leave my Desktop and Laptop power setting *Default* unless you have some power supply issues. Memory and Hardware issues isn't going to fixed by the O/S that will have to be replaced or changed out.

 

I like this one:

https://computer.howstuffworks.com/powering-down-computer.htm

Generally, I just don't think it is good to keep the RAM powered 24-7 even if just a little. So it is better to shut it down if you're going to sleep.

 

the "fast startup" option when enabled by default does a "pseudo-hibernation" when doing a normal shutdown