Sleep or hibernate? 2 easy ways to a faster productivity

While in the middle of your productivity app, you may get an emergency call which requires you to hurry out. So you either shut down your system or leave it on hibernate or sleep.

Leaving your PC on Sleep or Hibernate mode is the only quick way to return to your work. The systems load quickly when resuming from these modes. So which mode should you use and why shouldn't you be using it always.

Sleep?

We do use the Sleep mode a lot but do we really understand how it works? In this mode, the computer remains in a state of low-power consumption. The power-supply runs only to the RAM and keeps the other hardware switched off. In doing so, the next time you start your systems, you will find your systems booting faster with your files still intact.

Sleep mode, however, has one drawback. In case your laptop runs out of battery even while in Sleep mode, all the information on the RAM will be erased. Hence, it is advisable to always save your files before proceeding to put it to sleep.

Hibernate?

Now that you know what Sleep mode is, we now move to hibernate mode. It works with the same principles of Sleep mode. But this time, power is cut to the entire system. Any files that were open are saved to your hard disk for you to continue working on it once the system resumes.
Unlike the Sleep mode, putting your system into hibernation even on a low battery will not lead to data loss as your files have already been saved to the hard disk.

Also read: Here are 7 easy ways to backup and protect all your data!

Hibernation on Mac

Macs do have the Sleep mode, but unlike Windows and Linux, it does not benefit to have a hibernation mode turned on by default. However, the feature is still available on the systems. On systems with hard drives, the hibernation mode can be found under Safe Sleep. It activates only when the laptop runs low on power or if the system is left idle for a long period.

On Macs which have a dedicated SSD, it is nicknamed Standby mode. It activates, however, after the system has been in Sleep mode for more than 3 hours.

Also read: 5 Warning Signals That Your Hard Disk Is About to Crash

Verdict

So what do you do the next time you're in a hurry to leave while in the middle of work? Using the Sleep mode is always advisable as it helps you to resume your work quickly. You files need to be autosaved or you need to remind yourself to save it before you leave.

Major laptop manufacturers test the machines to ensure that they meet the Energy Star power consumption ratings even in Sleep and Hibernate modes. So you can leave your machine too in the sleep mode in peace knowing that you're not consuming more power nor are you losing time.