Sleeping Mac running on external SSD

[Kargo]

I've been running my iMac from an external SSD drive connected via USB 3.0 for the past 6 months. A few times, most recently on Thursday this week, I've put the mac to sleep instead of shutting it down entirely. Moving the mouse this morning woke it up with all my applications from Thursday still open.

I wouldn't usually worry if it was running from the internal HDD but given that the Mac is running from the external SSD, is there a risk with putting it to sleep over shutdown?? (excessive weardown etc...) Also, how exactly is it managing to sleep if sleep mode is supposed to cut all power to the USB ports?

 

[Fishrrman]

I booted and ran my 2012 Mini for SIX YEARS from an external SSD.
It always booted and ran fine.
It still does, "over on the other table".

Suggestion:
Go to the energy saver pref pane
UNCHECK the box "put hard disks to sleep when possible"

One other thing:
Over the course of 32 years of being a Mac user, I find things just "go better" if one shuts down the Mac at night, and reboots "clean" in the morning...

 

[wardie]

One other thing:
Over the course of 32 years of being a Mac user, I find things just "go better" if one shuts down the Mac at night, and reboots "clean" in the morning...

Indeed that’s what I do. There is a school of thought that says it is better to leave them on to reduce component wear in startup/shutdown, but personally I think it’s better to save some polar bears by not using the electricity, if it is not fully in sleep mode.

 

[mikehalloran]

Much worrying over nothing.

You will not get the best performance out of any iMac that way—doesn't matter the year. If you're happy with the overall speed, no reason not to keep on keeping on.