Sleeping vs Turning off monitor - what is more "power cut" friendly?

[chrisjhill]

As the title asks, really. Is it safer for an iMac to be shut down from a power cut whilst turned on, or whilst sleeping? We tend to get a power cut once every couple of months.

I assume it's worse when it is on. Am I correct?

 

[JustGretchen]

Better to be shut off in reality...
but you can get a uninterrupted power supply for relatively inexpensive...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16842101343
that would work nicely with your iMac.

Then you don't need to worry about power surges/spikes, or cut offs and your iMac will just continue to sleep like a baby.

 

[BlueRevolution]

Neither one is a good idea, but from a sleeping state should be marginally preferable. Just be sure to maintain a current backup that isn't plugged in to guard against data loss in such an event.