Power saving techniques

[Agera One]

Does the following methods extend battery life?

1) Turning off inbuilt speakers
2) Disabling GPU/not installing GPU driver
3) Undervolting CPU
4) Less taskbar apps
5) Disconnecting USB devices like mouse/keyboard when not in use.

 

[Ironsounds]

Hello... basically a Computer part is made of transistors that turn off and on to control current from your battery.
SO... any method to keep a transistor from switching will reduce current flow.
1) Yes
2) Yes, but modern GPU's have already 3 Power/mhz reducing steps programed into them.
3) Use CPU Speed Step instead, like the above mentioned, Power/mhz reducing steps programed into them.
4) Yes, if there is LED/Laser lighting being used on them.

 

[boosted1g]

1) The spearkers use power to play sound, but when idle there is no power used
2) While yes not powering the gpu would help life, but then your computer wont work or display anything
3) You can use power management to limit CPU max power. This will help but is usually always set by default
4)Yes and No. If the app is actively using the cpu then yes, otherwise no
5) Yes, anything the laptop has to power while drain battery.


Turning screen brightness down helps battery life.
Fine tuning power settings for quicker hard drive/cpu turn off and dissabling NIC and other not used devices will help.
Installing an SSD drive helps battery life and performance

 

[Agera One]

Hello... basially a Computer part is made of transistors that turn off and on to control current from your battery.
SO... any method to keep a transistor from switching will reduce current flow.
1) Yes
2) Yes, but modern GPU's have already 3 Power/mhz reducing steps programed into them.
3) Use CPU Speed Step instead, like the above mentioned, Power/mhz reducing steps programed into them.
4) Yes, if there is LED/Laser lighting being used on them.

I do mainly two things on my laptop. Watch movies/videos, browse internet. Will undervolting helps to increase battery life or selecting "power saver" does the job?

 

[Agera One]

2) While yes not powering the gpu would help life, but then your computer wont work or display anything

I've tried full uninstall of all the things related to GPU, the integrated GPU helped for the display.

 

[boosted1g]

Power saver is what you want to use. It restricts the voltage used by your cpu so that can only use say 70% of its max power.

 

[Agera One]

Power saver is what you want to use. It restricts the voltage used by your cpu so that can only use say 70% of its max power.

Can I use the power saver mode always as long as its comfortable to me?

 

[Ironsounds]

Hello... Intel CPU's use the term Speed Step and the setting is in your BIO's and Windows Power saving plans. http/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpeedStep As you read, the technology also will reduce the CPU voltage too for you...
AMD tech is called ? Cool'n'Quiet.

 

[jaguarskx]

#1 nope

#2 nope. There should be power options (either Windows or the GPU's control panel) that will only allow the laptop to use the integrated graphics core.

#3 can improve battery life the most. But laptops generally do not give you an option to undervolt the CPU.

#4 generally yes because the less apps are running in the background then technically the less work the CPU needs to do so that it idles longer.

#5 the difference will not be too much since those devices generally do not draw too much power. But it should add several minutes.


The primary way to prolong battery life is to:

1. Lower screen brightness
2, Switch the power option to Power Saving Mode; which may vary from laptop to laptop if manufacturers include their own profiles. Windows should have a "Balanced" profile if not "Low Power".
3. Put the laptop in "Airplane Mode" which basically disables all wireless communication that includes WiFi and Bluetooth. This should be found in network settings. Of course, if you need to be connected, then do not switch to Airplane Mode.
4. Replace the hard drive (HDD) with a solid state drive (SSD). SSD consumes a lot less power than HDD because of no moving parts. However SSD are relatively expensive. If the laptop already has a SSD, then is point is moot.

 

[Ironsounds]

Hello... HW Monitor, RealTemp and GPU-Z such APPS can allow you to see the stepping action... My GPU runs at the Low speed with internet streaming... But its a GTX760 B ) but look at GPUZ app running and check it... it also Displays your Power consumption, use the sensors tab. http/www.techpowerup.com/downloads/SysInfo/GPU-Z/

 

[Agera One]

The primary way to prolong battery life is to:

1. Lower screen brightness
2, Switch the power option to Power Saving Mode; which may vary from laptop to laptop if manufacturers include their own profiles. Windows should have a "Balanced" profile if not "Low Power".
3. Put the laptop in "Airplane Mode" which basically disables all wireless communication that includes WiFi and Bluetooth. This should be found in network settings. Of course, if you need to be connected, then do not switch to Airplane Mode.
4. Replace the hard drive (HDD) with a solid state drive (SSD). SSD consumes a lot less power than HDD because of no moving parts. However SSD are relatively expensive. If the laptop already has a SSD, then is point is moot.

I've disabled the wireless adapter, brightness is at the lower most that it didn't make my eyes to zoom and see. Using power saving mode as much as possible. Can I undervolt by referring this guide?

 

[Ironsounds]

Hello... Try/Learn at own risk... get back with us with your results.
I aways Like to try things even if it doesn't work!

 

[Agera One]

Ok. Which one should I follow from these for full day laptop use?
1) Charge battery upto 80% or 90%, unplug it, discharge it to 20% then repeat.
2) Keep it plugged in always !