Powersaving problem on kernel 3.3.6

dominik232 · 2012-05-15 18:06:38

Hi. I'm new here, so, as first, I want to welcome everybody.

I never used ArchLinux before, though I'm Linux user for 5 years.
I installed Arch with no problems and I must say - it's great distribution with awesome documentation and packets base.
Everything works fine for me and I had no any problem with make good, personalised config.

The only one problem - I used other distros before (such as Ubuntu/Debian/Fedora). On my laptop Dell Inspiron N1770 i saw problems with power usage in other distros too, but starting with new kernel 3.3 problem disappeard.

Before i had batery time 2-3h. On new kernel i saw even 4,5h!
Now on Arch i have kernel 3.3.6 but it's still 2 - max 3h time on fully charged battery.

How is it possible? Maybe kernel had no some module compiled or something?

My properties:

uname -a

Linux localhost 3.3.6-1-ARCH #1 SMP PREEMPT Sun May 13 10:52:32 CEST 2012 x86_64 GNU/Linux

lspci

00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation 2nd Generation Core Processor Family DRAM Controller (rev 09)
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation 2nd Generation Core Processor Family Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 09)
00:16.0 Communication controller: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family MEI Controller #1 (rev 04)
00:1a.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family USB Enhanced Host Controller #2 (rev 05)
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family High Definition Audio Controller (rev 05)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port 1 (rev b5)
00:1c.2 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port 3 (rev b5)
00:1c.4 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port 5 (rev b5)
00:1c.5 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port 6 (rev b5)
00:1d.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family USB Enhanced Host Controller #1 (rev 05)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation HM67 Express Chipset Family LPC Controller (rev 05)
00:1f.2 SATA controller: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family 6 port SATA AHCI Controller (rev 05)
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family SMBus Controller (rev 05)
01:00.0 Network controller: Atheros Communications Inc. AR9285 Wireless Network Adapter (PCI-Express) (rev 01)
02:00.0 USB controller: NEC Corporation uPD720200 USB 3.0 Host Controller (rev 04)
03:00.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8101E/RTL8102E PCI Express Fast Ethernet controller (rev 05)

USB Devices:

Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 8087:0024 Intel Corp. Integrated Rate Matching Hub
Bus 004 Device 002: ID 8087:0024 Intel Corp. Integrated Rate Matching Hub
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 1bcf:2881 Sunplus Innovation Technology Inc. 
Bus 004 Device 003: ID 0cf3:3005 Atheros Communications, Inc. AR3011 Bluetooth

Processor: Intel Core i3
RAM: DDR3 8GB
powertop overview: http://wklej.org/id/753631/
powertop idle status: http://wklej.org/id/753641/
powertop frequency status: http://wklej.org/id/753643/
lsmod: http://wklej.org/id/753644/

I have installed my Arch from Core image and I've installed only things I need. I also installed acpid and i have it on my deamons array.
Maybe it's just compiling kernel with some new modules needed?

Thank you in advice.
Sory for my spell errors, I still practice my english

Last edited by dominik232 (2012-05-15 18:13:32)

karol · 2012-05-15 21:53:59

Maybe it's the kernel bug https://bugs.archlinux.org/task/29850

Pick an older kernel and see if the battery life improves.
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Do … er_Version

dominik232 · 2012-05-15 23:12:36

But i don't know which version. ;(
It's just problem on Arch Linux. I would have to install Ubuntu or Fedora once again (in fedora, as i remember it worked after some upgrades) and check on which version it worked fine.
On older version as 3.1.9 or 3.2.x it was the same.

Anyway, in the fact, that bug description is very similary to my problem.

Last edited by dominik232 (2012-05-15 23:14:59)

dominik232 · 2012-05-22 14:32:30

WOW! I've installed kernel 3.4.0-1-mainline and now my battery state is really amazing! On low screen highlight and idle state it's even 5 hours!
I didn't test how is to use computer for long time yet, but i see that power behavior is now much much better.
I hear now there is some trick to managing hard drive ;D I hear when disk is turning off and on while is/isn't needed - there wasn't something like this before.

olejnjak · 2012-05-23 22:43:29

May I ask how you've upgraded the kernel? I can't find anything about it in Arch O:-)

I've found only this http://www.archlinux.org/packages/testing/x86_64/linux/

Last edited by olejnjak (2012-05-23 22:44:29)

cfr · 2012-05-27 01:00:06

Is this because some powersaving features will be default in 3.4 which you have to manually enable or "force" right now? For example, I use:

pcie_aspm=force i915.i915_enable _rc6=1 i915.i915_enable_fbc=1 i915.lvds_downclock=1 i915.semaphores=1

on the kernel command line and, although I did some other things as well, I definitely get much better battery life than before I customised things.

dominik232 · 2012-05-29 16:08:49

olejnjak I've found package linux-mainline

Arch Linux

#1 2012-05-15 18:06:38

Powersaving problem on kernel 3.3.6

#2 2012-05-15 21:53:59

Re: Powersaving problem on kernel 3.3.6

#3 2012-05-15 23:12:36

Re: Powersaving problem on kernel 3.3.6

#4 2012-05-22 14:32:30

Re: Powersaving problem on kernel 3.3.6

#5 2012-05-23 22:43:29

Re: Powersaving problem on kernel 3.3.6

#6 2012-05-27 01:00:06

Re: Powersaving problem on kernel 3.3.6

#7 2012-05-29 16:08:49

Re: Powersaving problem on kernel 3.3.6

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