Arch Linux

muffinss

Member

From: united states

Registered: 2011-02-07

Posts: 54

Linux uses more battery power than Windows XP in suspend mode..

Hey all!

Ever since I received my laptop, I've had Arch 64 on it with Openbox using either gnome power manager or xfce power manager. Every time the computer would fall asleep/suspend the battery would be drained in four hours. Recently I had to install Windows XP on my laptop since Netflix doesn't play nice on Linux. I can leave my laptop running off of battery power for 14 hours in suspend/sleep mode on Windows XP, yet only 4 hours on Linux. This is a huge difference in the amount of power usage between the two. Why such a huge difference between the two with suspend/sleep?

Specs of my laptop:
CPU - Intel Core i5 M 460 2.53ghz
RAM - 4gb DDR3
Video Card - Intel graphics
Hard Drive - 5400rpm 640gb
Display - 14inch

ngoonee

Forum Fellow

From: Between Thailand and Singapore

Registered: 2009-03-17

Posts: 7,358

Re: Linux uses more battery power than Windows XP in suspend mode..

Happens on my laptop as well. The 'blame', so to speak, is most likely on the various drivers involved, all you need is one piece of the machine not switching off properly to drain the laptop. Unfortunately, I have no idea what that may be.

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Allan-Volunteer on the (topic being discussed) mailn lists. You never get the people who matters attention on the forums.
jasonwryan-Installing Arch is a measure of your literacy. Maintaining Arch is a measure of your diligence. Contributing to Arch is a measure of your competence.
Griemak-Bleeding edge, not bleeding flat. Edge denotes falls will occur from time to time. Bring your own parachute.

muffinss

Member

From: united states

Registered: 2011-02-07

Posts: 54

Re: Linux uses more battery power than Windows XP in suspend mode..

I remember that my laptop has Nvidia Optimus, so it has a nvidia 310 that doesn't get used since only Windows 7 supports it because because of some API that it has. So I am guessing since Linux sees it but can't use it, its just letting it run in the background draining power while Windows XP sees it,  it can't use it either, but some how its able to turn it off? I noticed in Device Manager its disabled.

I wonder if anyone else that has Nvidia Optimus is having the same issue o.o

Last edited by muffinss (2011-02-24 04:13:34)

ngoonee

Forum Fellow

From: Between Thailand and Singapore

Registered: 2009-03-17

Posts: 7,358

Re: Linux uses more battery power than Windows XP in suspend mode..

Google for nvidia optimux linux. There's various hacks and workarounds, YMMV though.

On a separate note, you really should search BEFORE asking for simple things like optimus etc.

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Allan-Volunteer on the (topic being discussed) mailn lists. You never get the people who matters attention on the forums.
jasonwryan-Installing Arch is a measure of your literacy. Maintaining Arch is a measure of your diligence. Contributing to Arch is a measure of your competence.
Griemak-Bleeding edge, not bleeding flat. Edge denotes falls will occur from time to time. Bring your own parachute.

toad

Member

From: if only I knew

Registered: 2008-12-22

Posts: 1,775

Website

Re: Linux uses more battery power than Windows XP in suspend mode..

Powertop or https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Pm … figuration come to mind.

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never trust a toad...
::Grateful ArchDonor::
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ngoonee

Forum Fellow

From: Between Thailand and Singapore

Registered: 2009-03-17

Posts: 7,358

Re: Linux uses more battery power than Windows XP in suspend mode..

Powertop or https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Pm … figuration come to mind.

Neither of which would help directly in suspend mode. It would confirm that his nvidia card is consuming power though (and given he mentioned Optimus, I'm pretty sure it is).

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Allan-Volunteer on the (topic being discussed) mailn lists. You never get the people who matters attention on the forums.
jasonwryan-Installing Arch is a measure of your literacy. Maintaining Arch is a measure of your diligence. Contributing to Arch is a measure of your competence.
Griemak-Bleeding edge, not bleeding flat. Edge denotes falls will occur from time to time. Bring your own parachute.