Difference between revisions of "PowerTOP"

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(←Created page with '== Intel PowerTOP == PowerTOP is a Linux tool that finds the software component(s) that make your laptop use more power than necessary while it is idle. As of Linux kerne...')
 
(Intel PowerTOP: delayed + link to the effective powertop homepage)
 
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PowerTOP is a Linux tool that finds the software component(s) that make your laptop use more power than necessary while it is idle. As of Linux kernel version 2.6.21, the kernel no longer has a fixed 1000Hz timer tick. This will (in theory) give a huge power savings because the CPU stays in low power mode for longer periods of time during system idle.
 
PowerTOP is a Linux tool that finds the software component(s) that make your laptop use more power than necessary while it is idle. As of Linux kernel version 2.6.21, the kernel no longer has a fixed 1000Hz timer tick. This will (in theory) give a huge power savings because the CPU stays in low power mode for longer periods of time during system idle.
  
[http://www.linuxpowertop.org/powertop.php [[Image:powertop_small.png]]]
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[[Image:powertop_small.png]]
 
  The PowerTOP curses based display
 
  The PowerTOP curses based display
 
'''Requirements'''
 
'''Requirements'''
  
For PowerTOP to work best, use a Linux kernel with the tickless idle (NO_HZ) feature enabled (version 2.6.21 or later). Currently, only 32-bit kernels have support for tickless idle; 64-bit kernels are expected to gain this feature in version 2.6.23.  
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For PowerTOP to work best, use a Linux kernel with the tickless idle and highres timer stats (NO_HZ, CONFIG_HIGH_RES_TIMERS, CONFIG_TIMER_STATS) feature enabled (version 2.6.21 or later). Currently, only 32-bit kernels have support for tickless idle; 64-bit kernels are expected to gain this feature in version 2.6.24.  
  
 
PowerTOP works best on a laptop computer, or at least a computer with an Intel mobile processor (certain small non-laptop devices also contain a mobile processor). When using PowerTOP on a laptop, do so when running on battery.
 
PowerTOP works best on a laptop computer, or at least a computer with an Intel mobile processor (certain small non-laptop devices also contain a mobile processor). When using PowerTOP on a laptop, do so when running on battery.
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[http://www.linuxpowertop.org Link to PowerTOP]

Latest revision as of 13:40, 10 October 2007

Intel PowerTOP

PowerTOP is a Linux tool that finds the software component(s) that make your laptop use more power than necessary while it is idle. As of Linux kernel version 2.6.21, the kernel no longer has a fixed 1000Hz timer tick. This will (in theory) give a huge power savings because the CPU stays in low power mode for longer periods of time during system idle.

Powertop small.png
The PowerTOP curses based display

Requirements

For PowerTOP to work best, use a Linux kernel with the tickless idle and highres timer stats (NO_HZ, CONFIG_HIGH_RES_TIMERS, CONFIG_TIMER_STATS) feature enabled (version 2.6.21 or later). Currently, only 32-bit kernels have support for tickless idle; 64-bit kernels are expected to gain this feature in version 2.6.24.

PowerTOP works best on a laptop computer, or at least a computer with an Intel mobile processor (certain small non-laptop devices also contain a mobile processor). When using PowerTOP on a laptop, do so when running on battery.

Link to PowerTOP