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    Power Setting when Plugged in

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by vilmosz, Jun 7, 2010.

  1. vilmosz

    vilmosz Notebook Consultant

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    Can someone recommend the optimal power management setting via Thinkvantage for a T400/XP/SP3 when the computer is plugged in? I'm interested in what the setting ought to be when the lid is closed.

    Thanks.
     
    vilmosz, Jun 7, 2010
    #1
  2. lead_org

    lead_org Purveyor of Truth

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    the question is what do you want to achieve with the power setting? i.e. balance of CPU processing speed and power consumption?

    Leaving the laptop in maximum performance when you use AC power is usually the way to go. You could modify the CPU setting to let it be adaptive rather than maximum performance if you are worried about couple of watts of extra power consumption.
     
    lead_org, Jun 7, 2010
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  3. jonlumpkin

    jonlumpkin NBR Transmogrifier

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    How much performance do you really lose by setting adaptive? To the best of my knowledge the frequency adjustment takes a small fraction of a second but the saving of wattage (and especially heat) is real. So I ALWAYS run mine at adaptive (same settings plugged in or on battery).
     
    jonlumpkin, Jun 8, 2010
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  4. lead_org

    lead_org Purveyor of Truth

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    not much performance difference, but adaptive mode does use a few watts less compared to the high performance mode, since your CPU is not keeping at its maximum CPU clock speed even when it is idling.
     
    lead_org, Jun 8, 2010
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  5. jonlumpkin

    jonlumpkin NBR Transmogrifier

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    So is there any good reason to NOT use adaptive when plugged in? I ask because I use this setting on my laptops/desktops (either SpeedStep or Cool&Quiet) and have for several years with no ill effects or apparent reduction in performance.
     
    jonlumpkin, Jun 8, 2010
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  6. namaiki

    namaiki "basically rocks" Super Moderator

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    I would recommend using the video playback power profile, adaptive by default.
     
    namaiki, Jun 8, 2010
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  7. lineS of flight

    lineS of flight Notebook Virtuoso

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    Quick question: Where are you guys seeing this "adaptive mode" in Power Manager?

    Thanks
     
    lineS of flight, Jun 8, 2010
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  8. namaiki

    namaiki "basically rocks" Super Moderator

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    you have to go into advanced. I don't have my thinkpad on me right now unfortunately.

    edit: switch to advanced, then click a profile, then system settings there is an option for maximum cpu speed. one setting of which is adaptive. for power manager 3.
     
    namaiki, Jun 8, 2010
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  9. lead_org

    lead_org Purveyor of Truth

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    sometimes in win xp and vista (under adaptive mode), the laptop may freeze momentarily if you left the laptop unused for a while with lots of application open (having 25 windows open in chrome explorer).
     
    lead_org, Jun 8, 2010
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  10. lineS of flight

    lineS of flight Notebook Virtuoso

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    @ namaiki...thanks. Got it.
     
    lineS of flight, Jun 8, 2010
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  11. namaiki

    namaiki "basically rocks" Super Moderator

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    Anyways, 'when the lid is closed' definitely use adaptive or lower, depending on what you're doung.
     
    namaiki, Jun 8, 2010
    #11