The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Any solution to Linux power management issues?

    Discussion in 'Linux Compatibility and Software' started by raptir, Nov 27, 2009.

  1. raptir

    raptir Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    108
    Messages:
    904
    Likes Received:
    50
    Trophy Points:
    41
    I love Linux. I find Linux machines (I've primarily run Arch) far easier to maintain than Windows machines. When I finally put Linux on a laptop with a working battery, I was a bit disappointed. I have an Eee 1000, and while I get around 5 hours with Windows 7, I get only 3.5 with Arch with the brightness all the way down. Are there any straightforward tweaks I can make that could improve my battery life with Linux?

    The Eee runs Windows so poorly that I wouldn't really consider using it just for the improved battery life, but I'm looking to buy a thin-and-light notebook soon. I'd much rather use Linux, but if I'm going to take a huge battery life hit I'd consider switching to Windows.
     
    raptir, Nov 27, 2009
    #1
  2. v1k1ng1001

    v1k1ng1001 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    239
    Messages:
    738
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    http://www.planetwatt.com/

    Check out this project, due out soon. They are building on top of ubuntu 9.10 with some cool power management tools and light desktops. Hopefully this sort of thing will catch on.

    I have an eeepc 900a that features an even smaller battery so I know what you are talking about. Hard to leave linux though. xp is impossibly slow on this thing even with my upgraded ssd.
     
    v1k1ng1001, Nov 28, 2009
    #2
  3. Woodgypsy

    Woodgypsy Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    75
    Messages:
    527
    Likes Received:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Just in case, do you have CPU throttling enabled? Arch does not do this by default. Also, if you haven't already, you may try laptop-mode. AFIAK, it developed considerably from a simple HDD management, and now it can handle Intel Wifi, EeePC FSB, and others.

    I hope this helps.
     
    Woodgypsy, Nov 28, 2009
    #3
  4. theZoid

    theZoid Notebook Savant

    Reputations:
    1,338
    Messages:
    5,202
    Likes Received:
    22
    Trophy Points:
    206
    I went to download WattOS the other day and the site was down....that looks like a promising option.

    Downloading Beta3 now :)
     
    theZoid, Nov 28, 2009
    #4
  5. v1k1ng1001

    v1k1ng1001 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    239
    Messages:
    738
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    yeah, let me know what you think...i'm going to try this on the eeepc as soon as it is released

    I have some complaints about about openbox though. I really do prefer thunar.
     
    v1k1ng1001, Nov 28, 2009
    #5
  6. theZoid

    theZoid Notebook Savant

    Reputations:
    1,338
    Messages:
    5,202
    Likes Received:
    22
    Trophy Points:
    206
    It looks solid to me....a winner....is the Beta 3 based on 9.04 or 9.10? I know RC1 will be 9.10. It's a nice implementation of LXDE. Why pick Lubuntu when this one is battery oriented OTB?
     
    theZoid, Nov 28, 2009
    #6
  7. Bog

    Bog Losing it...

    Reputations:
    4,018
    Messages:
    6,046
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    206
    Install Intel's PowerTop CLI utility. Run it. Implement the recommendations it makes for saving power.
     
    Bog, Nov 29, 2009
    #7
  8. Little_Ho

    Little_Ho Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    80
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    I kinda thought the same as the first post in the first time I used Ubuntu.

    I only got 2.5h of Battery life with a extended Battery on my XPS1210

    Ever since i upgraded to Ubuntu9.10 its awesome....i get like 5H+ battery life now. with the Display dimmed half way......

    I think you can prop find a fix for that for other Distros...

    just my 0.02
     
    Little_Ho, Nov 29, 2009
    #8