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    Z12: Automatic "Power Mode" switching when on AC vs. Battery?

    Discussion in 'VAIO / Sony' started by random45678, Aug 19, 2010.

  1. random45678

    random45678 Notebook Guru

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    Just wondering, is it possible to configure the Z12 to automatically switch to "High Performance" mode when plugged in and "Battery Saving" when running on battery? BatteryBar software normally lets me do this, but some driver installed on the Z12 prevents it from doing this. Thanks.
     
    random45678, Aug 19, 2010
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  2. Achusaysblessyou

    Achusaysblessyou eecs geek ftw :D

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    Isnt that just speed vs. stamina? So keep it on auto?
     
    Achusaysblessyou, Aug 19, 2010
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  3. random45678

    random45678 Notebook Guru

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    Windows 7 has power plans (i.e. "Balanced" and "High Performance.") The speed/stamina setting doesn't seem to change the power plan, only which GPU is used (integrated vs. discrete).
     
    random45678, Aug 19, 2010
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  4. random45678

    random45678 Notebook Guru

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    Does anyone know? PCMark Vantage is about 10-15% slower when running on the "Balanced" power plan compared to "High Performance" mode, both plugged in. So even if you're on "Speed Mode," if your windows 7 plan isn't set to "High Performance," you're taking a performance hit.
     
    random45678, Aug 21, 2010
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  5. pyr0

    pyr0 100% laptop dynamite

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    think you mix up your fan settings with the energy plans of windows.
     
    pyr0, Aug 22, 2010
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  6. random45678

    random45678 Notebook Guru

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    No, I'm talking about the Windows 7 Power Plan. Anyway, I figured it out, notwithstanding the responses I've received so far in this thread.

    They way to do it is to keep the switch in Stamina Mode. Then you can configure BatteryBar to switch to the "High Performance" Windows power plan when plugged in and "Battery Saver" when unplugged. If you keep the switch in "Auto" mode, the Sony software will override BatteryBar and keep the Windows power plan the same (whatever it was configured to. If I need dedicated graphics (which is rare), I can switch manually to SPEED mode.

    When I'm plugged in, I want to have max performance. When I'm on battery, I want mostly power saving. The Sony software doesn't do this automatically. It just changes the "dynamic hybrid graphics system."
     
    random45678, Aug 23, 2010
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