[sclug] Under(re)volting - How does MS do it?

[alan c]

Pieter Claassen wrote:
> Hi Guys, I just got a brand new lenovo X60s from the Uni (which I am now
> regretting because it works so badly with Linux).
> 
> Many things don't work (most notably switching between external VGA and
> the laptop screen, increasing screen brightness, disabling wireless and
> bluetooth etc.).
> 
> But, what is really worrying is that the battery barely lasts 2 hours on
> this thing, even with dual cores (Intel Dual Core 1.66GHz with 2400MB
> Cache). The cpufreq governor works fine for both cpu's but only has
> three steps (1,1.33 and 1.66 GHz).
> 
> So, the question is simply: How come Microsoft manages to get around 6
> hours out of this battery (urban legend) while the best I can do (after
> manually disabling wireless, unloading USB drivers, enabling laptop
> mode) is only 2 hours? Yes, I know P=V^2/R which I suspect that even a
> minor drop in board voltage will have significant power gains. However,
> everything I read warns me against patching the kernel for undervolting
> because of possible hardware damage (motherboard not chip).
> 
> So, how is Microsoft doing this? How can I do this?
> 
> Oh, I am on Ubuntu Feisty.

My guesses would include control of processsor speed at least.
Are you able to get 6 hours *yourself* using windows? or is the 6 
hours a marketing myth? Batteries also are notorious for having 
difficult to define capacity.
-- 
alan cocks
Kubuntu user#10391