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New utility to save battery

post #1 of 56
10/14/03 at 9:37pm
Thread Starter 
I hope you like it

see this post.
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post #2 of 56
10/15/03 at 3:24pm

How does it work?

Ok, I downloaded it, and its on my desktop now. When I open it, its a slidebar from 0 to 100. I set it to the next to 0 mark. So whats next? Do I need to close the window? Do I leave it open? If this thing works, that'd be great! I dont game all the time but when Im mobile with my lappy, like at school... Id like to be able to use a word processor without my lappy dying in 20 minutes. Thanks!!!!
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post #3 of 56
10/15/03 at 3:46pm
Henrik,

If your programs work you should market this to Sager!

I might try out your programs (temp monitor and Batter saver) but I'm a little hesitant. It won't kill the comp in any way will it?

Good job!

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post #4 of 56
10/15/03 at 4:29pm
Thread Starter 
AgentOrange and Kaelion, just make sure you read the installation instructions carefully, especially when installing Temperature Monitor. The device driver used in the both programs is the same, so you just have to install the device driver once.

Neither of these programs can harm your computer in any way, but you still use them on your own risk, as always.

The Temperature Monitor is a somewhat ugly solution, implementation-wise, because you have to disable ACPIEC.SYS, which have the drawback that you lose some power management functions like ability to hibernate, stand by and so on. This doesnt mean that it could harm your computer. I know now how I'd do it differently without this drawbacks, but since this version works, I dont consider it worth the time to make a new one, especially when I havent got much feedback.

The Battery Saver make use of the internal throttling capability in Pentium 4. This throttling is used automatically when the processor is too hot and need to cool down. I make use of it on-demand. The effect is that the cpu becomes effectively a slower one, and uses less power, produces less heat. Use a benchmark program to test it.
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post #5 of 56
10/15/03 at 4:31pm
Thread Starter 

Re: How does it work?

Quote:
Originally posted by AgentOrange
Ok, I downloaded it, and its on my desktop now. When I open it, its a slidebar from 0 to 100. I set it to the next to 0 mark. So whats next? Do I need to close the window? Do I leave it open? If this thing works, that'd be great! I dont game all the time but when Im mobile with my lappy, like at school... Id like to be able to use a word processor without my lappy dying in 20 minutes. Thanks!!!!
Just set the slide and press OK, then you can close the program. The setting is in use until you choose to adjust it with the program again. The setting is lost (back to 100%) if you restart the computer.
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post #6 of 56
10/15/03 at 5:13pm
Nice one henrik - since we are shamelessly pluging stuff like this here is one for Linux that I wrote

http://www.dockapps.org/file.php/id/168
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post #7 of 56
10/15/03 at 5:24pm
Thread Starter 
Bratag, nice

To you others who are using windows, a new version of Battery Saver is soon to arrive, due to some problems with melted hardware.

Just kidding, see this post .

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post #8 of 56
10/15/03 at 5:34pm
I have requested a new section be added for "real" programming issues. We'll see where it goes. This stuff is too sweet to leave burried in the general or tech support section.

It would be nice to have it viewable by all, but posts only from a few hand-picked folkes (this way the "me too's" and suggestions won't get in the way of the good stuff). There can be discussion threads in other areas, similar to how the news & announcement section is.

I haven't heard back from PC Torque on this yet.

-myrkat
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post #9 of 56
10/15/03 at 5:44pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally posted by myrkat
I have requested a new section be added for "real" programming issues. We'll see where it goes. This stuff is too sweet to leave burried in the general or tech support section.

It would be nice to have it viewable by all, but posts only from a few hand-picked folkes (this way the "me too's" and suggestions won't get in the way of the good stuff). There can be discussion threads in other areas, similar to how the news & announcement section is.

I haven't heard back from PC Torque on this yet.

-myrkat
Very good!
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post #10 of 56
10/15/03 at 5:48pm
Thread Starter 
Battery Saver

The new version 1.1 is now available, download it from the old location. I just updated the zip-archive.

I dont know if all powerschemes behaves like "Max Battery". You have to find out. Anyway, if you want the new setting to stay put, if needed, you have to have the program running, but minimized is ok.
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post #11 of 56
10/15/03 at 7:01pm

Henrick

Hey, you have my respect dude. I need to start getting into programming more than just a hobby...
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post #12 of 56
10/15/03 at 9:02pm
Henrik, First I want to thank you for writing these utilities. I own a new Sager 8890, but both the battery saver, and Windows temperature monitor work with the 8890. I ran some tests - which you mentioned in that long thread as something you wanted.

I ran the battery saver first. To test the cpu I used a favorite little test...ZD-Net CPUMark (circa 1998) 32 bit.

Without your utility I scored 207 on AC and 167 on battery, because of the Windows/bios throttles the 3.2 ghz cpu to 2.56 ghz when on battery. Test were done on AC with the computer idling.

With Battery saver at 50% it scored 96.9
With Battery saver at 25% it scored 45.4
With Battery saver at 100% it scored 209

Then I installed your Temperature Monitor to watch it in conjuction with the battery saver. At boot (after the registry entry was done) the temp was 50C. As the null signal from WinXP hit the CPU it settled down to 48C. I then started Battery saver and set it to 75%...temp dropped to 45C after a few minutes. At 50% the temperature actually climbed to 53C. But at 25% it quickly fell again to 46C. I don't have time to test battery life, but will in the future and post results. I wish this thread could be moved to Sager general...since it works on the 8890 as well...Oh, you asked for a 8890 bios...adam has a link to the latest one in 8890 tech forum.

Again - thank you for writting these utilities. I would love to monitor temps out of my system tray like I do with my TigerMP. A guy on Ars Technica wrote a wonderful little temperature monitor called Tyantemp. You just placed your cursor over the system tray icon....and a popup displays the two cpu temps. I understand this is more difficult on the Sager - but your clever ingenuity found a way....you provided the will, and I really appreciate it!
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post #13 of 56
10/16/03 at 4:09am
Thread Starter 
1_of_9, thanks for your intersting feedback

Quote:
but both the battery saver, and Windows temperature monitor work with the 8890
Great news

Quote:
Then I installed your Temperature Monitor to watch it in conjuction with the battery saver. At boot (after the registry entry was done) the temp was 50C. As the null signal from WinXP hit the CPU it settled down to 48C. I then started Battery saver and set it to 75%...temp dropped to 45C after a few minutes. At 50% the temperature actually climbed to 53C. But at 25% it quickly fell again to 46C. I don't have time to test battery life, but will in the future and post results. I wish this thread could be moved to Sager general...since it works on the 8890 as well...Oh, you asked for a 8890 bios...adam has a link to the latest one in 8890 tech forum.
I have one question for u, at what idle temperature stop the fans? In my laptop the fans are running all time.



Quote:
Again - thank you for writting these utilities. I would love to monitor temps out of my system tray like I do with my TigerMP. A guy on Ars Technica wrote a wonderful little temperature monitor called Tyantemp. You just placed your cursor over the system tray icon....and a popup displays the two cpu temps. I understand this is more difficult on the Sager - but your clever ingenuity found a way....you provided the will, and I really appreciate it!
I could see this coming

I also have some good ideas of my own, that would make an excellent utility.
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post #14 of 56
10/16/03 at 4:12am
Thread Starter 

Re: Henrick

Quote:
Originally posted by Icefluxx
Hey, you have my respect dude. I need to start getting into programming more than just a hobby...
Thanks icefluxx, your sig says it all, I guess you mean divine?
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post #15 of 56
10/16/03 at 6:00am
Thread Starter 
I want to share following new findings with you, who are worried about potentially damaging your computer.

Ramses, who has a 3.06 Ghz 5660 has found that when you disable ACPIEC.SYS you also disable the automatically CPU downthrottling because of heat. Actually I think this is good, because you measure temp when running full speed without being fooled by the downthrottling.

When ACPIEC.SYS is enabled, your max temp probably is lower, but thats because the cpu is clocked down so it doesnt perform as much as it can.

To your safety does the system a shutdown if the temp reaches 85. This happens to ramses, and thats probably why Sager didnt sell the 5660 with a 3.06 GHz. When ACPIEC.SYS is enabled he never experiences shutdowns, but thats because the cpu is downclocked, without he knowing it.

Finally, the Pentium 4 has a internal shutdown temp at 135. This practically means that its virtually impossible to damage the cpu because of heat.
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post #16 of 56
10/16/03 at 11:43am

I think I did it right?

Ok I installed the driver by double clicking it, does it need to be in the default folder, or can I change it? Then I unzipped the batterysaver file and placed it on my desktop. When I slide the bar to the left, and press ok, I dont see any difference. I checked to see if it was downclocked but on system properties it still says 2.67 ghz. I have a 5670 and I thought I saw you saying all 5600 systems could use this... hopefully Im doing this all wrong. Oh and I dont see an installation file... like you said there would be.
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post #17 of 56
10/16/03 at 12:44pm
Thread Starter 

Re: I think I did it right?

Quote:
Originally posted by AgentOrange
Ok I installed the driver by double clicking it, does it need to be in the default folder, or can I change it? Then I unzipped the batterysaver file and placed it on my desktop. When I slide the bar to the left, and press ok, I dont see any difference. I checked to see if it was downclocked but on system properties it still says 2.67 ghz. I have a 5670 and I thought I saw you saying all 5600 systems could use this... hopefully Im doing this all wrong. Oh and I dont see an installation file... like you said there would be.
AgentOrange, you can change the folder for the device driver. If you have slided the bar to the left and pressed ok, then its working. You dont "see" any difference anywhere, but maybe you can "feel" that the computer is slower. To be really sure, you have to test the computer speed with some sort of benchmark program. I didnt say that is was a installation file, I said the opposite, that it just where a exe-file for you to run.
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post #18 of 56
10/16/03 at 2:47pm

Correction...

Oh I thought you said there was like some kind of .txt file with instructions on installing it correctly. I have it working now, I guess I was looking for my laptop to start working suuuper slow or for something spectacular to happen. Ive been on battery before and I usually get between 1 hr and 1 hr and 15 minutes on one full charge... I have it set to the lowest setting (less power) and Im at about an hour with 30 % power left. That looks like an improvement to me. This is pretty cool, any extra time I get out of my battery is a godsend... hehe. Oh and I was wondering if you take requests.... Some of the posts Ive noticed request the front panel thing to play mp3s... would you be able to do something like that? Or maybe a Fn and control button switch for the 5670 and up. How possible are these things?
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post #19 of 56
10/16/03 at 2:53pm

actually

Devine is the name of a beautiful female...heheheeeee
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post #20 of 56
10/16/03 at 3:00pm
Thread Starter 

Re: actually

Quote:
Originally posted by Icefluxx
Devine is the name of a beautiful female...heheheeeee
I cant really tell if you are joking or if I am dead wrong about this. What the hell does your sig mean?
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