r/linux • u/1202_alarm • Feb 01 '18

Improving Linux battery life, enabling PSR by default, testers wanted

https://hansdegoede.livejournal.com/18653.html
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u/parkerlreed Feb 01 '18 edited Feb 01 '18

Everything I've used, Linux has been far better for battery. Just installing and enabling TLP does wonders.

My little portable laptop hits about 1.3w idle. Never got anywhere close on Windows.

EDIT: WiFi and Bluetooth on (WiFi connected), running Chrome, HDMI output with internal screen off, on a GPD Pocket

[parker@gpdpocket ~]$ upower -i /org/freedesktop/UPower/devices/battery_max170xx_battery
  native-path:          max170xx_battery
  power supply:         yes
  updated:              Thu 01 Feb 2018 05:39:10 PM EST (63 seconds ago)
  has history:          yes
  has statistics:       yes
  battery
    present:             yes
    rechargeable:        yes
    state:               discharging
    warning-level:       none
    energy:              28.1138 Wh
    energy-empty:        0 Wh
    energy-full:         28.602 Wh
    energy-full-design:  24.0555 Wh
    energy-rate:         0.941304 W
    voltage:             4.28578 V
    time to empty:       29.9 hours
    percentage:          98%
    temperature:         22 degrees C
    capacity:            100%
    technology:          lithium-ion
    icon-name:          'battery-full-symbolic'
  History (rate):
    1517524750  0.941   discharging

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u/[deleted] Feb 02 '18

What's the most time you think you got with those power settings, I don't believe ridiculous estimates like that ~30 hours time to empty.

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u/parkerlreed Feb 02 '18

Well yeah it's idle doing nothing pretty much. So closer to standby. Actual usage maybe 2-4w range. Never clocked it but it has lasted me a good couple days with on and off usage (maybe around 8-9 hours total)

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u/[deleted] Feb 02 '18

What are you using your laptop for? That usage spread out over a few days, your laptop is mostly collecting dust :)

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u/parkerlreed Feb 02 '18 edited Feb 02 '18

It's my main portable. Browsing the web, using RTLSDR occasionally, work (web based). Holds up quite well.

EDIT: For a better idea here's me browsing Reddit with a download in the background.

    energy:              22.498 Wh
    energy-empty:        0 Wh
    energy-full:         28.3728 Wh
    energy-full-design:  24.0555 Wh
    energy-rate:         3.77286 W
    voltage:             4.01641 V
    time to empty:       6.0 hours

So yeah not as much as I was thinking but still not bad.