CPUIdle and System Idle Process

F

Franc Zabkar

I'm working on a Soltek SL-75DRV4 motherboard with an Athlon XP 2000+
CPU. The OS is Win XP.

The following table shows the temperature and voltage readings as
reported by Motherboard Monitor. The CPU is powered from the +5V rail,
so lower voltages on this rail indicate higher loads.

CPU Temp Applications +5V +12V
------------------------------------
27degC CpuIdle 4.96 11.81 CpuIdle 99%
43degC Win XP / MBM5 4.75 12.27 System Idle Process 99%
44degC BIOS setup 4.70 12.22

I'm not an XP user, but my research suggests that Win XP should be
able to do the same job as CPUIdle, ie it should issue HLT
instructions during periods of CPU inactivity. However, my test
results would seem to indicate otherwise.

FWIW, I notice that CPUIdle has an "Optimise CPU/Chipset" checkbox,
and it also allows a choice between OS, "S1 state", and "C2 state".
What am I doing wrong, if anything?

- Franc Zabkar
 
G

Gilles RONSIN

Franc Zabkar <[email protected]>, le dim. 20 mai 2007
03:27:09, écrivait ceci:

Hi,
I'm not an XP user, but my research suggests that Win XP should be
able to do the same job as CPUIdle, ie it should issue HLT
instructions during periods of CPU inactivity. However, my test
results would seem to indicate otherwise.
Click to expand...

I use CPUIdle with my Presario 700 (compaq) WXP-Home. It is the only
way I found to avoid freezes (the sickness of this laptop). With it I
can run some games (hard use of processing). Without the laptop freeze
imediatly.
FWIW, I notice that CPUIdle has an "Optimise CPU/Chipset"
checkbox, and it also allows a choice between OS, "S1 state", and
"C2 state". What am I doing wrong, if anything?
Click to expand...

The states S1 and C2 are enabled "if available". C2 state is more
efficient but for me that slowed down too much the system. Have a try !
 
M

mikeyhsd

you might check the settings for the different power management schemes.
using minimal power setting should produce similar results with no need for cpu idle.




(e-mail address removed)



I'm working on a Soltek SL-75DRV4 motherboard with an Athlon XP 2000+
CPU. The OS is Win XP.

The following table shows the temperature and voltage readings as
reported by Motherboard Monitor. The CPU is powered from the +5V rail,
so lower voltages on this rail indicate higher loads.

CPU Temp Applications +5V +12V
------------------------------------
27degC CpuIdle 4.96 11.81 CpuIdle 99%
43degC Win XP / MBM5 4.75 12.27 System Idle Process 99%
44degC BIOS setup 4.70 12.22

I'm not an XP user, but my research suggests that Win XP should be
able to do the same job as CPUIdle, ie it should issue HLT
instructions during periods of CPU inactivity. However, my test
results would seem to indicate otherwise.

FWIW, I notice that CPUIdle has an "Optimise CPU/Chipset" checkbox,
and it also allows a choice between OS, "S1 state", and "C2 state".
What am I doing wrong, if anything?

- Franc Zabkar
 
F

Franc Zabkar

you might check the settings for the different power management schemes.
using minimal power setting should produce similar results with no need for cpu idle.
Click to expand...

The following article is about all that I could find in the way of
pertinent information on this subject.

Windows Power Management:
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/archive/winpowmgmt.mspx

However, my reading of it suggests that power management schemes are
targeted at laptops where the CPU frequency and Vcore can be changed
via software. These power management schemes rely on "mobile" CPUs
that can support Speedstep (Intel), and PowerNow and Cool'n'Quiet
(AMD).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpeedStep
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cool'n'Quiet
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PowerNow!

I won't have access to the subject Athlon desktop machine until later
in the week, but in the meantime I've had a look at a 2.4GHz HP/Compaq
Pentium 4 desktop. The P4's temperature is a cool 30degC when XP is
idling (System Idle Process running at 99%). Installing CPUIdle does
not result in any additional benefit. The Power Scheme is set to
Home/Office Desk. Switching to Minimal Power Management does not
improve things.

It would appear that the two CPUs are handled differently by Win XP,
but, as neither is a mobile CPU, I'm left to wonder what the OS is
actually doing. <shrug>

- Franc Zabkar
 
F

Franc Zabkar

The following article is about all that I could find in the way of
pertinent information on this subject.

Windows Power Management:
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/archive/winpowmgmt.mspx

However, my reading of it suggests that power management schemes are
targeted at laptops where the CPU frequency and Vcore can be changed
via software. These power management schemes rely on "mobile" CPUs
that can support Speedstep (Intel), and PowerNow and Cool'n'Quiet
(AMD).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpeedStep
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cool'n'Quiet
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PowerNow!

I won't have access to the subject Athlon desktop machine until later
in the week, ...
Click to expand...

It just arrived. I can confirm that selecting "minimal power
management" has no effect. Only CPUIdle is able to reduce the CPU's
temperature/power.

- Franc Zabkar
 
M

mikeyhsd

personally have always used AMP as far back as I can remember.
and the usage of minimal on xp produced heat differences compared to desktop.

tried using several different cooler programs and none worked as well as the built in power management.

but with all ms stuff, each system performs different.



(e-mail address removed)



The following article is about all that I could find in the way of
pertinent information on this subject.

Windows Power Management:
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/archive/winpowmgmt.mspx

However, my reading of it suggests that power management schemes are
targeted at laptops where the CPU frequency and Vcore can be changed
via software. These power management schemes rely on "mobile" CPUs
that can support Speedstep (Intel), and PowerNow and Cool'n'Quiet
(AMD).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpeedStep
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cool'n'Quiet
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PowerNow!

I won't have access to the subject Athlon desktop machine until later
in the week, ...
Click to expand...

It just arrived. I can confirm that selecting "minimal power
management" has no effect. Only CPUIdle is able to reduce the CPU's
temperature/power.

- Franc Zabkar
 
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