Power Saving Query

[Steves1982]

Hi,

I have a Q6600 slightly overclocked to 3.0MHz and run in balanced mode on the power options which makes it run at 2.0Mhz.

My query is how good is windows 7 at bumping the speed back up when needed? THe reason I ask is I just unzipped 4 5GB files at the same time but according to cpu-z the processor speed remained at 2.0Mhz.

Should windows not bump the speed up for that as I assume it's quite a cpu intensive task? Or is it best to just run at the high performance setting all the time?

Thanks

 

[Steves1982]

Ok thanks,

Will just leave it on high performance then. Sure it's not saving me me much money on balanced anyway!

 

[Steves1982]

3.0MHz definitely sounds like a good overclock there!!

On a more serious note, the speed bumping issue is fine and works quite well I have found. Mine drops to 2.4GHz for basic stuff and back to 3.6GHz when the power is needed with no issues.

I will have to experiment a bit more I guess and see how it pans out. I did notice when exiting LOTRO that the clock speed was up at 3.0Mhz and then dropped back down straight away. It just doesn't seem to ramp up for anything other than gaming.

 

[Steves1982]

Does anyone know the cost difference between running in balanced and high performance?

I can't see it being much and my idle temps are 28-29 whichever mode I run at so maybe best to just leave on high performance.

 

[Steves1982]

My Q6600 @ stock running for 8 hrs costs 8.6p (this is just the processor, not the whole system).

Q6600 overclocked to 3.6Ghz running for 8 hrs costs 18.8p

So in my case it costs twice as much to run with my overclock, but is still pennies

Note* When I said @ stock I meant at stock with powersaving features off, never use them.

If it's as little difference as that I will leave it on high performance then. I only use it about 3 hours a day anyway.

Thanks for the figures