Lowering down frequency of CPU - if unused.

[4n60]

Hello,
I saw somewhere on some PocketPC application that was lowering down frequency of CPU if device was unused - because of saving battery.
(sorry for my poor english)
I'd like to ask you if:
- is it possible and working (saving energy)?
- isn't it unhealthy for CPU?
Maybe I am just wrong but it sounds cool to me.

Thanks for answer!

[Tytanium]

iv heard of that before, i think its called *speed stepping* dont quote me on tht.and intel use it on there cpu's but i dont knw if a phne would support such a thing.it does and would save enerrgy by reducing the clock speed of the cpu it can use less volts at the core etc

now that you have said that...i wonder if you could over clock the cpu on a ppc???
would void warranty and the usual but would be good for certain handsets.

sorry i havent actualy answered ur question though

D

[stylez]

Hello,
I saw somewhere on some PocketPC application that was lowering down frequency of CPU if device was unused - because of saving battery.
(sorry for my poor english)
I'd like to ask you if:
- is it possible and working (saving energy)?
- isn't it unhealthy for CPU?
Maybe I am just wrong but it sounds cool to me.

Thanks for answer!

There is no way to Overclock the Kaiser so there will be no way to Underclock the Kaiser from what i have read.

[kilrah]

- is it possible and working (saving energy)?
Yes for some PocketPCs, but it's depending on the CPU, and there's currently no solution for the Kaiser.

- isn't it unhealthy for CPU?

Nope. I've over/underclocked most of my previous PDAs.
However I was more often overclocking than underclocking, as those devices are already slow enough. Unless you use it like an MP3 player for hours without doing anything else, with screen off, and where you know you need long battery life, it's just not worth having to put up with a device that is slow as hell for minor savings. There's not only the CPU drawing power there - even slowing it down by 2 won't save you much more than 10-20% power when in normal use with screen on... the backlight will already draw more than the CPU at normal speed.
Actually you might end up using more energy with the device underclocked, as you'll be staring at that lit up screen for longer while it *tries* to do what you asked it to ;)

When "unused" as you mentioned in the title - which I understand would be when it is in your pocket doing nothing - the CPU is already in sleep mode and not running, so no such savings possible here.

[4n60]

Thanks for replying...
I was overlocking too some of my ppcs but it wasn't useful everytimes... (freezing etc...)
I was worried about underclocking - I don't have any experience with this...

Ok, now I got it.

Well - cool and fast PDA = daily charging...
Thanks again...

BTW: I can't turn off backlight in my kaiser. It isn't possible :)?

[dizzy33]

Thanks for replying...

BTW: I can't turn off backlight in my kaiser. It isn't possible :)?

No unfortunatly it's not possible. This is my first PDA which does not allow to turn off the backlight. You can just put it as low as possible.

[silversonic1]

You may not be able to shut off the backlight, but with S2U2, you can set it to lock when you shut off the screen, thus allowing you more power saving.
But as for idling saving you power, if you have TCPMP player, you'll notice that it can read the processor speed somewhere below 400MHz. The processor's designed to automaticly adjust to save power. I once saw mine running at 195MHz.
It may not be possible to manually control, but it does do it automaticly. And underclocking actually increases the life span of the CPU.