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Laptop undervolting help

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  • Laptops
  • Battery
  • Overclocking
  • Processors
  • CPUs
Last response: in Overclocking
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a b à CPUs
October 9, 2014 6:25:44 AM

I have a Sony VAIO VPCEB34EN laptop with i3-370M @ 2.4 GHz Processor. I replaced my worn out battery with a new one. The old and current battery both have the same battery life of 2 hours only. I mainly do browsing or movie watching (three USB ports are connected with mouse, keyboard and data card/dongle always). So, I want to underclock my CPU as much as possible without affecting performance to gain battery life. Can anybody guide me through the whole process, as I never did any overclocking/underclocking in my life? Also, list the gains/losses I'll have after underclocking.

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October 13, 2014 10:43:59 PM

I wouldn't bother with underclocking as it won't affect battery life enough to make a significant difference. Instead, I'd go into the BIOS and if available make sure speedstepping is enabled and that in windows control panel power options the profile is set to balanced or power saving, depending on your preference.

Performance sets the CPU profile to max while balanced allows for a range between 5% and 100% CPU power usage. I'd also set the fan profile in the advanced power saving features to passive unless you encounter thermal issues in which case active may need to be left enabled. There may also be fan settings in the BIOS that will allow for some power savings. None of the power saving features should be enabled if you're gaming or performing intensive operations though as the unit could overheat.

The chances are not good you can even do much in the way of over or underclocking as laptops have little adjustability in their BIOS settings in most cases. Plus, that i3 has a locked multiplier and the i3-370M does not use turbo boost so about the only way to overclock it is to use SetFSB if your motherboard supports that utility. For your CPU, ThrottleStop can accurately monitor it but that's about it so undervolting is probably not possible like it used to be on the old Core2 cpus.
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a b à CPUs
October 13, 2014 11:29:00 PM

Great. What are Passive and active settings? (I only browse internet/watch movies)
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a b D Laptop
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October 13, 2014 11:37:00 PM

With passive settings, the CPU voltage and multiplier are reduced before fan speed is increased to max in the event that the CPU begins to approach "hot". With active settings the fan will go full speed before the system makes reductions in CPU settings. Any time the fan is full on, the battery is quickly draining, unless connected to AC power. These settings can be set differently for when you're on battery or AC power as well since when on AC power, consumption isn't as much of a factor.
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a b à CPUs
October 13, 2014 11:40:46 PM

So, for performance systems/laptops (not mine), active would be better than passive and for power concerning laptops, passive would be better than active, right?
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a b D Laptop
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October 13, 2014 11:44:54 PM

Correct. And while connected to your AC power source, active would be better.
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a b à CPUs
October 13, 2014 11:50:55 PM

Such info, much thanks :D 
I try as much as to save power because of 1st gen CPUs are not that power efficient and my discharge rates are always around 20 W..
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a b D Laptop
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October 13, 2014 11:51:26 PM

No problem. Anytime.
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a b à CPUs
October 13, 2014 11:52:39 PM

Edited my last answer
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a b D Laptop
a b K Overclocking
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October 14, 2014 12:13:54 AM

Agera One said:
Such info, much thanks :D 
I try as much as to save power because of 1st gen CPUs are not that power efficient and my discharge rates are always around 20 W..


I understand, they definitely are known to suck a battery dry in no time especially if the fans are running full bore.
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a b à CPUs
October 14, 2014 12:43:37 AM

That is why I asked about undervolting..
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a b D Laptop
a b K Overclocking
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October 14, 2014 10:29:36 AM

I understand. But you can't undervolt that system.
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