Skip site navigation (1)Skip section navigation (2)
Date:      Sat, 19 Dec 2009 19:20:19 -0800
From:      Doug Barton <dougb@FreeBSD.org>
To:        Glen Barber <glen.j.barber@gmail.com>
Cc:        freebsd-current@freebsd.org, Paul G Webster <mailinglists@alchemy-networks.co.uk>
Subject:   Re: Systems running hot?
Message-ID:  <4B2D97F3.703@FreeBSD.org>
In-Reply-To: <4ad871310912191830y5a024bceq4eb0a3b39e606ad8@mail.gmail.com>
References:  <4B2D4B53.1060503@FreeBSD.org>	 <op.u47gp1m6gcpajg@desktop1.alchemy-networks.co.uk>	 <4B2D8B9C.5030706@FreeBSD.org> <4ad871310912191830y5a024bceq4eb0a3b39e606ad8@mail.gmail.com>

next in thread | previous in thread | raw e-mail | index | archive | help
Glen Barber wrote:
> On Sat, Dec 19, 2009 at 9:27 PM, Doug Barton <dougb@freebsd.org> wrote:
>> Paul G Webster wrote:
>>> tried running powerd on it?
>> I was not running powerd, but I just enabled it with:
>> performance_cx_lowest="HIGH"
>> performance_cpu_freq="HIGH"
>> economy_cx_lowest="HIGH"
>> economy_cpu_freq="HIGH"
>>
>> If I'm reading the rc.conf man page correctly, that will give me the
>> benefit of good performance while at the same time dropping the cpu
>> frequency and power usage when idle?
>>
>> Any other suggestions are welcome.
>>
> 
> You can also set settings dependent on the power source:
> 
>    powerd_flags="-a max -b adaptive"

I set it to "-a adaptive -b adaptive" (I'm on AC power most of the
time) and the good news is that the temp dropped by about 10 degrees C
and the fan went down to the low speed for the first time today.

My concern about using this feature is that the last time I used it I
ended up with problems with my (build into the motherboard) video
card. I was never sure at the time whether or not the problem with the
video card was a result of powerd, or of the heat problems I was
having at the time (back in 8-current when everyone agreed that there
was a heat problem). I'd like to think that powerd would not fry a
graphics card, and I don't think that it's even likely, but the system
is out of warranty now and I can't afford to foul it up.

The other negative to running powerd is that it causes my display to
flash occasionally (which of course feeds my "powerd is destroying my
graphics card" paranoia). It's not life threatening, but it is annoying.

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions, we'll see how this goes ...


Doug

-- 

	Improve the effectiveness of your Internet presence with
	a domain name makeover!    http://SupersetSolutions.com/




Want to link to this message? Use this URL: <https://mail-archive.FreeBSD.org/cgi/mid.cgi?4B2D97F3.703>