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I just can't understand how people put up with not being able to control what they primary machines are doing. For that reason my primary work machine can curr

I just can't understand how people put up with not being able to control what they primary machines are doing. For that reason my primary work machine can currently only be Linux. I have Windows, but this one is only for stuff that is incompatible with Linux. I actually have Linux PC and a separate Linux laptop (Thinkpad T440s). That laptop runs super cool once I debugged all the sources of power usage. Which is quite easy on Linux but neigh impossible on Windows.

znpy 5y ago
> I actually have Linux PC and a separate Linux laptop (Thinkpad T440s). > That laptop runs super cool once I debugged all the sources of power usage. I have a T440 which runs quite hot, where did you look for sources of power usage (beyond powertop) ?
- lmilcin 5y ago
  There is a difference between T440 and T440s. T440s is already power optimized and runs integrated GPU vs T440 which is more normal laptop with discrete graphics. I used mostly powertop but this is less reliable source of information when you are running discrete graphics card.
  - znpy 5y ago
    My T440 does not have a discrete GPU. It's basically a T440s without the touchpad. But it's got an i7, of that matters.
    - saltcured 5y ago
      As an i7, is it quad core? I had a T440p with i7-4700MQ and it had terrible power consumption compared to prior and later Thinkpads I have experienced. What I saw in powertop was that it never got into the better "package" power states. The cores could all be spending 90%+ of the time in C7 but the package as a whole was in C2 or worse. I never found a way to fix this. Mine had the NVIDIA GPU as well as Intel iGPU, and I primarily used it with the iGPU. The NVIDIA was of the sort that was not connected to a physical output, so it supposedly could be powered down when not being used. I had no way to truly verify this, of course.
      - znpy 5y ago
        Nah, just a dual-core i7 @ 2.1 GHz. I got that laptop 2nd hand, so that was it. I don't get into the bios very often so I might be wrong, but I don't recall seeing any indication of an nvidia gpu in mine. I'll look better!
        saltcured 5y ago
        On my T440p, the Intel and NVIDIA GPUs would show up via 'lspci'. I don't recall whether there were any BIOS options other than internal vs external display during POST/boot.
- hef19898 5y ago
  I run Ubuntu on a X1 Extreme Gen 2 for a while now, no problems whatsoever. The discrete nVidia GPU is as power hungry, and running as hot during gaming, as it did under Windows (so nether a big surprise nor a real problem, anyone remember how harsh Battletech was on GPUs initially?). Battery live, depending on use (and excluding gaming) is around 4 hours (didn't have less then 3+). The heat issue is mitigated somewhat by putting the machine on some kind of stand to have air pass underneath it. That being said, even under Windows the machine went to sleep just fine, also woke up again. If anything, that works better now under Linux.
taneq 5y ago
I hate it too. I’m not just saying that, I ran Linux as my only desktop for 3 years and exclusively AOSP phones for over 4. Ultimately, however, some of us have stuff to do and can’t spend our entire time tinkering to maintain basic functionality. There are only so many hours in a day.
mikro2nd 5y ago
neigh: what horsies say nigh: near, nearly
- contingencies 5y ago
  nay: unless, of course, the force of course is the famous grandparent 2c: Had an XPS15 die the other day, won't buy another. Also sworn off Apple hardware. Using Lenovo laptop. All good.
- lmilcin 5y ago
  Thanks. I wasn't aware. English isn't my native language.
vjust 5y ago
Agreed. Every time I tried windows it was the same set of frustrating behaviors. Linux helps but needs some tinkering. My first step on a new laptop would be to wipe clean and install Linux.
kenmacd 5y ago
Unfortunately these issues exist in Linux as well. There's no S3 in the bios.

znpy 5y ago

> I actually have Linux PC and a separate Linux laptop (Thinkpad T440s). > That laptop runs super cool once I debugged all the sources of power usage. I have a T440 which runs quite hot, where did you look for sources of power usage (beyond powertop) ?

lmilcin 5y ago
There is a difference between T440 and T440s. T440s is already power optimized and runs integrated GPU vs T440 which is more normal laptop with discrete graphics. I used mostly powertop but this is less reliable source of information when you are running discrete graphics card.
- znpy 5y ago
  My T440 does not have a discrete GPU. It's basically a T440s without the touchpad. But it's got an i7, of that matters.
  - saltcured 5y ago
    As an i7, is it quad core? I had a T440p with i7-4700MQ and it had terrible power consumption compared to prior and later Thinkpads I have experienced. What I saw in powertop was that it never got into the better "package" power states. The cores could all be spending 90%+ of the time in C7 but the package as a whole was in C2 or worse. I never found a way to fix this. Mine had the NVIDIA GPU as well as Intel iGPU, and I primarily used it with the iGPU. The NVIDIA was of the sort that was not connected to a physical output, so it supposedly could be powered down when not being used. I had no way to truly verify this, of course.
    - znpy 5y ago
      Nah, just a dual-core i7 @ 2.1 GHz. I got that laptop 2nd hand, so that was it. I don't get into the bios very often so I might be wrong, but I don't recall seeing any indication of an nvidia gpu in mine. I'll look better!
      - saltcured 5y ago
        On my T440p, the Intel and NVIDIA GPUs would show up via 'lspci'. I don't recall whether there were any BIOS options other than internal vs external display during POST/boot.
hef19898 5y ago
I run Ubuntu on a X1 Extreme Gen 2 for a while now, no problems whatsoever. The discrete nVidia GPU is as power hungry, and running as hot during gaming, as it did under Windows (so nether a big surprise nor a real problem, anyone remember how harsh Battletech was on GPUs initially?). Battery live, depending on use (and excluding gaming) is around 4 hours (didn't have less then 3+). The heat issue is mitigated somewhat by putting the machine on some kind of stand to have air pass underneath it. That being said, even under Windows the machine went to sleep just fine, also woke up again. If anything, that works better now under Linux.

taneq 5y ago

I hate it too. I’m not just saying that, I ran Linux as my only desktop for 3 years and exclusively AOSP phones for over 4. Ultimately, however, some of us have stuff to do and can’t spend our entire time tinkering to maintain basic functionality. There are only so many hours in a day.

mikro2nd 5y ago

neigh: what horsies say nigh: near, nearly

contingencies 5y ago
nay: unless, of course, the force of course is the famous grandparent 2c: Had an XPS15 die the other day, won't buy another. Also sworn off Apple hardware. Using Lenovo laptop. All good.
lmilcin 5y ago
Thanks. I wasn't aware. English isn't my native language.

vjust 5y ago

Agreed. Every time I tried windows it was the same set of frustrating behaviors. Linux helps but needs some tinkering. My first step on a new laptop would be to wipe clean and install Linux.

kenmacd 5y ago

Unfortunately these issues exist in Linux as well. There's no S3 in the bios.