On Sat, Jun 19, 2004 at 02:31:33PM +1000, Tim Connors wrote: > "Daniel B." <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> said on Fri, 18 Jun 2004 10:22:43 -0400: > > Micha Feigin wrote: > > > > > ... > > > and they do require more cpu, eye candy takes cpu power to draw (either > > > real cpu or graphic card cpu, either way, battery power). > > > > What fraction of CPUs these days can switch to low-power mode when > > idling and what fraction use the same amount of power regardless of > > whether they're idling or executing instructions? > > For the latter question: none. > > A transistor dissipates heat when it is in the process of switching on > or off - when it is fully on or fully off, there is very little > current flowing. Which is partly why modern CPUs run so hot - because > they switch so fast (the other reason is that there are so many more > transistors -- but of course they are smaller too).
My computer is overclocked with a variable speed cpu fan, an open side panel, and a great big box fan up against the edge. I don't have A/C (you don't really need it where I live except about 1 week/year). Most of the time I can turn the CPU fan down and leave the box fan off. But if I'm compiling or playing games, I have to turn the fans way up! -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
