I've correlated this with wakeup activity in compiz. This issue seems to have been resolved around 12th June 2013 and we've not seen any more of these peak in wakeups since. So I'm going to mark this as fixed released, I'm not sure what got fixed though.
** Changed in: linux (Ubuntu Saucy) Status: Confirmed => Fix Released -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Kernel Packages, which is subscribed to linux in Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1178774 Title: eventstat shows high number of events from swapper Status in “linux” package in Ubuntu: Fix Released Status in “linux” source package in Saucy: Fix Released Bug description: Looking at http://reports.qa.ubuntu.com/power/eventstat/image/14/machine/1/task_type/all/details/ it looks like swapper is producing about 15000 events per minute during an idle eventstat run. The raw results can be found at https://jenkins.qa.ubuntu.com/job/eventstat-saucy-desktop-amd64 -install-idle-vm/4/? During raring, we were seeing much lower numbers. ProblemType: Bug DistroRelease: Ubuntu 13.10 Package: linux-image-3.9.0-1-generic 3.9.0-1.5 [modified: boot/vmlinuz-3.9.0-1-generic] ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.9.0-1.5-generic 3.9.1 Uname: Linux 3.9.0-1-generic x86_64 ApportVersion: 2.10-0ubuntu3 Architecture: amd64 AudioDevicesInUse: USER PID ACCESS COMMAND /dev/snd/controlC0: a 1625 F.... pulseaudio CRDA: Error: command ['iw', 'reg', 'get'] failed with exit code 1: nl80211 not found. CurrentDmesg: Date: Fri May 10 13:20:59 2013 HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=5b6d720d-d58e-4e15-b181-96578d2f14d7 InstallationDate: Installed on 2013-05-10 (0 days ago) InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 13.10 "Saucy Salamander" - Alpha amd64 (20130510) IwConfig: eth0 no wireless extensions. lo no wireless extensions. Lsusb: Bus 001 Device 002: ID 80ee:0021 VirtualBox USB Tablet Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub MachineType: innotek GmbH VirtualBox MarkForUpload: True ProcFB: 0 VESA VGA ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.9.0-1-generic root=UUID=a21f1345-25c4-45fa-af78-c20a3a4d90b3 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7 RelatedPackageVersions: linux-restricted-modules-3.9.0-1-generic N/A linux-backports-modules-3.9.0-1-generic N/A linux-firmware 1.108 RfKill: SourcePackage: linux UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install) dmi.bios.date: 12/01/2006 dmi.bios.vendor: innotek GmbH dmi.bios.version: VirtualBox dmi.board.name: VirtualBox dmi.board.vendor: Oracle Corporation dmi.board.version: 1.2 dmi.chassis.type: 1 dmi.chassis.vendor: Oracle Corporation dmi.modalias: dmi:bvninnotekGmbH:bvrVirtualBox:bd12/01/2006:svninnotekGmbH:pnVirtualBox:pvr1.2:rvnOracleCorporation:rnVirtualBox:rvr1.2:cvnOracleCorporation:ct1:cvr: dmi.product.name: VirtualBox dmi.product.version: 1.2 dmi.sys.vendor: innotek GmbH To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/1178774/+subscriptions -- Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~kernel-packages Post to : kernel-packages@lists.launchpad.net Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~kernel-packages More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp