HOWTO: powernowd tip

[fizgig]

I run Hoary on a laptop and it, per default, loads the powernowd daemon at startup. This was kind of annoying because I don't care about CPU frequency when my laptop is plugged in - especially when the cool screensavers were running. As such, I wanted mt laptop to not run powernowd when it's plugged in.

To accomplish this, I had to do two things:
1. Modify the /etc/init.d/powernow init script to check the ac power is disconnected before starting the daemon
2. Modify the /etc/acpi/power.sh script to start and stop the daemon appropriately.

Enjoy!

[bgrant75]

Hi, thanks for the tip. It works allright.

Seems from a lot of other forums people have the same problem and this tip certianly helps.

It would be good if a laptop section could be created and maintained with tips, howto's etc.

Anyway thanks - Brian

[PinGzor]

Thanks alot!

[Anubis]

How about :
apt-get remove powernowd

[DJ_Max]

How about :
apt-get remove powernowd

Umm, that removes it. You can't use something if you uninstall it.

[Muchacho_Gasolino]

kind of off-topic, but what exactly is the purpose of powernowd?
I know it runs AMD Cool & Quiet, but is that even a good idea to run on a desktop?

[DJ_Max]

kind of off-topic, but what exactly is the purpose of powernowd?
I know it runs AMD Cool & Quiet, but is that even a good idea to run on a desktop?

http://freshmeat.net/projects/powernowd/

[darkaudit]

That answers the 'What is it?' part, but what about the rest? Is it necessary, or wise, to run powernowd on a desktop?

Granted, it does save a bit of wear on my overclocked 2500+

[EcliptuX]

Nice tip !!!

But maybe it's possible to improve it ?
I had notice this :
- when I'm booting with AC, the CPU working at 100%. OK no problem.
- when I'm unplugging the AC during the laptop is power on, the CPU slow down to work at 50%. OK, perfectly
- if I re-plugged AC without rebooting the laptop, the CPU is still working at 50%. Is it possible to make it work at 100% again automaticaly, without rebooting ?

[boobytrapped]

Interesting approach. I solved this problem using a different technique. Instead of powernowd, I installed "cpufreqd". Its a daemon similar to powernowd, but their default policy is something I like much better. Its more customizable than powernowd, and keeps my laptop at 100% cpufreq when I am plugged into AC power.

HOWTO:

sudo apt-get install cpufreqd