How do you maximize your notebook / laptop battery life

When shorting my emails for ChotoCheeta.com, I realize that percentage of email question asking for ways to get most out of their notebook battery is quite high !

Therefore I thought of listing few basic steps one may take to get the most out of their notebook/laptop battery.

Check list before purchasing

If you are just about to purchase a notebook and looking for better battery life, then please consider the bellow listed factors.

• 9 Cell battery will offer better battery backup over standard 6 cell ones.
• Smaller screen size would offer better battery backup over a large screen notebook.
• Solid State hard drives consumes less power than normal SATA or PATA hard drives.
• Read the company specification, on their statement of battery backup time !!

Please note, while you order any notebook, you may chose the option to upgrade from standard 6 cell battery pack to 9 cell battery pack, which though would make the notebook a bit heavy but will certainly offer 25% more backup.

13″ or 12″ models would offer better battery back up over a 15″ or 17″ notebook. Large screen would definitely consume more power. Therefore those who needs a notebook for long battery backup usage, should eye for ultra small notebooks like 13″ dell XPS or such !!

Solid State Hard disk comes with no rotating or moving parts thus its really low in power usage and therefore allowing better battery back up time.

Before you make a purchase, do read the company statement on their expected battery backup time.

How to make most out of the notebook battery

There are few tips which you may follow to get most out of your notebook battery.

Use only certified hardware

When you are buying notebook accessories, like upgrading the RAM module or Hard drive, buy only those products or accessories which are certified by your notebook / laptop manufacturer. An uncertified device may consume more power thus reducing the expected battery backup time.

Use only certified Operating System

A notebook would contain information like, Built for “Windows XP” or may be like, built for “Windows Vista“. You may find the sticker of software certifications like,

Using any other OS on a device which is meant for a certain OS would cause poor battery backup, as there wont be proper driver support to maximize the system performance. Therefore, use only a certified OS with your Notebook / Laptop.

Use Up to Date Device drivers and softwares

It is really important that you keep your system device drivers up to date. Device drivers are meant to provide your OS the capability to use your hardwares properly and to obtain optimal performance.

One very common mistake as an user you may make is installing drivers from CD / DVD provided by your PC manufacturer, as it is possible that when you are installing drivers from DVD / CD which comes with your notebook. Do note, it is out dated and your PC manufacturer has uploaded newer and better drivers on their support web site.

• HP / Compaq Support
• Lenovo / IBM
• Acer Support
• Sony Vaio

Microsoft as an OS developer would issue critical OS updates which are not only important for your system but also helps to keep an healthy OS which would ensure best performance and optimal battery life. Therefore keep auto update turned on for your Microsoft Windows.

Not only your OS, every single software vendor would issue update for their product which are equally important for optimal performance of the software and smooth running of your PC without any error thus maximizing OS compatibility and better battery life.

Use Windows Power Management properly and efficiently

Windows XP and Vista are the OS which are meant to maximize the battery life, and user get the options to customize their notebook power management as per need.

For Windows XP, right click on Desktop and Click properties, which would launch the Display properties. Now please click screen saver TAB, which should contain the button for Power Management.

When clciking power management the system would offer you to set the times therefore adjust “on battery” performance as you which. (These time means system would execute these actions if you are not using the Windows).

Optional, you may need to enable the Hibernation for availing the hibernation options.

Also configure your system to go in to Sleep or stand by mode when closing the lid of the notebook.

Windows Vista offers more flexibility, it comes with default predefine power plans with more advance option than Windows XP. However the basic rules are same, just need to change those 4 values as like Windows XP, rest can stay the same !!

Please read How to turn on the Hibernate option if its missing on your windows system

Right Click on Desktop and click personalize which would launched the window with advance options. Click screen saver link.

When its launched, you may click the option which says, change power settings.

It would launch a window with power plans, select the power saver option, and if you wish to configure more advance option, then please click “Change power Plan settings”

Remember to put the system on Stand By when you are going away from the Notebook for 20 mins or so, but with the possibility of returning any time with immediate need to access the system. While on stand by, the Windows would power down the processor, HDD, Optical drivers, Wifi/network connection but just keeping enough power of RAM to resume the session really quick.

Put the system on hibernation, when you are expected to return and use it after few hours. Hibernation would write the entire RAM into your HDD, thus totally turning off the power. While resuming the system would read from the HDD and restore the session on your RAM thus returning the desktop where you left it.

Dim your screen brightness

These ultra bright, ultra sharp, glossy large notebook/laptop screens consume too much power, therefore, don’t forget to dim your screen (decrease the brightness) while you are in battery backup.

You may use your keyboard “Fn” (function key) to lower the screen brightness. On your notebook / laptop keyboard you may find a key named Fn. While pressing together, the Fn key and the key which has the value for decreasing brightness.

Windows Vista users may enjoy an automatic feature which can be found at power settings, where you get option to choose automatically lower the screen power when on battery power.

Remove all external hardwares and turn off wireless devices

While you are looking more backup on your central core hardware, remove all external devices, like, usb storage drives (Pen drives, portable hdd) or usb input device (Mouse, Keyboard), off course while you are not using them . Mute your notebook internal speakers too.

If you don’t need wifi / bluetooth service, turn them off while you are in battery backup. Every (modern) notebook comes with access buttons to easily turn off and turn on the services.

Plan your work schedule and get most out of Intel SpeedStep and AMD cool and quite powernow technology

Today’s Intel Core 2 and Dual Core processors (T2310 / T2330) comes with a feature called Intel SpeedStep technology and same feature at AMD X2 batch with their version of AMD PowerNow / Cool and Quite. All they do is reduce the processor and memory utilization if a system is not in use of it.

For example, if you are typing in Microsoft Word, the system do not need 1.6Ghz for the job, thus, it can lower the processor speed to 700 Mhz or bellow. While it doesn’t need higher processing speed, the processor can reduce the vcore value (Power Voltage) thus generating less heat, so allowing the system to lower the processor FAN RPM or simply powering it off. Where as you are playing game or editing a video your system would run at full speed thus utilizing more power.

Therefore plan your usage,

• Try to run less power hungry application while you are in battery backup.

• Do not multi task

• Avoid video editing, ripping, encoding type jobs while you are in battery life.

• try not to run video content.

Reduce background activity

Make sure you disable background applications such as iTunes / desktop Search indexing or such, which would utilize more processor power than it is needed. Use Task Manager to locate and kill any unwanted process using heavy resources.

Disable AntiVirus Real time scanning, as if you are not accessing any network or external file source, then there is no need for AVS real time scanning. Real time scanning would scan each and every file your Windows explorer would access thus increasing processor and hard disk activity.

Try not to access CD / DVD

Accessing CD / DVD drives would consume much power, so if you have to play any video / audio / content from optical drive, then try to copy the data to your notebook / laptop Hard disk. Accessing and running from HDD would provide better backup.

Keep the system healthy

Keep your system healthy as a healthy system would run as per manufacturer specification thus providing better battery backup.

• Use Up to date anti virus scanner

• Scan regularly for malware (Virus / Spyware / Adware)

• Defrag the HDD often.

Run on AC Backup when ever possible without over doing it

If and when ever you have option for AC power source, plug your notebook and kep it charged, but having said that, its recommended that with today’s Li-ON battery, at-least once a week you drain your notebook battery to 10%.

Following this simple tips, when ever its applicable would certainly provide you better battry backup with your Notebook / laptop.

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