Energy Star Enabled OK?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jo-Anne
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Jo-Anne

I'm about to buy a Dell notebook computer with the downgrade to Windows XP
Pro. One option (you can take it or leave it) is Energy Star Enabled.
According to Dell, it uses "Energy Star power management features, which
allow the computer to enter a very low power mode when not in use for a
specified period of time."

Can this option cause any problems with the computer? Given that Dell isn't
making it standard, I worry about such things as the screen saver keeping
the screen blank even when you want it back.

Thank you!

Jo-Anne
 
Jo-Anne said:
I'm about to buy a Dell notebook computer with the downgrade to Windows XP
Pro. One option (you can take it or leave it) is Energy Star Enabled.
According to Dell, it uses "Energy Star power management features, which
allow the computer to enter a very low power mode when not in use for a
specified period of time."

Can this option cause any problems with the computer? Given that Dell isn't
making it standard, I worry about such things as the screen saver keeping
the screen blank even when you want it back.

Thank you!

Jo-Anne
Click to expand...

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=computers.pr_crit_computers

Standby (Off Mode): <= 1.0 W

Sleep Mode: <= 1.7 W

Idle State*:

* Category A: <= 14.0 W
* Category B: <= 22.0 W

What is the model number of the Dell ?

The computer should still have a Power Management control panel,
where you can change the current scheme.

Paul
 
Paul said:
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=computers.pr_crit_computers

Standby (Off Mode): <= 1.0 W

Sleep Mode: <= 1.7 W

Idle State*:

* Category A: <= 14.0 W
* Category B: <= 22.0 W

What is the model number of the Dell ?

The computer should still have a Power Management control panel,
where you can change the current scheme.

Paul
Click to expand...
Thank you, Paul! It's the Precision M4300 Workstation. I read the info at
the link, but of course it doesn't deal with people's experience using
Energy Star computers. I have a vague memory of a few years ago when, once
the screen went to sleep, you couldn't get it back without rebooting; and I
think it had to do with energy saving. You could turn off the sleep mode so
it would never get used, but you wouldn't know it was an issue until the
problem occurred.

Jo-Anne
 
Jo-Anne said:
Thank you, Paul! It's the Precision M4300 Workstation. I read the info at
the link, but of course it doesn't deal with people's experience using
Energy Star computers. I have a vague memory of a few years ago when, once
the screen went to sleep, you couldn't get it back without rebooting; and I
think it had to do with energy saving. You could turn off the sleep mode so
it would never get used, but you wouldn't know it was an issue until the
problem occurred.

Jo-Anne
Click to expand...

When I look at the M4300 page, there are "Base Package", "Productivity Package",
and "Docking Bundle". Only "Docking Bundle" has an Energy Star tick box, but
the price differential is $0. In other words, it appears the platform is
Energy Star, without adding anything.

One review site (with not a lot of reviews), mentioned battery life might not
be very long. Which doesn't really sound like "Energy Star" at work, at least
while running. They make it sound like this is more of a desktop replacement,
rather than a thin and light portable.

In Sleep Mode, the RAM needs to be refreshed. So the RAM needs power, and that
could be what the 1.7W allocation above is for. And "Off Mode" shouldn't
really need to power anything, if it is really "Off". I suppose the "Off Mode"
might refer to power wasted by the adapter, if the machine is connected via
the adapter, to the wall. A switching adapter will draw power, to finish
charging the battery. Then, there would be no appreciable power needs by
the "off" laptop, but the adapter itself still wastes a small amount of power
while it is sitting there idle. That would have to fit within the <1.0W
budget, to pass Energy Star.

And you're right, that disabling the backlight is a significant power item.
A CCFL tube draws about 3W, and more than one may be used, depending on the
screen dimensions. When on battery, they can operate the CCFL tube a
bit dimmer, and turn it off when no user input is detected. That would
add to battery runtime. If the machine is operating properly, it should
always come back, when there is user input. Closing and opening the lid,
should also restore it. The machine may have crashed, if neither of those
are working.

Paul
 
Paul said:
When I look at the M4300 page, there are "Base Package", "Productivity
Package",
and "Docking Bundle". Only "Docking Bundle" has an Energy Star tick box,
but
the price differential is $0. In other words, it appears the platform is
Energy Star, without adding anything.

One review site (with not a lot of reviews), mentioned battery life might
not
be very long. Which doesn't really sound like "Energy Star" at work, at
least
while running. They make it sound like this is more of a desktop
replacement,
rather than a thin and light portable.

In Sleep Mode, the RAM needs to be refreshed. So the RAM needs power, and
that
could be what the 1.7W allocation above is for. And "Off Mode" shouldn't
really need to power anything, if it is really "Off". I suppose the "Off
Mode"
might refer to power wasted by the adapter, if the machine is connected
via
the adapter, to the wall. A switching adapter will draw power, to finish
charging the battery. Then, there would be no appreciable power needs by
the "off" laptop, but the adapter itself still wastes a small amount of
power
while it is sitting there idle. That would have to fit within the <1.0W
budget, to pass Energy Star.

And you're right, that disabling the backlight is a significant power
item.
A CCFL tube draws about 3W, and more than one may be used, depending on
the
screen dimensions. When on battery, they can operate the CCFL tube a
bit dimmer, and turn it off when no user input is detected. That would
add to battery runtime. If the machine is operating properly, it should
always come back, when there is user input. Closing and opening the lid,
should also restore it. The machine may have crashed, if neither of those
are working.

Paul
Click to expand...

Thank you, Paul! Actually, the productivity package also has the Energy Star
option, and it's not ticked as recommended. I'll make my decision this
afternoon.

Thank you again!

Jo-Anne
 
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