The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Windows battery estimates fail?

    Discussion in 'Alienware 14 and M14x' started by Killer Juice, May 7, 2011.

  1. Killer Juice

    Killer Juice Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    56
    Messages:
    198
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I don't know if this is a problem with my battery or windows, but I get hugely fluctuating remaining battery estimations.

    I checked five minutes ago and it said I had 39 minutes left. I am checking now and it says 1 hour and 14 minutes. For the maybe 15 hours or so that I've used it, the battery remaining number keeps changing. Also, it's not like my usage is changing that much. I'm just surfing the web with wifi, alien FX, and 2 bars above minimum brightness (brightness 2/8 or 25%)

    Is this something that changes over time when the computer "starts to understand" the battery better?

    Edit: checked again after writing this post, and it's at 1 hour and 27 minutes now.
     
    Killer Juice, May 7, 2011
    #1
  2. FlipBack

    FlipBack Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    2
    Messages:
    311
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    The web pages you are browsing could effect it. Anything with flash could be activating the dedicated graphics, and then when you stop viewing flash it would go back to the intel graphics, which would make power consumption fluctuate greatly.

    I recommend setting your browsers to always use the Intel graphics as it is more than enough for HD video and flash, if you haven't already done that.
     
    FlipBack, May 7, 2011
    #2
  3. Killer Juice

    Killer Juice Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    56
    Messages:
    198
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Hmm. Is there a way to force the IGP to handle flash?
     
    Killer Juice, May 7, 2011
    #3
  4. FlipBack

    FlipBack Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    2
    Messages:
    311
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I haven't gotten my m14x yet (and have no notebook with optimus) but I'm pretty sure there is the ability to choose what graphics different programs use somewhere in the nvidia control panel.
     
    FlipBack, May 7, 2011
    #4
  5. Gearsguy

    Gearsguy Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    570
    Messages:
    1,592
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    I've never used the m14x, but on a work computer we have with Optimus (Intel + 310M) the nvidia card always switches off on battery unless I start up Second Life (so a 3D application).
     
    Gearsguy, May 8, 2011
    #5
  6. room271

    room271 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    21
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Try setting your browser to only use the IGP in the nVidia control panel.

    3D Settings -> Manage 3D Settings -> Program Settings (tab in main area)

    You can set FF/Chrome etc to just use integrated graphics here.
     
    room271, May 8, 2011
    #6