Difference between revisions of "How to enable audio codec power saving"
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Disable the sound device by unloading modules or {{cmdroot|echo -n 3 > /sys/class/sound/controlC0/device/power/state}} (replace 3 by 0 to enable again). | Disable the sound device by unloading modules or {{cmdroot|echo -n 3 > /sys/class/sound/controlC0/device/power/state}} (replace 3 by 0 to enable again). | ||
| − | == | + | ==On-demand power control== |
| + | ===AC97 audio subsystem=== | ||
There's an [http://www.kernel.org/git/?p=linux/kernel/git/perex/alsa.git;a=commitdiff_plain;h=6dbe662874ba08585eaf732d126762c25ac8e3f7;hp=2b29b13c5794f648cd5e839796496704d787f5a6 experimental patch from 2.6.19-rc2], [http://www.kernel.org/git/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git;a=commitdiff_plain;h=da43deb116c0cea9ca2174f2ac64985c4d53077e;hp=dbedca39fe30db87b6401e4396f959c63d90082e that was later corrected in 2.6.19-rc3], which enables the support of aggressive AC97 power-saving mode in the Linux [[ALSA]] drivers. In this mode, the AC97 powerdown register bits are dynamically controlled at each open/close of PCM streams. To allow powering off the analog mixer, make sure all analog inputs (Line, Microphone, CD, etc.) are muted. | There's an [http://www.kernel.org/git/?p=linux/kernel/git/perex/alsa.git;a=commitdiff_plain;h=6dbe662874ba08585eaf732d126762c25ac8e3f7;hp=2b29b13c5794f648cd5e839796496704d787f5a6 experimental patch from 2.6.19-rc2], [http://www.kernel.org/git/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git;a=commitdiff_plain;h=da43deb116c0cea9ca2174f2ac64985c4d53077e;hp=dbedca39fe30db87b6401e4396f959c63d90082e that was later corrected in 2.6.19-rc3], which enables the support of aggressive AC97 power-saving mode in the Linux [[ALSA]] drivers. In this mode, the AC97 powerdown register bits are dynamically controlled at each open/close of PCM streams. To allow powering off the analog mixer, make sure all analog inputs (Line, Microphone, CD, etc.) are muted. | ||
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There are reports that on-demand power control can save 0.2W. Make sure the microphone is muted, though, or its channel won't be turned off. | There are reports that on-demand power control can save 0.2W. Make sure the microphone is muted, though, or its channel won't be turned off. | ||
| − | == | + | ===HDA audio subsystem=== |
| − | If you have one of the newer | + | If you have one of the newer Intel chips, there is an equivalent feature as of kernel 2.6.24, you can select the CONFIG_SND_HDA_POWER_SAVE option and set CONFIG_SND_HDA_POWER_SAVE_DEFAULT to the number of seconds after which you want the device to time out. |
You can also control this on the fly via sysfs: | You can also control this on the fly via sysfs: | ||
Revision as of 20:29, 27 January 2008
The AC97 sound device (e.g., AD1981B) requires a noticable amount of power (0.3W on T43). This power can be saved when the device is not in use.
Contents
Disabling the device
Disable the sound device by unloading modules or # echo -n 3 > /sys/class/sound/controlC0/device/power/state (replace 3 by 0 to enable again).
On-demand power control
AC97 audio subsystem
There's an experimental patch from 2.6.19-rc2, that was later corrected in 2.6.19-rc3, which enables the support of aggressive AC97 power-saving mode in the Linux ALSA drivers. In this mode, the AC97 powerdown register bits are dynamically controlled at each open/close of PCM streams. To allow powering off the analog mixer, make sure all analog inputs (Line, Microphone, CD, etc.) are muted.
It is working without a hitch in an IBM X31 with kernel 2.6.20.
The mode is disabled by default, and activated via power_save=1 option for snd-ac97-codec driver (at run time, use # echo Y > /sys/module/snd_ac97_codec/parameters/power_save).
You may hear a faint click each time the device is powered up (at start of playback) and each time the device is powered down (2 seconds after playback ends).
There are reports that on-demand power control can save 0.2W. Make sure the microphone is muted, though, or its channel won't be turned off.
HDA audio subsystem
If you have one of the newer Intel chips, there is an equivalent feature as of kernel 2.6.24, you can select the CONFIG_SND_HDA_POWER_SAVE option and set CONFIG_SND_HDA_POWER_SAVE_DEFAULT to the number of seconds after which you want the device to time out.
You can also control this on the fly via sysfs:
# echo 10 > /sys/module/snd_hda_intel/parameters/power_save
would give you a timeout of 10 seconds. If you want to save more power you can disable the controller as well:
# echo Y > /sys/module/snd_hda_intel/parameters/power_save_controller
However you might want to disable this if you get annoyed by a "click" sound when the device wakes up again:
# echo N > /sys/module/snd_hda_intel/parameters/power_save_controller
