MBP power usage

ricede · 06-08-2012, 09:12 AM

When running on battery - the normal advise is to switch off bluetooth/ wireless etc and dim the screen, in order for the battery to last longer on its charge.

If one is on mains power - does the same thing apply? Will the MBP draw less power from the mains, if one follows a similar regime?

I ask because my MBP runs 24/7 . Recently here in India, the government has chronically raised the electricity charges & im looking for ways to cut down my usage ( without having to turn the mac off.) i share my Internet line with a friend next door & they connect through Internet sharing from my mac. They tend to work nights, while i use it mostly during the day.

Im afraid that my knowledge of electricity is non existent, which is why im posting this - hoping someone can enlighten me a bit.

agentx · 06-08-2012, 09:59 AM

No nothing to gain unless you put your machine to sleep.

ricede · 06-08-2012, 10:02 AM

Thanks agentx - I shall have to look elsewhere for savings.

DeltaMac · 06-08-2012, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ricede


	... I ask because my MBP runs 24/7 . ... im looking for ways to cut down my usage ( without having to turn the mac off.) i share my Internet line with a friend next door & they connect through Internet sharing from my mac. They tend to work nights, while i use it mostly during the day. ...

Does your friend help out with your electric?
If your leave your MBPro on solely to provide your friend with a shared internet connection, would it be feasible to make that process more reliable (and less energy cost) by adding an internet router to your setup? That would then eliminate the need to leave your MBPro powered on when you are not actually using it.

ricede · 06-08-2012, 10:42 AM

Yes DeltaMac - he does share the costs.
I have a router/modem, but its not wireless & i use the only Ethernet port on it. That would probably be the answer.
The problem is that they are not available in this little town - it would involve going to bangalore which is 150 kms away.
I shall look into it the next time i HAVE to make that journey.
Neither the buses nor the roads here, are quite like the UK ones

DeltaMac · 06-08-2012, 12:47 PM

Another tip - If you can't shut your MBPro off completely, because of the shared connection - you CAN sleep the display, so it doesn't add anything to your power use. Control-Shift-Eject will do that at any time. And, press any key to return to your display.

ricede · 06-08-2012, 10:07 PM

Is sleeping the display the same as turning the brightness to zero ?

DeltaMac · 06-09-2012, 06:54 AM

No, brightness to zero turns the backlight off, but the video is still working - try that by looking carefully with a bright light - you still see the icons and menus.
Display sleep actually turns the display off - no more video can be seen.

ricede · 06-09-2012, 07:13 AM

Right - thanks Deltamac. Your help has been much appreciated.

06-08-2012, 09:12 AM	#1
ricede All Star Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: India Posts: 505	MBP power usage When running on battery - the normal advise is to switch off bluetooth/ wireless etc and dim the screen, in order for the battery to last longer on its charge. If one is on mains power - does the same thing apply? Will the MBP draw less power from the mains, if one follows a similar regime? I ask because my MBP runs 24/7 . Recently here in India, the government has chronically raised the electricity charges & im looking for ways to cut down my usage ( without having to turn the mac off.) i share my Internet line with a friend next door & they connect through Internet sharing from my mac. They tend to work nights, while i use it mostly during the day. Im afraid that my knowledge of electricity is non existent, which is why im posting this - hoping someone can enlighten me a bit. Last edited by ricede; 06-08-2012 at 09:57 AM.

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06-08-2012, 09:59 AM	#2
agentx Hall of Famer Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Brighton, UK Posts: 3,807	No nothing to gain unless you put your machine to sleep.

06-08-2012, 10:02 AM	#3
ricede All Star Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: India Posts: 505	Thanks agentx - I shall have to look elsewhere for savings.

06-08-2012, 10:42 AM	#5
ricede All Star Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: India Posts: 505	Yes DeltaMac - he does share the costs. I have a router/modem, but its not wireless & i use the only Ethernet port on it. That would probably be the answer. The problem is that they are not available in this little town - it would involve going to bangalore which is 150 kms away. I shall look into it the next time i HAVE to make that journey. Neither the buses nor the roads here, are quite like the UK ones

06-08-2012, 12:47 PM	#6
DeltaMac League Commissioner Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 7,958	Another tip - If you can't shut your MBPro off completely, because of the shared connection - you CAN sleep the display, so it doesn't add anything to your power use. Control-Shift-Eject will do that at any time. And, press any key to return to your display.

06-08-2012, 10:07 PM	#7
ricede All Star Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: India Posts: 505	Is sleeping the display the same as turning the brightness to zero ?

06-09-2012, 06:54 AM	#8
DeltaMac League Commissioner Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 7,958	No, brightness to zero turns the backlight off, but the video is still working - try that by looking carefully with a bright light - you still see the icons and menus. Display sleep actually turns the display off - no more video can be seen.

06-09-2012, 07:13 AM	#9
ricede All Star Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: India Posts: 505	Right - thanks Deltamac. Your help has been much appreciated.