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authorAndree Buschmann <AndreeBuschmann@t-online.de>2010-03-29 17:58:17 +0000
committerAndree Buschmann <AndreeBuschmann@t-online.de>2010-03-29 17:58:17 +0000
commit10023adf727391cd165be7b5290e83a4710d0129 (patch)
tree20f141c4b87be108bfe09fbdfb84b8be910f24af /manual
parentdedf08a6e15daa676176221cea19b0ab0e93df12 (diff)
downloadrockbox-10023adf727391cd165be7b5290e83a4710d0129.tar.gz
rockbox-10023adf727391cd165be7b5290e83a4710d0129.zip
Add new section 'Optimising battery runtime' to the manual (FS#11148).
git-svn-id: svn://svn.rockbox.org/rockbox/trunk@25382 a1c6a512-1295-4272-9138-f99709370657
Diffstat (limited to 'manual')
-rw-r--r--manual/advanced_topics/main.tex95
-rw-r--r--manual/configure_rockbox/display_options.tex4
-rw-r--r--manual/configure_rockbox/playback_options.tex4
-rw-r--r--manual/configure_rockbox/system_options.tex4
4 files changed, 101 insertions, 6 deletions
diff --git a/manual/advanced_topics/main.tex b/manual/advanced_topics/main.tex
index 47d4305f72..b13a76712b 100644
--- a/manual/advanced_topics/main.tex
+++ b/manual/advanced_topics/main.tex
@@ -580,3 +580,98 @@ current version.
580 580
581\opt{archos}{\input{advanced_topics/archos-flashing.tex}} 581\opt{archos}{\input{advanced_topics/archos-flashing.tex}}
582 582
583\section{Optimising battery runtime}
584 Rockbox offers a lot of settings that have high impact on the battery runtime
585 of your \dap{}. The largest power savings can be achieved through disabling
586 unneeded hardware components -- for some of those there are settings
587 available.
588\opt{swcodec}{
589 Another area of savings is avoiding or reducing CPU boosting
590 through disabling computing intense features (e.g. sound processing) or
591 using effective audio codecs.
592} The following provides a short overview of the most relevant settings and
593 rules of thumb.
594
595\nopt{ondio}{
596\subsection{Display backlight}
597 The active backlight consumes a lot of power. Therefore choose a setting that
598 disables the backlight after timeout (for setting \setting{Backlight} see
599 \reference{ref:Displayoptions}). Avoid to have the backlight enabled all the
600 time.
601}
602
603\opt{lcd_sleep}{
604\subsection{Display power-off}
605 Shutting down the display and the display controller saves a reasonable amount
606 of power. Choose a setting that will put the display to sleep after timeout
607 (for setting \setting{Sleep} see \reference{ref:Displayoptions}). Avoid to
608 have the display enabled all the time -- even, if the display is transflective
609 and is readable without backlight. Depending on your \dap{} it might be
610 significantly more efficient to re-enable the display and its backlight for a
611 glimpse a few times per hour than to keep the display enabled.
612}
613
614\opt{accessory_supply}{
615\subsection{Accessory power supply}
616 As default your \dap{}'s accessory power supply is always enabled to ensure
617 proper function of connected accessory devices. Disable this power supply, if
618 -- or as long as -- you do not use any accessory device with your \dap{} while
619 running Rockbox (see \reference{ref:AccessoryPowerSupply}).
620}
621
622\opt{lineout_poweroff}{
623\subsection{Line Out}
624 Rockbox allows to switch off the line-out on your \dap{}. If you do not need
625 the line-out, switch it off (see \reference{ref:LineoutOnOff}).
626}
627
628\opt{spdif_power}{
629\subsection{Optical Output}
630 Rockbox allows to switch off the S/PDIF output on your \dap{}. If you do not
631 need this output, switch it off (see \reference{ref:SPDIF_OnOff}).
632}
633
634\opt{disk_storage}{
635\subsection{Anti-Skip Buffer}
636 Having a large anti-skip buffer tends to use more power, and may reduce your
637 battery life. It is recommended to always use the lowest possible setting
638 that allows correct and continuous playback (see \reference{ref:AntiSkipBuf}).
639}
640
641\opt{swcodec,disk_storage,flash_storage}{
642\subsection{Audio format and bitrate}
643\opt{swcodec}{
644 In general the fastest decoding audio format will be the best in terms of
645 battery runtime on your \dap{}. An overview of different codec's performance
646 on different \dap{}s can be found at \wikilink{CodecPerformanceComparison}.
647}
648
649\opt{flash_storage}{
650 Your target uses flash that consumes a certain amount of power during access.
651 The less often the flash needs to be switched on for buffering and the shorter
652 the buffering duration is, the lower is the overall power consumption.
653 Therefore the bitrate of the audio files does have an impact on the battery
654 runtime as well. Lower bitrate audio files will result in longer battery
655 runtime.
656}
657\opt{disk_storage}{
658 Your target uses a hard disk which consumes a large amount of power while
659 spinning -- up to several hundred mA. The less often the hard disk needs to
660 spin up for buffering and the shorter the buffering duration is, the lower is
661 the power consumption. Therefore the bitrate of the audio files does have an
662 impact on the battery runtime as well. Lower bitrate audio files will result
663 in longer battery runtime.
664}
665
666 Please do not re-encode any existing audio files from one lossy format to
667 another based upon the above mentioned. This will reduce the audio quality.
668 If you have the choice, select the best suiting codec when encoding the
669 original source material.
670}
671
672\opt{swcodec}{
673\subsection{Sound settings}
674 In general all kinds of sound processing will need more CPU time and therefore
675 consume more power. The less sound processing you use, the better it is for
676 the battery runtime (for options see \reference{ref:configure_rockbox_sound}).
677}
diff --git a/manual/configure_rockbox/display_options.tex b/manual/configure_rockbox/display_options.tex
index f416e8418e..23673e2482 100644
--- a/manual/configure_rockbox/display_options.tex
+++ b/manual/configure_rockbox/display_options.tex
@@ -60,8 +60,8 @@
60 \item[Sleep (After Backlight Off).] 60 \item[Sleep (After Backlight Off).]
61 This setting controls how long rockbox will wait before turning off the 61 This setting controls how long rockbox will wait before turning off the
62 display after the backlight is turned off. Turning off the display 62 display after the backlight is turned off. Turning off the display
63 saves a little bit of battery power but turning on the display takes 63 saves battery power but turning on the display takes noticeably longer
64 noticeably longer than just turning on the backlight. 64 than just turning on the backlight.
65 } 65 }
66 66
67 \opt{backlight_brightness}{ 67 \opt{backlight_brightness}{
diff --git a/manual/configure_rockbox/playback_options.tex b/manual/configure_rockbox/playback_options.tex
index 8ac9548eaf..5f61b0b0e2 100644
--- a/manual/configure_rockbox/playback_options.tex
+++ b/manual/configure_rockbox/playback_options.tex
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ you to configure settings related to audio playback.
62 The setting \setting{FF/RW Min Step} controls the initial speed and \setting{FF/RW Accel} controls the acceleration. 62 The setting \setting{FF/RW Min Step} controls the initial speed and \setting{FF/RW Accel} controls the acceleration.
63 63
64\opt{disk_storage}{ 64\opt{disk_storage}{
65 \section{Anti-Skip Buffer} 65 \section{\label{ref:AntiSkipBuf}Anti-Skip Buffer}
66 This setting controls how early Rockbox starts refilling the music buffer 66 This setting controls how early Rockbox starts refilling the music buffer
67 from the hard drive when playing. A longer Anti-Skip Buffer helps prevent 67 from the hard drive when playing. A longer Anti-Skip Buffer helps prevent
68 skips in music playback if Rockbox has trouble reading from the disk. 68 skips in music playback if Rockbox has trouble reading from the disk.
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ you to configure settings related to audio playback.
204}%\opt{swcodec} 204}%\opt{swcodec}
205 205
206\opt{spdif_power}{ 206\opt{spdif_power}{
207 \section{Optical Output} 207 \section{\label{ref:SPDIF_OnOff}Optical Output}
208 Enables or disables the optical S/PDIF output to 208 Enables or disables the optical S/PDIF output to
209 allow a digital connection to a suitable external decoder. To enable 209 allow a digital connection to a suitable external decoder. To enable
210 optical output, set to \setting{Yes} 210 optical output, set to \setting{Yes}
diff --git a/manual/configure_rockbox/system_options.tex b/manual/configure_rockbox/system_options.tex
index d2eb992b89..af7695ed48 100644
--- a/manual/configure_rockbox/system_options.tex
+++ b/manual/configure_rockbox/system_options.tex
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ This sub menu relates to limits in the Rockbox operating system.
152} 152}
153 153
154\opt{accessory_supply}{ 154\opt{accessory_supply}{
155\subsection{Accessory Power Supply} 155\subsection{\label{ref:AccessoryPowerSupply}Accessory Power Supply}
156This option turns the accessory power supply \setting{On} and \setting{Off}. 156This option turns the accessory power supply \setting{On} and \setting{Off}.
157The Apple accessory protocol has been partially implemented in Rockbox, and 157The Apple accessory protocol has been partially implemented in Rockbox, and
158thus there is a reasonable chance that your favourite accessory will work. 158thus there is a reasonable chance that your favourite accessory will work.
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ this option \setting{On}. If it is not required, then turning this setting
162} 162}
163 163
164\opt{lineout_poweroff}{ 164\opt{lineout_poweroff}{
165\subsection{Line Out} 165\subsection{\label{ref:LineoutOnOff}Line Out}
166This option turns the \dap{}'s line-out \setting{On} and \setting{Off}. On some 166This option turns the \dap{}'s line-out \setting{On} and \setting{Off}. On some
167devices an enabled line-out will consume some power even if not used. If it is 167devices an enabled line-out will consume some power even if not used. If it is
168not required, then turning this setting \setting{Off} will save battery and 168not required, then turning this setting \setting{Off} will save battery and