Processor Performance Settings

[dayloon]

I've noticed in Energy saver settings that my processor performance is set to "Automatic". Would i get any benefit in setting it to "Maximum" ? Are there any drawbacks ?

 

[mad jew]

What sort of computer? If it's a desktop, I'd just leave it on "highest" but if it's a laptop I'd leave it on "automatic" unless you need a burst of power for a little period of time. 🙂

That's just a rule of thumb though.

 

[Militar]

Automatic is fine in most cases since the processor switches to Maximum when under load, and slows down when there is little activity. I really don't think there is a use for Maximum, unless with niced processes, but am not sure enough to comment on that.

 

[mad jew]

My G5 iMac show a pretty substantial speed increase on the highest settings compared to the automatic settings but I don't know about the rest of the range. I know my G4 iBook doesn't really speed up.

 

[dayloon]

What sort of computer? If it's a desktop, I'd just leave it on "highest" but if it's a laptop I'd leave it on "automatic" unless you need a burst of power for a little period of time. 🙂

That's just a rule of thumb though.

It's one of the new dual 2Ghz Powermac's. Will setting it to maximum shorten the CPU life ?

 

[mad jew]

Nice.

The only major drawback of jacking it up to the highest settings on a Power Mac would be an increase in fan noise. If that doesn't happen/bother you, go your hardest (please excuse the pun). 😛