manually reducing hdd rpm to increase battery life...

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freelancer91

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I have a dell studio xps 1340 with a 320GB Seagate Momentus 7200rpm hard drive. I was wondering if there is any way I could edit the firmware to reduce the rpm of the hard drive to something like 5400rpm to increase battery life. Any ideas?
 

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DT and LT: Windows 7 and Fedora 14DT: Intel QX9770, LT: Intel P8600DT: 8GB OCZ DDR3 PC3-10666 Gold Edition LT: 4...DT: BFG Geforce GTX 295 (B), LT: NVidia Gefor...
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom Desktop, Dell Studio XPS 1340 laptop
OS
DT and LT: Windows 7 and Fedora 14
CPU
DT: Intel QX9770, LT: Intel P8600
Motherboard
DT: Intel DX48BT2
Memory
DT: 8GB OCZ DDR3 PC3-10666 Gold Edition LT: 4GB DDR3-1066
Graphics Card(s)
DT: BFG Geforce GTX 295 (B), LT: NVidia Geforce 9400M G
Sound Card
DT: Integrated LT: Integrated
Monitor(s) Displays
DT: Acer 23 inch 1920x1080 monitors, LT: 13 inch
Screen Resolution
DT: 3840x1080 LT: 1280x800
Hard Drives
DT: Samsung SpinPoint 1TB HD103UJ 7200RPM HDD+Fantom Drives 2TB 7200rpm External+OCZ Vertex Series 30GB SSD (boot)
LT: Seagate Momentus 7200RPM 320GB 2.5'' HDD
PSU
DT: Rosewill Bronze Series 1000W LT: 6 cell 62837mWh Li-ion
Case
DT:Thermaltake Armor Series LCS, LT:Dell Black Studio XPS 13
Cooling
DT: Custom watercooling setup
Keyboard
DT: Kengsinton PC/Mac LT: Integrated backlit keyboard
Mouse
DT: Logitech USB Optical Mouse LT: Integrated Track Pad
Internet Speed
380KB/s download on a good day...
Other Info
DT: CD/DVDRW Drive: Hp dvd1140, Multifunction front panel w/ 4 USB ports (2 Powered with 5V and 12V), Powered External SATA, 25-in-1 card reader, and audio ports

LT: Integrated Webcam with Microphone array, 8-in-1 card reader
Sorry, I don't think that is possible, at least without a lot of advanced tweaking. You'll probably end up bricking the drive if you try.

Wish I could bring you better news.
 

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Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom
OS
Windows 7 Professional x64
CPU
Intel i7 2600K OC'd @ 4620 MHz
Motherboard
Asus P8Z68-V Pro
Memory
16GB GSkill Sniper 2133 Mhz (4x4GB)
Graphics Card(s)
EVGA GeForce GTX 480 SuperClocked+
Sound Card
Realtek High Definition Audio
Monitor(s) Displays
2x Acer S273HLbmii 27"
Screen Resolution
2 x 1920x1080
Hard Drives
64GB Crucial M4 SSD

Storage: Hitachi 1TB 5400RPM, Samsung 1.5TB 5400RPM
PSU
Corsair HW Series 750w (modular)
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Cooler Master HAF 932 Advanced Blue Edition
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Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Apple Macbook Pro (April 2009)
OS
W7 Ult. x64 | OS X
CPU
Intel Mobile Core 2 Duo 2.93Ghz [T9800 Penryn]
Motherboard
NVIDIA nForce 730i Rev. B1 [Mac-F2268EC8 (U2E1)]
Memory
4096MB Samsung DDR3 Dual Channel [PC3-8500F 1066Mhz]
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NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT 512MB [G96M Rev. C1]
Sound Card
SB X-Fi Surround 5.1 USB | Onboard Realtek (Disabled)
Monitor(s) Displays
Acer x223wbd 22" | Apple Anti-Glare 17" (Disabled)
Screen Resolution
{Current} 1440x900 {Acer} 1680x1050 {Apple} 1920x1200
Hard Drives
{Internal}
Seagate Momentus 320GB 2.5" 7200RPM [ST9320421AS]

{Externals}
LaCie 320GB USB 2.0 HDD [301284UR]
LaCie 750GB USB 2.0 FW400 eSATA HDD [301314U]
LaCie 1TB USB 2.0 HDD [301304UR]
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Magsafe
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Aluminum/Unibody (MBP52)
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2 x 6000 RPM Fans
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Logitech G-15v2 [PN 920-000379]
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Logitech G-9 [PN 910-000338]
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I hope that drive manufacturers are paying attention to this forum. That would be a great feature: A selectable speed drive.
 

My Computer My Computer

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DT and LT: Windows 7 and Fedora 14DT: Intel QX9770, LT: Intel P8600DT: 8GB OCZ DDR3 PC3-10666 Gold Edition LT: 4...DT: BFG Geforce GTX 295 (B), LT: NVidia Gefor...
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom Desktop, Dell Studio XPS 1340 laptop
OS
DT and LT: Windows 7 and Fedora 14
CPU
DT: Intel QX9770, LT: Intel P8600
Motherboard
DT: Intel DX48BT2
Memory
DT: 8GB OCZ DDR3 PC3-10666 Gold Edition LT: 4GB DDR3-1066
Graphics Card(s)
DT: BFG Geforce GTX 295 (B), LT: NVidia Geforce 9400M G
Sound Card
DT: Integrated LT: Integrated
Monitor(s) Displays
DT: Acer 23 inch 1920x1080 monitors, LT: 13 inch
Screen Resolution
DT: 3840x1080 LT: 1280x800
Hard Drives
DT: Samsung SpinPoint 1TB HD103UJ 7200RPM HDD+Fantom Drives 2TB 7200rpm External+OCZ Vertex Series 30GB SSD (boot)
LT: Seagate Momentus 7200RPM 320GB 2.5'' HDD
PSU
DT: Rosewill Bronze Series 1000W LT: 6 cell 62837mWh Li-ion
Case
DT:Thermaltake Armor Series LCS, LT:Dell Black Studio XPS 13
Cooling
DT: Custom watercooling setup
Keyboard
DT: Kengsinton PC/Mac LT: Integrated backlit keyboard
Mouse
DT: Logitech USB Optical Mouse LT: Integrated Track Pad
Internet Speed
380KB/s download on a good day...
Other Info
DT: CD/DVDRW Drive: Hp dvd1140, Multifunction front panel w/ 4 USB ports (2 Powered with 5V and 12V), Powered External SATA, 25-in-1 card reader, and audio ports

LT: Integrated Webcam with Microphone array, 8-in-1 card reader
Hmm. Well, don't have a direct way to decrease the RPM, however if you want to increase battery life, I'd recommend tweaking options such as dimming the display earlier, and also shutting down the hard drive after a short moment of idle timer.

Besides, I personally really wouldn't want to have my system work slower when storing or reading files. (that's real wait time right there)
 

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Windows 71.66 Ghz Intel Atom N2801 GB (upgrading to 2GB)
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Asus EEE PC 1000HE
OS
Windows 7
CPU
1.66 Ghz Intel Atom N280
Motherboard
Asus
Memory
1 GB (upgrading to 2GB)
Hard Drives
140 GB
ST9160310AS ATA
yeah, I know all the tricks. I have even undervolted my cpu to reduce consumption. I just wish I could modify the firmware to allow the selection of drive speed.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

DT and LT: Windows 7 and Fedora 14DT: Intel QX9770, LT: Intel P8600DT: 8GB OCZ DDR3 PC3-10666 Gold Edition LT: 4...DT: BFG Geforce GTX 295 (B), LT: NVidia Gefor...
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom Desktop, Dell Studio XPS 1340 laptop
OS
DT and LT: Windows 7 and Fedora 14
CPU
DT: Intel QX9770, LT: Intel P8600
Motherboard
DT: Intel DX48BT2
Memory
DT: 8GB OCZ DDR3 PC3-10666 Gold Edition LT: 4GB DDR3-1066
Graphics Card(s)
DT: BFG Geforce GTX 295 (B), LT: NVidia Geforce 9400M G
Sound Card
DT: Integrated LT: Integrated
Monitor(s) Displays
DT: Acer 23 inch 1920x1080 monitors, LT: 13 inch
Screen Resolution
DT: 3840x1080 LT: 1280x800
Hard Drives
DT: Samsung SpinPoint 1TB HD103UJ 7200RPM HDD+Fantom Drives 2TB 7200rpm External+OCZ Vertex Series 30GB SSD (boot)
LT: Seagate Momentus 7200RPM 320GB 2.5'' HDD
PSU
DT: Rosewill Bronze Series 1000W LT: 6 cell 62837mWh Li-ion
Case
DT:Thermaltake Armor Series LCS, LT:Dell Black Studio XPS 13
Cooling
DT: Custom watercooling setup
Keyboard
DT: Kengsinton PC/Mac LT: Integrated backlit keyboard
Mouse
DT: Logitech USB Optical Mouse LT: Integrated Track Pad
Internet Speed
380KB/s download on a good day...
Other Info
DT: CD/DVDRW Drive: Hp dvd1140, Multifunction front panel w/ 4 USB ports (2 Powered with 5V and 12V), Powered External SATA, 25-in-1 card reader, and audio ports

LT: Integrated Webcam with Microphone array, 8-in-1 card reader
Wow, even done that? Well, if you're willing to reduce specs in order to gain battery life, why not buy one of those batteries which claim 9 hours battery life? I've got that Asus 1000HE netbook, and I'm very happy with the 8+ hours it provides me.

... Only downside is you tend to forget charging it :P
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 71.66 Ghz Intel Atom N2801 GB (upgrading to 2GB)
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Asus EEE PC 1000HE
OS
Windows 7
CPU
1.66 Ghz Intel Atom N280
Motherboard
Asus
Memory
1 GB (upgrading to 2GB)
Hard Drives
140 GB
ST9160310AS ATA
There are easy ways to do this....Google HDDGURU and it should have a setting in there about adjusting AAM (auto acoustic management). There are different levels you can put it at.

There should be plenty of programs. Google "adjust AAM hard drive".

It'll quiet the drive for you and subsequently give you a few minutes of battery life.
 

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Windows 7 Ultimate 64-biti7-720QM6GB DDR3-1.333GHzATI 4670 1GB
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Dell SXPS 1645
OS
Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit
CPU
i7-720QM
Memory
6GB DDR3-1.333GHz
Graphics Card(s)
ATI 4670 1GB
Sound Card
IDT Integ.
Monitor(s) Displays
RGBLED
Screen Resolution
1920x1080
Hard Drives
Samsung PM800 256GB SSD
PSU
Dell 90W w/ 9-cell
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