+5W power consumption when playing audio on X201 with Linux

Mike1 · ‎01-27-2012

Hi folks!

My Thinkpad X201’s power consumption raises from ~10W to ~15W when playing any kind of audio under linux. This problem does not seem to be CPU-related (for example when streaming with pulseaudio over ethernet instead of playing directly on the X201 the power consumption does hardly increase) and does not occur under Windows. I’m using Fedora x86_64 16 with Kernel v3.2.1 but it also occured with a v3.2.1 vanilla kernel; Fedora 14 and 15; Ubuntu 11.10 and 12.04 and so on.

I’ve allready posted my problem several months ago here: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=99246 but haven’t gotten any useful answers.

I measured power consumption with powertop but also confirmed with readings from /sys:

while true; do bc -l <<< "$(cat /sys/class/power_supply/BAT0/current_now)/10^6*$(cat /sys/class/power_supply/BAT0/voltage_now)/10^6"; sleep 1; done

The output of lspci -vvv:

00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset High Definition Audio (rev 06)
	Subsystem: Lenovo Device 215e
	Control: I/O- Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR+ FastB2B- DisINTx+
	Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- INTx-
	Latency: 0, Cache Line Size: 64 bytes
	Interrupt: pin B routed to IRQ 43
	Region 0: Memory at f2520000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16K]
	Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 2
		Flags: PMEClk- DSI- D1- D2- AuxCurrent=55mA PME(D0+,D1-,D2-,D3hot+,D3cold+)
		Status: D0 NoSoftRst- PME-Enable- DSel=0 DScale=0 PME-
	Capabilities: [60] MSI: Enable+ Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit+
		Address: 00000000fee0f00c  Data: 41c1
	Capabilities: [70] Express (v1) Root Complex Integrated Endpoint, MSI 00
		DevCap:	MaxPayload 128 bytes, PhantFunc 0, Latency L0s <64ns, L1 <1us
			ExtTag- RBE- FLReset+
		DevCtl:	Report errors: Correctable- Non-Fatal- Fatal- Unsupported-
			RlxdOrd- ExtTag- PhantFunc- AuxPwr- NoSnoop+
			MaxPayload 128 bytes, MaxReadReq 128 bytes
		DevSta:	CorrErr- UncorrErr- FatalErr- UnsuppReq- AuxPwr+ TransPend-
		LnkCap:	Port #0, Speed unknown, Width x0, ASPM unknown, Latency L0 <64ns, L1 <1us
			ClockPM- Surprise- LLActRep- BwNot-
		LnkCtl:	ASPM Disabled; Disabled- Retrain- CommClk-
			ExtSynch- ClockPM- AutWidDis- BWInt- AutBWInt-
		LnkSta:	Speed unknown, Width x0, TrErr- Train- SlotClk- DLActive- BWMgmt- ABWMgmt-
	Capabilities: [100 v1] Virtual Channel
		Caps:	LPEVC=0 RefClk=100ns PATEntryBits=1
		Arb:	Fixed- WRR32- WRR64- WRR128-
		Ctrl:	ArbSelect=Fixed
		Status:	InProgress-
		VC0:	Caps:	PATOffset=00 MaxTimeSlots=1 RejSnoopTrans-
			Arb:	Fixed- WRR32- WRR64- WRR128- TWRR128- WRR256-
			Ctrl:	Enable+ ID=0 ArbSelect=Fixed TC/VC=01
			Status:	NegoPending- InProgress-
		VC1:	Caps:	PATOffset=00 MaxTimeSlots=1 RejSnoopTrans-
			Arb:	Fixed- WRR32- WRR64- WRR128- TWRR128- WRR256-
			Ctrl:	Enable+ ID=1 ArbSelect=Fixed TC/VC=02
			Status:	NegoPending- InProgress-
	Capabilities: [130 v1] Root Complex Link
		Desc:	PortNumber=0f ComponentID=00 EltType=Config
		Link0:	Desc:	TargetPort=00 TargetComponent=00 AssocRCRB- LinkType=MemMapped LinkValid+
			Addr:	00000000fed1c000
	Kernel driver in use: snd_hda_intel
	Kernel modules: snd-hda-intel

cat /proc/asound/card0/codec#0:

Codec: Conexant CX20585
Address: 0
AFG Function Id: 0x1 (unsol 1)
Vendor Id: 0x14f15069
Subsystem Id: 0x17aa2155
Revision Id: 0x100302
No Modem Function Group found
Default PCM:
    rates [0x160]: 44100 48000 96000
    bits [0xe]: 16 20 24
    formats [0x1]: PCM
Default Amp-In caps: N/A
Default Amp-Out caps: N/A
GPIO: io=4, o=0, i=0, unsolicited=1, wake=0
  IO[0]: enable=0, dir=0, wake=0, sticky=0, data=0, unsol=0
  IO[1]: enable=0, dir=0, wake=0, sticky=0, data=0, unsol=0
  IO[2]: enable=0, dir=0, wake=0, sticky=0, data=0, unsol=0
  IO[3]: enable=0, dir=0, wake=0, sticky=0, data=0, unsol=0
Node 0x10 [Audio Output] wcaps 0xc1d: Stereo Amp-Out R/L
  Control: name="Master Playback Volume", index=0, device=0
    ControlAmp: chs=3, dir=Out, idx=0, ofs=0
  Device: name="CONEXANT Analog", type="Audio", device=0
  Amp-Out caps: ofs=0x4a, nsteps=0x4a, stepsize=0x03, mute=1
  Amp-Out vals:  [0x3b 0x3b]
  Converter: stream=8, channel=0
  PCM:
    rates [0x560]: 44100 48000 96000 192000
    bits [0xe]: 16 20 24
    formats [0x1]: PCM
  Power states:  D0 D1 D2 D3 D3cold
  Power: setting=D0, actual=D0
Node 0x11 [Audio Output] wcaps 0xc1d: Stereo Amp-Out R/L
  Amp-Out caps: ofs=0x4a, nsteps=0x4a, stepsize=0x03, mute=1
  Amp-Out vals:  [0x3c 0x3c]
  Converter: stream=0, channel=0
  PCM:
    rates [0x560]: 44100 48000 96000 192000
    bits [0xe]: 16 20 24
    formats [0x1]: PCM
  Power states:  D0 D1 D2 D3 D3cold
  Power: setting=D0, actual=D0
Node 0x12 [Audio Output] wcaps 0x611: Stereo Digital
  Converter: stream=0, channel=0
  Digital:
  Digital category: 0x0
  PCM:
    rates [0x160]: 44100 48000 96000
    bits [0xe]: 16 20 24
    formats [0x5]: PCM AC3
  Power states:  D0 D1 D2 D3 D3cold
  Power: setting=D0, actual=D0
Node 0x13 [Beep Generator Widget] wcaps 0x70000c: Mono Amp-Out
  Control: name="Beep Playback Volume", index=0, device=0
    ControlAmp: chs=1, dir=Out, idx=0, ofs=0
  Control: name="Beep Playback Switch", index=0, device=0
    ControlAmp: chs=1, dir=Out, idx=0, ofs=0
  Amp-Out caps: ofs=0x07, nsteps=0x07, stepsize=0x0f, mute=0
  Amp-Out vals:  [0x00]
Node 0x14 [Audio Input] wcaps 0x100d1b: Stereo Amp-In R/L
  Device: name="CONEXANT Analog", type="Audio", device=0
  Amp-In caps: ofs=0x4a, nsteps=0x50, stepsize=0x03, mute=1
  Amp-In vals:  [0x81 0x81] [0x80 0x80] [0x81 0x81] [0x80 0x80]
  Converter: stream=0, channel=0
  SDI-Select: 0
  PCM:
    rates [0x160]: 44100 48000 96000
    bits [0xe]: 16 20 24
    formats [0x1]: PCM
  Power states:  D0 D1 D2 D3 D3cold
  Power: setting=D0, actual=D0
  Connection: 4
     0x17 0x18 0x23* 0x24
Node 0x15 [Audio Input] wcaps 0x100d1b: Stereo Amp-In R/L
  Amp-In caps: ofs=0x4a, nsteps=0x50, stepsize=0x03, mute=1
  Amp-In vals:  [0x4a 0x4a] [0x4a 0x4a] [0x4a 0x4a] [0x4a 0x4a]
  Converter: stream=0, channel=0
  SDI-Select: 0
  PCM:
    rates [0x160]: 44100 48000 96000
    bits [0xe]: 16 20 24
    formats [0x1]: PCM
  Power states:  D0 D1 D2 D3 D3cold
  Power: setting=D0, actual=D0
  Connection: 4
     0x17* 0x18 0x23 0x24
Node 0x16 [Audio Input] wcaps 0x100d1b: Stereo Amp-In R/L
  Amp-In caps: ofs=0x4a, nsteps=0x50, stepsize=0x03, mute=1
  Amp-In vals:  [0x4a 0x4a] [0x4a 0x4a] [0x4a 0x4a] [0x4a 0x4a]
  Converter: stream=0, channel=0
  SDI-Select: 0
  PCM:
    rates [0x160]: 44100 48000 96000
    bits [0xe]: 16 20 24
    formats [0x1]: PCM
  Power states:  D0 D1 D2 D3 D3cold
  Power: setting=D0, actual=D0
  Connection: 4
     0x17* 0x18 0x23 0x24
Node 0x17 [Audio Selector] wcaps 0x30050d: Stereo Amp-Out
  Amp-Out caps: ofs=0x00, nsteps=0x04, stepsize=0x27, mute=0
  Amp-Out vals:  [0x02 0x02]
  Power states:  D0 D1 D2 D3 D3cold
  Power: setting=D0, actual=D0
  Connection: 4
     0x1a 0x1b* 0x1d 0x1e
Node 0x18 [Audio Selector] wcaps 0x30050d: Stereo Amp-Out
  Amp-Out caps: ofs=0x00, nsteps=0x04, stepsize=0x27, mute=0
  Amp-Out vals:  [0x00 0x00]
  Power states:  D0 D1 D2 D3 D3cold
  Power: setting=D0, actual=D0
  Connection: 4
     0x1a* 0x1b 0x1d 0x1e
Node 0x19 [Pin Complex] wcaps 0x400581: Stereo
  Pincap 0x0000001c: OUT HP Detect
  Pin Default 0x042140f0: [Jack] HP Out at Ext Right
    Conn = 1/8, Color = Green
    DefAssociation = 0xf, Sequence = 0x0
  Pin-ctls: 0x00:
  Unsolicited: tag=37, enabled=1
  Power states:  D0 D1 D2 D3 D3cold
  Power: setting=D0, actual=D0
  Connection: 2
     0x10* 0x11
Node 0x1a [Pin Complex] wcaps 0x400481: Stereo
  Pincap 0x00001324: IN Detect
    Vref caps: HIZ 50 80
  Pin Default 0x61a190f0: [N/A] Mic at Sep Rear
    Conn = 1/8, Color = Pink
    DefAssociation = 0xf, Sequence = 0x0
  Pin-ctls: 0x00: VREF_HIZ
  Unsolicited: tag=38, enabled=1
  Power states:  D0 D1 D2 D3 D3cold
  Power: setting=D0, actual=D0
Node 0x1b [Pin Complex] wcaps 0x400581: Stereo
  Pincap 0x00011334: IN OUT EAPD Detect
    Vref caps: HIZ 50 80
  EAPD 0x2: EAPD
  Pin Default 0x04a190f0: [Jack] Mic at Ext Right
    Conn = 1/8, Color = Pink
    DefAssociation = 0xf, Sequence = 0x0
  Pin-ctls: 0x00: VREF_HIZ
  Unsolicited: tag=38, enabled=1
  Power states:  D0 D1 D2 D3 D3cold
  Power: setting=D0, actual=D0
  Connection: 2
     0x10* 0x11
Node 0x1c [Pin Complex] wcaps 0x400581: Stereo
  Pincap 0x00000014: OUT Detect
  Pin Default 0x612140f0: [N/A] HP Out at Sep Rear
    Conn = 1/8, Color = Green
    DefAssociation = 0xf, Sequence = 0x0
  Pin-ctls: 0x40: OUT
  Unsolicited: tag=37, enabled=1
  Power states:  D0 D1 D2 D3 D3cold
  Power: setting=D0, actual=D0
  Connection: 2
     0x10* 0x11
Node 0x1d [Pin Complex] wcaps 0x400581: Stereo
  Pincap 0x00010034: IN OUT EAPD Detect
  EAPD 0x2: EAPD
  Pin Default 0x601700f0: [N/A] Speaker at Sep N/A
    Conn = Analog, Color = Unknown
    DefAssociation = 0xf, Sequence = 0x0
  Pin-ctls: 0x20: IN
  Unsolicited: tag=00, enabled=0
  Power states:  D0 D1 D2 D3 D3cold
  Power: setting=D0, actual=D0
  Connection: 2
     0x10* 0x11
Node 0x1e [Pin Complex] wcaps 0x400481: Stereo
  Pincap 0x00000024: IN Detect
  Pin Default 0x40f001f0: [N/A] Other at Ext N/A
    Conn = Unknown, Color = Unknown
    DefAssociation = 0xf, Sequence = 0x0
    Misc = NO_PRESENCE
  Pin-ctls: 0x20: IN
  Unsolicited: tag=00, enabled=0
  Power states:  D0 D1 D2 D3 D3cold
  Power: setting=D0, actual=D0
Node 0x1f [Pin Complex] wcaps 0x400501: Stereo
  Pincap 0x00000010: OUT
  Pin Default 0x901701f0: [Fixed] Speaker at Int N/A
    Conn = Analog, Color = Unknown
    DefAssociation = 0xf, Sequence = 0x0
    Misc = NO_PRESENCE
  Pin-ctls: 0x40: OUT
  Power states:  D0 D1 D2 D3 D3cold
  Power: setting=D0, actual=D0
  Connection: 2
     0x10* 0x11
Node 0x20 [Pin Complex] wcaps 0x400781: Stereo Digital
  Pincap 0x00000010: OUT
  Pin Default 0x40f001f0: [N/A] Other at Ext N/A
    Conn = Unknown, Color = Unknown
    DefAssociation = 0xf, Sequence = 0x0
    Misc = NO_PRESENCE
  Pin-ctls: 0x40: OUT
  Unsolicited: tag=00, enabled=0
  Power states:  D0 D1 D2 D3 D3cold
  Power: setting=D0, actual=D0
  Connection: 1
     0x12
Node 0x21 [Audio Output] wcaps 0x611: Stereo Digital
  Converter: stream=0, channel=0
  Digital:
  Digital category: 0x0
  PCM:
    rates [0x160]: 44100 48000 96000
    bits [0xe]: 16 20 24
    formats [0x5]: PCM AC3
  Power states:  D0 D1 D2 D3 D3cold
  Power: setting=D0, actual=D0
Node 0x22 [Pin Complex] wcaps 0x400781: Stereo Digital
  Pincap 0x00000010: OUT
  Pin Default 0x40f001f0: [N/A] Other at Ext N/A
    Conn = Unknown, Color = Unknown
    DefAssociation = 0xf, Sequence = 0x0
    Misc = NO_PRESENCE
  Pin-ctls: 0x40: OUT
  Unsolicited: tag=00, enabled=0
  Power states:  D0 D1 D2 D3 D3cold
  Power: setting=D0, actual=D0
  Connection: 1
     0x21
Node 0x23 [Pin Complex] wcaps 0x40040b: Stereo Amp-In
  Amp-In caps: ofs=0x00, nsteps=0x04, stepsize=0x2f, mute=0
  Amp-In vals:  [0x02 0x02]
  Pincap 0x00000020: IN
  Pin Default 0x90a601f0: [Fixed] Mic at Int N/A
    Conn = Digital, Color = Unknown
    DefAssociation = 0xf, Sequence = 0x0
    Misc = NO_PRESENCE
  Pin-ctls: 0x20: IN
  Power states:  D0 D1 D2 D3 D3cold
  Power: setting=D0, actual=D0
Node 0x24 [Audio Mixer] wcaps 0x20050b: Stereo Amp-In
  Amp-In caps: ofs=0x4a, nsteps=0x4a, stepsize=0x03, mute=1
  Amp-In vals:  [0x00 0x00] [0x00 0x00]
  Power states:  D0 D1 D2 D3 D3cold
  Power: setting=D0, actual=D0
  Connection: 2
     0x10 0x11
Node 0x25 [Vendor Defined Widget] wcaps 0xf00000: Mono

Is anyone able to confirm this problem or does anyone have a solution? I’m really desperate since I often use my Thinkpad as a big but wonderful portable music player (with headphones of course! Don’t want to annoy my fellow trainpassengers …).

Thanks in advance

Michael