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diff --git a/Documentation/sound/designs/powersave.rst b/Documentation/sound/designs/powersave.rst new file mode 100644 index 000000000000..138157452eb9 --- /dev/null +++ b/Documentation/sound/designs/powersave.rst @@ -0,0 +1,43 @@ +========================== +Notes on Power-Saving Mode +========================== + +AC97 and HD-audio drivers have the automatic power-saving mode. +This feature is enabled via Kconfig ``CONFIG_SND_AC97_POWER_SAVE`` +and ``CONFIG_SND_HDA_POWER_SAVE`` options, respectively. + +With the automatic power-saving, the driver turns off the codec power +appropriately when no operation is required. When no applications use +the device and/or no analog loopback is set, the power disablement is +done fully or partially. It'll save a certain power consumption, thus +good for laptops (even for desktops). + +The time-out for automatic power-off can be specified via ``power_save`` +module option of snd-ac97-codec and snd-hda-intel modules. Specify +the time-out value in seconds. 0 means to disable the automatic +power-saving. The default value of timeout is given via +``CONFIG_SND_AC97_POWER_SAVE_DEFAULT`` and +``CONFIG_SND_HDA_POWER_SAVE_DEFAULT`` Kconfig options. Setting this to 1 +(the minimum value) isn't recommended because many applications try to +reopen the device frequently. 10 would be a good choice for normal +operations. + +The ``power_save`` option is exported as writable. This means you can +adjust the value via sysfs on the fly. For example, to turn on the +automatic power-save mode with 10 seconds, write to +``/sys/modules/snd_ac97_codec/parameters/power_save`` (usually as root): +:: + + # echo 10 > /sys/modules/snd_ac97_codec/parameters/power_save + + +Note that you might hear click noise/pop when changing the power +state. Also, it often takes certain time to wake up from the +power-down to the active state. These are often hardly to fix, so +don't report extra bug reports unless you have a fix patch ;-) + +For HD-audio interface, there is another module option, +power_save_controller. This enables/disables the power-save mode of +the controller side. Setting this on may reduce a bit more power +consumption, but might result in longer wake-up time and click noise. +Try to turn it off when you experience such a thing too often. |