CPU Idle Behavior and Power Consumption (Windows CE 5.0)
CPUs consume varying amounts of power while idle. Ignoring other considerations, the less power consumed while idle, the better. You can improve battery life by choosing a CPU that consumes less power while idle.
In addition, CPUs have different behaviors when transitioning from idle to active mode. For example, a CPU may have a "light" idle mode and a "deep" idle mode. Target device makers should be aware of these tradeoffs and use the CPU modes that provide the best mix between response time goals and power consumption:
- The light idle mode consumes more power, but takes less time to transition to fully active mode.
- The deep idle mode consumes less power, but takes longer to resume full operation.
See Also
Hardware Considerations for Battery Life
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