Please enlighten noob about everything about speedstep

[Monkey_feces]

I tried to research speedstep on intel's site and via wicky, but they don't give any specifics. What are the pros and cons of using speedstep. So far, this is my idea about speedstep:
Pros
1. long downloads (4 day dls) will be a little lighter on your electric bill
2. idle temperatures are lower
Cons
1. sluggish interface when putting cpu on load after long idle time
2. might suck for gaming?

 

[Bona Fide]

Speedstep is an energy-saving protocol wired into Intel chips that allows them to downclock if/when the CPU is idling. Comparable to AMD's Cool n Quiet, this allows the end-user to save money because the reduction in speed is accompanied by a reduction in operating voltage, which [supposedly] reduces your electric bill. With an Intel system, I don't find it hard to believe. And then, when you start using your CPU, it will accelerate back to its normal speed. I was under the impression that it was initially created for the Pentium M line first, so users could save battery power while the laptop was idle. I guess they transferred it to their Pentium 4 line as well. It's good if you're going to have long periods of minimal use or idleness, as you can save money. But, as you said, it takes a short while for the CPU to upclock itself again, which may present a problem for a few seconds.

 

[InorganicMatter]

I thought the upclock was instantaneous.

 

[StealthyFish]

I thought the upclock was instantaneous.

yea, that's what I thought. It drops your multipliers when the processor is not on load and goes back up to the multi you were at when you are at full load. It should be instantaneous (besides those couple of miliseconds the processor reacts to the full load)

 

[Lamont Cranston]

yea, that's what I thought. It drops your multipliers when the processor is not on load and goes back up to the multi you were at when you are at full load. It should be instantaneous (besides those couple of miliseconds the processor reacts to the full load)

Ive used laptops with speedstep and personally i dont like it, even if the switch from half to full power takes a full second it doesnt seem like im getting my full potential out of the machine....you know for the extra 5 bucks it would save a year, i like to just turn it off when i can

 

[StealthyFish]

eh. i ran a P4 northie for a year at 1.8ghz because of a stupid power management thing. yea, it sucks. I'd rather run it constantly. but w/e. if you burn your comp overnight over multiple days, then you can use speedstep. personally, i disable speedstep.