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Windows 7: faster than Vista and XP? >

Energy consumption: idle and active

Régis Jehl
Updated: September 24, 2009
The tests
We launch 3Dmark Vantage on repeat for 45 minutes and then read maximum consumption with our watt metre. Then we allow the machine to rest for 15 minutes and take the minimum reading.
Energy efficiency is a an area that Microsoft is vaunting on its new operating system. We nevertheless have to say that the efforts have been concentrated on laptop battery management. As the results are given in watts, low is best.

In idle, our entry-level computer consumes around 90W, whatever the system used.


When active, we note that Windows Seven and Vista have the same score but XP consumes around ten watts more.
Next the high-end machine. Here Windows XP seems unable to manage the energy economy mode of our Intel Core i7 975 XE processor properly. Windows 7 and Vista have comparable scores.

When active, Windows 7 gives energy consumption that is around 10 watts down on Vista and XP.
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