The idea of getting the most out of our computers with tweaks and overclocking will never lose its appeal, but there is another way to approach things: seeking greater efficiency. This is possible with a good combination of undervolting and underclocking, which besides reducing energy consumption also lowers noise. However, the strategy is incomplete without some software adjustments. Windows power controls are not always ideal, and that's where tools like AutoPowerOptionsOK come in.
Current computer efficiency has reached extraordinary levels. Even when a chip has more than four cores, its internal configuration allows us to limit TDP or speed, and in return we get great performance without wasting energy.
The goal of saving energy in the computer becomes much clearer when the preselected hardware already has a certain “green” profile, and it is likely that soon we will explore some compatible configurations.
That doesn't mean it's impossible to save energy with common hardware. For finer control, all we need is something like AutoPowerOptionsOK.
How to Save Energy with AutoPowerOptionsOK
This small application was created by the same developer as IsMyHdOK, which helps us check hard drive speed, and of the program Don’t Sleep, which basically goes in the other direction and blocks sleep modes.
AutoPowerOptionsOK has three main functions: turn off the monitor, put the computer to sleep, or change the power plan in the background. The last is probably the most interesting of all.
If there is no activity for a certain time, AutoPowerOptionsOK will make the computer “lower” to the most efficient plan, returning to maximum performance when the user resumes work.
AutoPowerOptionsOK was updated last August, and it has a portable edition, so it's enough to save it in a temporary folder. We can also set it to start with the PC and stay in the system tray until further notice. Its advanced parameters only call different sections of the operating system, and despite not being in Spanish, it is very easy to use.
