I've recently begun testing my laptop on the latest 2.4.0-test12-pre[78]
kernels. When freshly booted and nothing producing a load on the system,
top reports a process called 'kapm-idled' consuming between 60% an 85%
of CPU cycles. If I induce a load on the machine (by recompiling kernel
modules, for example), this process slowly loses priotity and stops
consuming cycles. Once the compilation is complete, it climbs back up to
the top of the stack again. Here are top snapshots taken at about 90
second intervals:
PID USER PRI NI SIZE RSS SHARE STAT LIB %CPU %MEM TIME COMMAND
3 root 20 0 0 0 0 SW 0 81.7 0.0 1:14 kapm-idled
3 root 20 0 0 0 0 SW 0 76.8 0.0 1:41 kapm-idled
* 3 root 9 0 0 0 0 SW 0 0.0 0.0 3:09 kapm-idled
3 root 14 0 0 0 0 SW 0 60.5 0.0 3:39 kapm-idled
3 root 20 0 0 0 0 SW 0 85.7 0.0 5:15 kapm-idled
* during re-compilation of kernel modules, kapm-idled was de-prioritized
and took up no CPU cycles. after the compilation completed, the task
priority increased until it was again consuming hi percentages.
I've consistently re-produced this on my Dell Latitude CS laptop. I'm
wondering if this will reduce battery life since the CPU is constantly
being loaded instead of properly idled.
Stewart
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