power limiting via system controls (was: on the verge of ...

[songbird <songbird@anthive.com>]

Peter Ehlert wrote:
> On 3/8/21 5:28 AM, songbird wrote:
...
>>    aren't there gizmos that measure the watts being
>> drawn by clipping them around the plug that goes into
>> the wall?

> yes: "Kill A Watt" is one brand name, there are probably many others. I 
> think some can actually record the highs and lows.

  i haven't used one of those before, but if i were really
into figuring all this out (more than i am now) i'd have
one.

  recently i picked up a bunch of new devices and a new
motherboard and cpu and just plugged in my old PSU and 
it hasn't complained yet, but now that i've looked up 
the power draw for the new CPU if i max it out it will
be interesting.  the PSU is a fanless Seasonic 80Plus
Platinum so i'm really loving that it is a very quiet
system.

  i can overclock this CPU if i want, but i won't but is
there a way to limit the power draw from the booting options
or command line once i've got it up and running?

  i'm probably the only person that would ask this but can
i underclock it to reduce power draw?

  i know the CPU has built in temperature sensing and 
turns the fan on when i do something more than typing and
simple browsing, but i also don't want to cook this new
CPU because the heat sink is rather small and i've even
thought of going completely fanless but i won't now that i
see what a pig it can be.

  my old processor was rated for 35W (not sure what the
extreme would have been had i pushed it i never saw it get
above 80C when i checked) this new one is rated for 95W but 
i see that it can draw up to 200somethingW and that's a huge 
difference.  so far i've not seen it get above 60C.  most 
the time it's loafing like this:

# sensors

pch_cannonlake-virtual-0
Adapter: Virtual device
temp1:        +38.0°C  

acpitz-acpi-0
Adapter: ACPI interface
temp1:        +16.8°C  (crit = +20.8°C)
temp2:        +27.8°C  (crit = +119.0°C)

coretemp-isa-0000
Adapter: ISA adapter
Package id 0:  +27.0°C  (high = +86.0°C, crit = +100.0°C)
Core 0:        +26.0°C  (high = +86.0°C, crit = +100.0°C)
Core 1:        +27.0°C  (high = +86.0°C, crit = +100.0°C)
Core 2:        +26.0°C  (high = +86.0°C, crit = +100.0°C)
Core 3:        +26.0°C  (high = +86.0°C, crit = +100.0°C)
Core 4:        +26.0°C  (high = +86.0°C, crit = +100.0°C)
Core 5:        +27.0°C  (high = +86.0°C, crit = +100.0°C)
Core 6:        +26.0°C  (high = +86.0°C, crit = +100.0°C)
Core 7:        +27.0°C  (high = +86.0°C, crit = +100.0°C)


  my ambient temperature runs between 15C - 33C


  songbird