I'm using Ubuntu 25.04 on a Predator Helios Neo 16 with an RTX 4050, i7 HX, and 16GB of RAM. I've noticed that the laptop is drawing between 30 to 40 watts even when it's idling with no applications open and the GPU disabled. This power usage seems way higher compared to other laptops I've seen which only use around 3 to 5 watts at idle. I've tried solutions like AutoFreq, TLP, and even battery saver mode, but nothing seems to help. I'm really trying to find ways to reduce the wattage to prolong my battery life. Any advice?
3 Answers
Have you checked the actual power consumption with a power meter, like a Kill-a-Watt or a smart plug? Sometimes software readings can be off. My i7-1065G7 draws about 10-15W when closed, without a dedicated GPU, so it might show different results.
The i7 HX processor is quite power-hungry, so it's natural to see higher numbers, even at idle. You might not be able to drop the consumption much unless you disable some cores. I have an i5-12450HX, and even it doesn’t go below 15W when running, so I wouldn't worry too much right now.
You might want to try usingpowertop to track what's consuming power when your laptop is idling. While gaming laptops typically idle around 10 to 15 watts, seeing 40 watts is unusual and suggests the GPU or CPU isn't entering low-power states.
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