If you are on a Windows laptop, you might want to shut your Chrome and use Firefox or Internet Explorer when you need to conserve power. Chrome has a core problem that causes it to consume more battery than other browsers, Forbes says.
Photo by Tandyman100, youmat
The root cause here is something called the “system clock tick rate”, which is responsible for how often the CPU wakes up. By default, Chrome sets that to 1.000ms, while Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox are at Microsoft’s recommended recommended setting of 15.625ms. Naturally, Chrome’s rate affects battery significantly. Forbes writes:
In fact, at 1.000ms the processor is waking 1000 times per second. The default, of 15.625ms means the processor wakes just 64 times per second to check on events that need attention. Microsoft itself says that tick rates of 1.000ms might increase power consumption by “as much as 25 per cent”.
This problem doesn’t exist on Mac and Linux because their tick rate system is different. Web browser battery usage tests in the past have showed that Internet Explorer is best and Chrome in particular is a power-hog.
There’s no fix for this issue at the moment, but you can go to Google bugs and star the issue to give it priority. Read the full article at Forbes for more details on this.
Google’s Chrome Web Browser Is Killing Your Laptop Battery [Forbes]
Comments
4 responses to “Google Chrome Kills Battery On Windows Faster Than IE Or Firefox”
Perhaps, but I’m not convinced Chrome isn’t bad for my Mac’s battery life all the same. After the promised eight-hour battery life of my Macbook Pro dwindled down to just two-and-a-half hours after a year, I took it in to a Genius who unequivocally blamed Chrome and suggested I use Safari. I just dismissed it as Apple brand loyalty, but have since noticed that my battery drains faster when I have Chrome open than when I don’t.
Which is annoying, because I love working in cafés and need Chrome for my web dev work…
yeah, i find the same thing
While I haven’t had such a drastic drain like you experienced, I do find that battery is less than usual when using chrome.
I started to use chrome only for when I needed flash (haven’t installed flash on mac)
I wonder if this is the same for Chrome on Android devices?
Still prefer Chrome over Firefox and IE.