Since this laptop is dedicated for streaming, I removed many apps and bloatware. I kept IE but removed Firefox and Chrome. The top speed of my i7 L640 processor is rated @2.13 GHz
After some testing, I got some curious results when looking at the Performance Stats in the Task Manager. With the power setting in the Power Saving Mode, Windows 10 was averaging 1.67GHz with 79 processes. The fan was very low speed. With the power setting in the Balanced Mode, Windows 10 was averaging 2.50GHz with the same 79 processes. Since the processor was in turbo-charge, that explains why the fan was cranking on high. With the Tidal app activated, the processes went from 79 to 86. Yet, the processor speed remained approximately the same for each power mode. The speed fluctuated depending on the dynamics of the music.
When Fidelizer (the free version) was activated in the Audiophile Mode, the process speed averaged 2.80GHz – even more turbo-charged. And this was in either the Balanced or the Power Saving Mode. The laptop fan went back on high. Interestingly, the # of processes remained the same. This is especially strange since Fidelizer is supposed to shut down processes. But, it is definitely turbo-charging the processor – on my laptop anyway. Perhaps, it’s not compatible with Windows 10 or something else is going on. The music does sound more dynamic with Fidelizer in Audiophile mode. But, what is it doing?
I ran this test a few times with several re-boots. Same results. (For those not familiar with Fidelizer, it can be de-activated when re-booting.) So, my initial impression is that it’s best to use the Power Saving Mode when running Windows 10 on an older laptop to save the lifespan of the processor – and fan. The next test will be for sound quality. Fortunately, Microsoft built in a 30 day trial period to revert back to the old OS. Maybe, my old laptop will feel more comfortable with it. It certainly makes sense when manufacturers state that their laptops are now optimized for this new OS.
