How To Control CPU Speed of your Atom-powered ASUS EEE PC in Ubuntu Linux

Since the release of Ubuntu 9.04 Linux for netbooks, I have finally started using Linux more than I used to. However, there was one thing that I found that was missing from the Ubuntu that ASUS offered for Windows XP: Super Hybrid Engine (SHE). This allowed you to downscale the speed of the processor which played an active part in improving the battery life. Unfortunately, ASUS never made SHE available for the Linux OS. Luckily, Grigori of geekmind.org has made a utility known as eee-control that lets you downscale as-well-as upscale the CPU speed as per your requirement.

eee-control is an easy-to-use utility for controlling Eee PC hardware under Linux. It can toggle hardware (WiFi, Bluetooth, etc.) on and off, lets you configure all hardware hotkeys, enables aggressive powersaving, and more.

Now, when I am on AC-power, I use my EEE 1000H in performance mode and when I am mobile, I use it under powersave mode to prolong the battery life. Earlier, I used to get 3.5-4 hours in Linux and now, I am able to get 5 hours in Ubuntu Linux, which is pretty respectable for a netbook.

The eee-control automatically starts when you log-in and resides in the taskbar so that you always have access to it when needed.

Where is Super Hybrid Engine (SHE) in EEEbuntu? [Netbook]

If you have just installed the wonderful EEEbuntu, you will have a hard time figuring out the Super Hybrid Engine. The EEEbuntu does not come with SHE, but instead it comes with a SHE-equivalent, CPU FREQUENCY CONTROL.

Soon, after the installation, you may not be able to find it. Here are the steps to put it somewhere so that it is always accessible.

• Right click on the Dock
• Select Dock Preferences
  
• Go to Applets
• From the list, select CPU FREQUENCY Control
• Click on the Activate button
• Close

After adding it to the Dock, you can simply click on the the applet to change the CPU frequency. I recommend the onDemand profile which scales the CPU speed as per requirement

Funny Super Hybrid Engine video [Netbook]

ASUS EEE PCs equipped with Atom CPUs have SHE (super hybrid engine) installed, which has the ability to downscale or upscale the clock speed of the processor as required by the application or user. Here is a funny video made by ASUS demonstrating how the SHE helps to make the battery life better:

ASUS EEE 904HA – REVIEW (warning, biggg! review)

Everyday or so, we hear new computer manufactures jumping into the Netbook battle ground. ASUS, being the most experienced company has remained the leader so far in the netbook business. It’s new netbook, the EEE 904HA promises to give user excellent features at quite affordable price. Has it been able to impress us? Read the review to find out!