On 2/27/2012 14:08, Alain wrote:
> Le 2012/02/18 22:50, Darren New a écrit :
>> On 2/7/2012 19:44, Alain wrote:
>>> A good example of something that can use the CPU at 100% and don't
>>> generate
>>> heat is the "idle process" that is only a small loop...
>>
>> Idle processes haven't actually run the CPU for decades. The idle
>> process isn't a loop - it turns off the clock.
>>
>
> It can only do that IF you can effectively dynamicaly alter the clock s
peed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HLT

It's not literally turning off the clock, of course. But the "idle proces
s" 
is not sitting there looping while it's idle. Yes, the idle process loops
, 
but it only loops once per processor schedule. If the machine sits there 
for 
3 seconds without an interrupt, it'll still only run a handful of instruc
tions.

-- 
Darren New, San Diego CA, USA (PST)
   People tell me I am the counter-example.

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