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[dmk11]

Is there a reliable program that will benchmark how long my laptop battery will last?
Preferably a freeware. PCMark2002 has it, but only on the Pro (read: non-free) version.

thx!

 

[Lord Evermore]

It's called a stopwatch. Put 3DMark2001SE in a loop, with Prime95 or something running in the background, and start the stopwatch, then come back to it once in a while, and start watching it closely when you think it's close to running out (which most laptops should warn you of).

 

[corkyg]

Usually, most laptops come with a utility in the BIOS for calibrating the battery. Generally the procedure starts with charging to indicated "Full," then running the calibration/gas gauge program. It does a complete discharge that is timed. You can record the time it takes. Then a full charge gets it ready to use, and you have a gooid idea what you can expect.