2.1 ROMs and battery life

[petefoth]

The only thing putting me off rooting my Hero and installing the villain 5.3 ROM is concern about whether it will shorten the amount of time I can go between battery charges. Does anyone have any numbers on this, or even just impressions about whether consumption is better or worse than on the standard 1.6 ROM?

Thanks

Pete

 

[Squiggy]

Everyone's experience is going to vary greatly. Besides stock, I've used two ROMs and at first my battery life suffered. However, there are apps available for 2.1 that are not available for 1.5 that help take care of battery consumption and if you search the forums enough, you'll find great information on simple tweaks that will make your battery life at least as good if not better than your battery life is right now. My battery definitely lasts longer than it did on stock 1.5.

 

[Xyro]

In my experience, using modaco (based on 1.5) I got brilliant battery life and no 2.1 rom has even come close. Can't remember how good stock was though, so I can't really answer your question. But you will probably have to charge 2.1 roms every day, realistically. Modaco could get me through 3, maybe even 4 days.

One thing to try though is something called OverclockWidget. Despite the pretty dangerous sounding name, all it does is set the processor to run at the normal rate when the screen is on and around half when the screen is on. It massively reduces battery drain when the screen is switched off for me.

 

[Squiggy]

Xtiro, it sounds like you no longer run Modaco. Why is that? Also, not sure I understand how the processor is set to run at the normal rate when screen is on... and the normal rate when the screen is on. Same thing, no?

 

[petefoth]

Can't remember how good stock was though, so I can't really answer your question. But you will probably have to charge 2.1 roms every day, realistically. Modaco could get me through 3, maybe even 4 days.

I have the stock ROM and I get 2-3 days depending on use.

One thing to try though is something called OverclockWidget. Despite the pretty dangerous sounding name, all it does is set the processor to run at the normal rate when the screen is on and around half when the screen is on. It massively reduces battery drain when the screen is switched off for me.

Looks interesting but a couple of comments on AndroLib put me off

by Alex the 4/24/2010

It disables GPS in HTC hero

and

by James the 4/22/2010

Doesn't work on hero running 2.1 ROM

 

[drl]

Since installing Stickman's 2.1 ROM my battery life has taken a major hammering.

On the 1.5 stock rom I could easily get a days usage out of it before I would think about charging. Now the battery drains in a few hours. I went to bed last night with a 70% full battery and I looked at my phone 8 hours later (having not used it at all) and it was off as the battery was empty.

I've pretty much set all the settings to how it was before in regards to when it syncs with things, switching off GPS and Wifi when not in use etc etc, I've even tried JuiceDefender but still looking shocking. The "What's using battery" section says most of the battery is being used by Cell Standby.

If I can't work this one out I'm going to have to revert back to the original stock 1.5 ROM as while 2.1 is nice, very nice, and works very well, I can't cope with a battery life like this.

 

[andy d]

Try installing the villain 5.3 ROM its as good on the battery as the 1.5

 

[Hordriss]

Try installing the villain 5.3 ROM its as good on the battery as the 1.5

I'm going to have to disagree with you there. I'm using Villain 5.3 and the battery consumption definitely is higher than the stock Rom I was using.

 

[jUsT2eXy]

Actually Andy is right in saying the battery life with 5.3 has increases leaps and bounds form previous 2.1 builds.

2-3 days is an accurate measurement. This is with Ultimatejuice (Jucie defender) working which I highly recommend.

Again battery depends on your use.

Watching a film on your phone will drain your battery.


WiFi + Phone calls + some games etc = 2 days no problems. 3 days is achievable.

 

[Xyro]

Xtiro, it sounds like you no longer run Modaco. Why is that? Also, not sure I understand how the processor is set to run at the normal rate when screen is on... and the normal rate when the screen is on. Same thing, no?

Sorry, it was a typo. When the screen is on the widget keeps the 528MHz processor running at somewhere between 528MHz and 480MHz and when the screen is off it's limited to between 384MHz and 245MHz. And that's still quick enough to play music/receive phone calls and so on, but drains a lot less battery. For instance, the battery only dropped by 6% over night with Villain 5.3.

But yeah, I don't run Modaco simply because he hasn't produced any 2.1 ROMs. His 1.5 ROM is brilliant, but I got bored and switched to 2.1