Avoid CPU- and GPU-intensive tasks while on battery

When running on battery, stick to lightweight tasks like document editing, web browsing with limited tabs, and reading. Avoid video editing, 3D rendering, gaming, and streaming high-resolution video, all of which heavily tax the CPU and GPU.

Why It Works

The processor and graphics card are the most power-hungry components in a laptop. Under heavy load, a modern laptop CPU can draw 30-60 watts compared to 5-10 watts at idle. Keeping the workload light keeps power consumption closer to idle levels, dramatically extending runtime.

Tips

• Close unnecessary browser tabs as each tab consumes CPU and memory in the background
• Use lightweight alternatives when possible (e.g., a text editor instead of a full IDE)
• If you must run intensive tasks on battery, plug in a charger for that portion of the work