[mdp2021]

Not an «apple fanboy». You should justify that TDP is the measure we are looking for, instead of just the available measure. TDP is a maximum, and an average one for that matter.

Those measures should use something like `powerstat` results standardizing other conditions - in fact, they should use benchmarking (just like the numerator of the numbers you report does, but not the denominator). This system here has a TDP of 6W, but uses 3.3W during light use, and peaks around 7.5W.

Sure, there could be a literal interpretation of "Performance/Power" which somehow could link speed and TDP (benchmarking at the same stated TDP), but (°) it would be imprecise as TDP is an estimate (so consumption should be benchmarked) and (°) it would not represent some more useful scenarios like "which system allows squeezing more working time out of a battery" (which is not represented by considering maximums - especially given technologies like big.LITTLE).

[dont__panic]

Similarly, Intel often states TDPs of 25W, 45W, 65W, etc... while peaking actual power usage at nearly double those numbers during "power boost."

So unfortunately TDP has basically become a marketing term and we're back to literally measuring power usage instead. Which of course gets complicated when you consider that different machines have wildly different heat management systems.

[ac29]

"TDP" as such is going away for Alder Lake. Intel is now using a much clearer base power and turbo power number. So for example, the new i5-12600K has a Base Speed of 3700MHz @ 125W and Turbo Speed of 4900MHz @ 150W (if and when thermals allow it) [0]. The old marketing would've just called this a TDP of 125W.

[0] https://www.anandtech.com/show/16959/intel-innovation-alder-...

[camillomiller]

M1 Max operates with a peak of 50W. With a top performance difference of let’s say 20% (unattainable by Intel), I care more about having a computer that runs at 50W tops than a water boiler at 150W.

[SpelingBeeChamp]

It’s fascinating to me that society was willing to accept laptops that could not safely be used on a human’s lap for so long. My ‘old’ 16” MacBook Pro could probably cook an egg.

[vel0city]

Isn't that a part of the reason why many times they were marketed as "notebook PCs" instead of "laptops"?

[vel0city]

if your electric kettle is only 150W then it must take you a long time to make tea.