On 25/07/16 08:38, Ed Greshko wrote:
On 07/25/16 22:30, Tim wrote:
> Tim:
>>> I'm sceptical, too (about that belief). I'm inclined to believe
that
>>> story has been conjured up by someone to explain things, and everyone
>>> else has simply gone along with it.
> Joe Zeff:
>> Be as skeptical as you want, but it's been true ever since I got my
>> first PC in the late '80s, and it wasn't new then.
> I'd like to see some proof that it's actually designed to run slow when
> the battery goes flat, as opposed that merely being what happens.
Actually I would find it very odd that "digital" devices would run slower as a
battery
weakens. I mean even my battery operated clocks at home work perfectly fine without
losing time. When the battery "dies" they just cease to function.
Depending on the design, the hardware clock may be very voltage
dependent. A small drop in battery voltage may cause the circuit to be
slightly slow due to the way the circuit operates. Voltage rise/fall in
the oscillator is just that little slower due to lower current and peak
voltage is not as high.
Many use internal components for oscillators and are not that accurate.
For most purposes they will stay pretty close, close enough to be set at
shutdown.
Now if the system isn't shutting down properly, then the hardware clock
may not be getting set.
Robin