Linux 3.1 Enhances Sandy Bridge, Preps For Ivy Bridge
When idling the Linux 3.1 kernel still consumes much more power than the Linux 2.6.39 kernel, but unless it's due to power regressions elsewhere in the kernel, we will hopefully see the situation improved in Linux 3.2 with RC6 being enabled.
The system/CPU temperatures are also up on the Linux 3.1 kernel.