I decided to optimize the cpu speed regulation made by CPUSpeed based on workload, after noticing an increase of minutes in the build time of one of my applications. My idea was to forbid speed reduction when the laptop is connected to AC power, and when running on battery reduce the speed only if the cpu load is low. That only required a new line in /etc/cpuspeed.conf:

OPTS="$OPTS -a /proc/acpi/ac_adapter/*/state -C -D"

From the "cpuspeed --help" output the relevant documentation:

-a <AC file>

Sets the ACPI AC adapter state file and tells the program to set the CPUs to minimum speed when the AC adapter is disconnected.

-C

Run at maximum speed when AC adapter is connected.

-D

Do NOT force minimum speed when AC adapter is disconnected.

I think that I will give a try to the GNOME Power Manager, it looks nicer that editing a configuration file.