After investigating kapm_idled problem here it turned out quite simple -
BIOS neither slows down CPU nor halts it so kapm_idled enters busy loop
doing basically

while !system_busy
  do nothing

eating away CPU. This applies to patch of Andreas as well.

I do not like an option of recompiling without CONFIG_APM_CPU_IDLE
because I think about distribution kernel in the first place. I have
ASUS CUSL2 motherboard - it is not unusual brand and obviously many
people have the same problem and you cannot expect all of them to
recompile kernel. So this patch adds runtime parameter (no-)apm-idle
that has the same effect - enabling/disabling usage of APM Idle BIOS
calls. It is initialised according to CONFIG_APM_CPU_IDLE and should be
100% compatible.

If Andreas patch is accepted it needs the same treatment.

I thought once about run-time detection - if BIOS reports that Idle does
not slow down CPU try Idle call once and compare jiffies (probably
repeat several times to be sure). Is it sensible?

Patch is agains 2.4.16-9.dk but should apply to any version I guess.

-andrej