Adjustment of voltage regulator firmware settings based upon external factors

A method comprising:

• determining external factors, wherein the external factors comprise conditions external to an electronic device that affect operating performance and operating costs, the electronic device comprising a voltage regulator device (“VRD”) providing power to one or more components of the electronic device, wherein the external factors comprise an electrical energy cost charged by an electrical provider, the electrical energy cost comprising time-based electrical costs;
• comparing a plurality of new firmware for the VRD based on the electrical energy cost;
• selecting new firmware for the VRD of the electronic device based on operating cost according to the electrical energy cost and achieved with control settings for the VRD, wherein a new firmware is selected for the VRD that has a lower performance characteristic during a particular time of day that has a higher electrical cost and a different new firmware is selected for the VRD that has a higher performance characteristic during a particular time of day that has a lower electrical cost;
• and
• replacing previously installed firmware on the VRD with the new firmware, wherein the new firmware comprises the control settings for the VRD.

A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by a processor to cause the processor to:

• determine external factors, wherein the external factors comprise conditions external to an electronic device that affect operating performance and operating costs, the electronic device comprising a voltage regulator device (“VRD”) providing power to one or more components of the electronic device, wherein the external factors comprise an electrical energy cost charged by an electrical provider, the electrical energy cost comprising time-based electrical costs;
• compare a plurality of new firmware for the VRD based on the electrical energy cost;
• select new firmware of the plurality of new firmware for the VRD of the electronic device based on operating cost according to the electrical energy cost and achieved with control settings for the VRD, wherein a new firmware is selected for the VRD that has a lower performance characteristic during a particular time of day that has a higher electrical cost and a different new firmware is selected for the VRD that has a higher performance characteristic during a particular time of day that has a lower electrical cost;
• and
• replace previously installed firmware on the VRD with the new firmware, wherein the new firmware comprises the control settings for the VRD.