System, apparatus and method for increasing performance in a processor during a voltage ramp

A processor comprising:

• a graphics processing unit (GPU) comprising a plurality of graphics engines and a plurality of clock generators, each of the plurality of clock generators to provide a clock signal to at least one of the plurality of graphics engines;
• and
• a power controller to control power consumption of the plurality of graphics engines, wherein the power controller, in response to a request for the GPU to exit a low power state in which the GPU is powered down and operate at a first performance state having a first operating voltage, to cause an output voltage of a voltage regulator to increase to the first operating voltage,
• wherein the GPU is to exit the low power state and execute a workload at a second performance state when the output voltage reaches a second operating voltage less than the first operating voltage, the second performance state an interim performance state having the second operating voltage.

A method comprising:

• receiving, in a power controller, a request for a graphics processing unit to exit a low power state in which the graphics processing unit is powered down and operate at a first performance state comprising a first operating voltage;
• in response to the request, issuing a command to a voltage regulator to increase an output voltage to the first operating voltage;
• and
• causing the graphics processing unit to exit the low power state and execute a workload at a different performance state comprising a first interim performance state having a first interim operating voltage less than the first operating voltage.