Apparatus and method for dynamic central processing unit clock adjustment

In a microprocessor based computer system for running software, a central processing unit (cpu) clock adjustment device, comprising:

• a clock pulse generator coupled to the cpu for generating a clock frequency, wherein the clock frequency is variable over a range;
• a controller coupled to the clock pulse generator for adjusting the clock frequency from the clock pulse generator over the range, the controller adapted to detect a load on the cpu, wherein the controller adjusts the clock frequency of the clock pulse generator in response to the load on the cpu;
• a temperature sensor coupled to the controller for sending a temperature of the cpu to the controller, wherein the controller adjusts the clock frequency depending upon th e temperature of the cpu;
• and
• a cooling device coupled to the controller for delivering an amount of cooling to the cpu, the amount of cooling dynamically adjusted depending upon the load placed on the cpu.

In a computer system having a central processing unit (cpu), a method for adjusting a clock frequency coupled to the cpu, comprising the steps of:

• generating the clock frequency, wherein the clock frequency is used by the cpu to synchronize internal operations of the cpu;
• detecting a load on the cpu, wherein the load originates from software executing on the cpu;
• increasing the clock frequency when the load placed on the cpu exceeds a threshold;
• decreasing the clock frequency when the load placed on the cpu does not exceed the threshold, such that the clock frequency is dynamically adjusted in response to the load placed on the cpu by software;
• setting an amount of cooling delivered to the cpu;
• increasing the amount of cooling delivered to the cpu when the load placed on the cpu by software exceeds the threshold;
• decreasing the amount of cooling delivered to the cpu when the load placed on the cpu by software does not exceed the threshold, such that the amount of cooling is dynamically adjusted in response to the load placed on the cpu.