Modulating CPU frequency and voltage in a multi-core CPU architecture
AssigneeIntel Corporation
InventorAli Saeed
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method to save power in a computer system is described. A mechanism is used to control the frequency and voltage of a central processing unit (CPU) of a multi-core CPU architecture environment based on the measured levels of multi-threadedness. By controlling the frequency and voltage of the CPU, the battery life of the computer system may be extended.
Claims25
A computer system, comprising:
- a first central processing unit (CPU) core;
- a second CPU core coupled to the first CPU core;
- and
- a circuit coupled to the first and the second CPU cores, wherein the circuit deactivates the first CPU core if a measured workload of the cores is less than a first defined level of multi-threadedness.
An apparatus, comprising:
- means for determining workload as a function of a number of multi-threads in a central processing unit (CPU) architecture having a plurality of CPU cores;
- and
- means for reducing an operating frequency of a first CPU core if the level of multi-threads is less than a defined threshold.
A method, comprising:
- setting an upper threshold limit;
- setting a lower threshold limit;
- measuring a workload of a computer based on a number of multi-threaded threads running on the computer;
- and
- decreasing an operating frequency of a first central processing unit (CPU) core if the measured workload is less than the lower threshold limit.
A method, comprising:
- defining a threshold level;
- determining a workload of a computer system having at least two central processing unit (CPU) cores, wherein the workload is computed by an operating system;
- and
- deactivating a first CPU core if the workload is less than the threshold level.
An article comprising a machine readable medium having a plurality of machine readable instructions, wherein when the instructions are executed by a processor, the instructions cause a system to:
- determine a workload of the system;
- send instructions to a plurality of central processing unit (CPU) cores;
- and
- turn off at least one of the plurality of CPU cores if the workload is less than a threshold value.
A system, comprising:
- a first processor core having a first operating frequency;
- a second processor core having a second operating frequency;
- and
- a circuit coupled to the first and the second processor cores, wherein the circuit decreases the first operating frequency if a measured workload of the system is greater than a defined threshold, wherein the workload is based on the number of multi-threads running on the system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.