Computer-component power-consumption monitoring and control

An article of manufacture comprising a program storage medium readable by a processor and embodying one or more instructions executable by a processor to perform steps of a method for regulating power allocated to components within a computer system, the method comprising:

• sensing power drawn by a plurality of devices within a computer system, each device thereof having device resources needed to satisfy a functional demand required of the plurality of devices, wherein a particular device of the plurality of devices comprises a cache memory and the functional demand required of the particular device includes a cache hit ratio;
• monitoring the power drawn by, and the functional demand required of, the plurality of devices;
• and
• regulating a total power consumed by the plurality of devices by optimizing use of the device resources in response to the determination of the power drawn by, and the functional demand required of, the plurality of devices.

A system for regulating power allocated to components within a computer system, the system comprising:

• a computer system comprising motherboard, the motherboard comprising a processor, a main memory, a cache, a local bus, and an expansion bus for receiving expansion cards;
• a first sensor configured to sense power drawn by a first expansion card operably connected to the expansion bus, the first expansion card having first resources needed to satisfy functional demand required of the first expansion card;
• a second sensor configured to sense power drawn by the motherboard, the motherboard having second resources needed to satisfy a functional demand required of the motherboard wherein the functional demand includes a cache hit ratio for the motherboard;
• and
• a system control module communicating with the first sensor and the second sensor and configured to regulate power allocated to the first expansion card and optimize use of the first resources in accordance with the functional demand of the first expansion card, and to regulate power allocated to the motherboard card in accordance the respective functional demands of the motherboard and the first expansion card.