Adaptive Thermal Throttling for Multi-Core Processor Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Multicore processors face performance instability due to 'whack-a-mole' thermal issues where cores pop in and out of throttle states, leading to inefficient power management and heat distribution, resulting in reduced performance and increased energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
An adaptive thermal throttling technique that dynamically adjusts the performance states of each core based on its thermal profile, using a multi-pass approach to preemptively throttle hotter cores and maintain performance while avoiding quick returns to thermally throttled states, thereby stabilizing core temperatures and power usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If thermal throttling is applied to cores exceeding temperature thresholds, then thermal protection is improved, but performance stability deteriorates due to chaotic whack-a-mole throttling behavior
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by preemptively throttling cooler cores before they exceed thermal thresholds. When a core approaches its temperature threshold, the system proactively reduces its performance state to prevent thermal excursions, thereby avoiding the chaotic on/off throttling behavior that causes performance instability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring core temperatures and dynamically adjusting performance states based on real-time thermal conditions. This closed-loop control prevents the whack-a-mole effect by responding to thermal feedback in a coordinated manner across all cores rather than reacting chaotically when thresholds are exceeded.
2Use of energy by moving object
If performance states are dynamically adjusted to manage thermal profiles, then energy efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases due to multi-pass assessment algorithms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the thermal management process into distinct passes: a first pass that identifies cores exceeding thermal thresholds, and a second pass that preemptively throttles cooler cores. This segmentation allows the complex multi-pass algorithm to be implemented in a structured, manageable way that achieves energy efficiency without overwhelming system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes performance parameters (performance states) dynamically based on thermal conditions. By adjusting performance states in response to temperature measurements and thermal profiles, the system achieves improved energy efficiency while the parameter-based approach provides a systematic framework that manages algorithmic complexity.
3Stability of the object's composition
If preemptive throttling is applied to cooler cores, then thermal stability is improved, but productivity decreases due to reduced overall processing capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by throttling only the necessary subset of cores that require thermal management, rather than uniformly throttling all cores. The multi-pass algorithm identifies specific cores that need preemptive throttling based on their thermal profiles and workload characteristics, maintaining processing capacity in cooler cores while ensuring thermal stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies local quality by implementing differentiated thermal management for individual cores based on their specific thermal profiles, performance states, and workload conditions. Each core receives customized throttling decisions rather than uniform treatment, allowing thermal stability to be maintained while preserving overall processing capacity through localized optimizations.
Data Source
AI summary
In an embodiment, a processor comprises: a plurality of cores each to execute instructions; a plurality of thermal sensors, at least one of which is associated with each of the cores; and a power control unit (PCU) coupled to the cores. The PCU includes a thermal control logic to preemptively throttle a first core by a first throttle amount when a temperature of a second core exceeds at least one thermal threshold. Note that this first core may be preemptively throttled independently of a throttling of the second core and may have a temperature of the first core does not exceed any thermal threshold. Other embodiments are described and claimed.