Benchmark Tester Voltage Margin Deterministic Performance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manufacturers face challenges in guaranteeing a computer system's performance boost, as existing methods for dynamic voltage management do not effectively identify the system's deterministic performance capabilities, particularly in benchmark testing, leading to uncertainties in performance guarantees.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the retrieval and application of device voltage margins during benchmark testing, where the voltage margin is calculated by determining the additional voltage needed to reach a power limit, allowing for dynamic adjustment of device frequency and voltage to ensure the system operates within power limits, thereby recording a guaranteed minimum performance boost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If dynamic voltage management is applied to improve performance, then the system can achieve higher processing speeds, but the ability to guarantee minimum performance boost is lost due to uncertainties in power limit compliance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating and storing voltage margins during device characterization. These pre-determined voltage margins represent the additional voltage headroom available before reaching power limits, allowing the system to confidently apply voltage boosts during benchmark testing while guaranteeing minimum performance improvements.
2Device complexity
If voltage margins are not considered during benchmark testing, then the testing process is simpler, but the system cannot accurately identify deterministic performance boost capability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by systematically varying the input voltage parameter during benchmark testing based on pre-determined voltage margins. The testing method adjusts voltage in controlled increments (e.g., 0.05V steps) from the nominal voltage up to the calculated voltage margin, allowing precise measurement of performance boost capability while maintaining power limit compliance.
3Speed
If the system applies maximum voltage boost to achieve highest performance, then processing speed increases, but the system may exceed power limits and thermal constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by continuously monitoring power consumption during voltage-adjusted benchmark testing. The system uses this feedback to verify that the applied voltage margins keep the device within its power limit, allowing dynamic adjustment of voltage and frequency to maximize performance while maintaining power constraints.
Data Source
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AI summary
A benchmark tester retrieves a voltage margin that corresponds to a device that a system includes. The voltage margin indicates an additional amount of voltage to apply to a nominal voltage that, when added, results in the device operating at a power limit while executing a worst-case power workload. Next, the benchmark tester (or thermal power management device) sets an input voltage for the device to a value equal to the sum of the voltage margin and the nominal voltage. The benchmark tester then dynamically benchmark tests the system, which includes adjusting the device's frequency and input voltage while ensuring that the device does not exceed the device's power limit. In turn, the benchmark tester records a guaranteed minimum performance boost for the system based upon a result of the benchmark testing