Memory Throttling Management via Dynamic Relocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Computing systems face thermal management challenges due to increased power dissipation from components like FB-DIMMs, leading to throttling and potential thermal runaway, especially in high-density environments with limited cooling, where traditional throttling methods are insufficient to maintain operational temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that monitor platform performance, detect memory throttling, and relocate memory contents to alternate locations, and disable memory devices when temperatures reach critical levels, using a processor, memory controller hub, and thermal sensors to manage thermal throttling and maintain system stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If memory devices are throttled to reduce power dissipation, then thermal issues are partially addressed, but system operating speed decreases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments memory management by identifying individual throttled memory devices and relocating their contents to specific alternate memory locations, allowing selective management of thermal issues without affecting entire memory systems, thus maintaining overall system speed while addressing local thermal problems
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary relocation mechanism that acts as a bridge between throttled memory devices and alternate memory locations, enabling data transfer and memory content migration without direct user intervention, thereby maintaining system performance while managing thermal conditions
2Loss of energy
If component throttling is applied to manage thermal conditions, then power dissipation is reduced, but system performance and productivity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically responds to thermal conditions by detecting throttling events in real-time and automatically relocating memory contents, creating a dynamic balance between power dissipation management and performance maintenance, allowing the system to adapt rather than statically throttle
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from thermal sensors and throttling detection mechanisms to trigger memory relocation operations, creating a closed-loop control system that monitors thermal conditions and adjusts memory configuration accordingly, thereby managing power dissipation while minimizing performance impact
3Productivity
If memory contents are relocated to alternate locations, then user-perceived slowdowns are minimized, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service memory management by automatically detecting throttling conditions and performing relocation operations without user intervention, masking the underlying complexity from users while maintaining simple interaction interfaces
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary identification of throttled memory devices and prepares relocation targets before actual thermal issues impact performance, proactively managing memory configuration to prevent slowdowns rather than reacting to them
4Reliability
If full throttling of all memory and processor components is applied, then thermal runaway is prevented, but system operability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality management by addressing thermal issues at the individual memory device level rather than applying global throttling to all components, allowing the system to maintain operability while preventing thermal runaway through targeted intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts problematic memory contents from throttled devices and relocates them to alternate locations, removing the thermal issue source while preserving system functionality, rather than extracting power through comprehensive throttling
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach minimizes user-perceived slowdowns during throttling and prevents thermal runaway by dynamically reallocating memory resources and disabling memory devices when necessary, ensuring system stability and performance.
Implementation Method 1
thermal sensors have been embedded on DIMMs, thereby resulting in DIMM temperature feedback
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus to manage throttling in computing environments are described herein. One example method may include receiving an indication that a first memory module has reached a temperature and remapping information from the first memory module to a second memory in response to the received indication. Other methods are described.