Pre-fetch Throttling Logic for Dynamic Thermal Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing memory throttling methods in computer systems either abruptly reduce performance or fail to prevent high thermal limits, as they only offer binary options for pre-fetching, such as enabling or disabling it, without gradual adjustments based on thermal conditions.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system with multiple thermal levels and corresponding pre-fetch command priorities, where pre-fetch commands are gradually throttled based on the likelihood of data usage and thermal conditions, ensuring that only essential demand loads are serviced while reducing pre-fetch commands as thermal limits approach, thereby preventing sudden performance drops and maintaining system stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If pre-fetching is completely enabled, then memory utilization and system performance are improved, but thermal load increases and may reach critical limits
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts pre-fetching behavior based on real-time thermal conditions. Instead of a static enable/disable approach, the pre-fetch controller continuously monitors thermal sensors and adapts pre-fetch command issuance accordingly, transitioning between different operational states (aggressive pre-fetching, moderate pre-fetching, conservative pre-fetching, and minimal pre-fetching) as thermal conditions change.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of pre-fetch command issuance rate based on thermal conditions. By adjusting the frequency and volume of pre-fetch commands according to thermal sensor readings, the system modulates memory traffic and associated thermal load while maintaining optimal performance within thermal constraints.
2Temperature
If pre-fetching is completely disabled to reduce thermal load, then thermal conditions are improved, but system performance drops suddenly and noticeably
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides dynamic, gradual adjustment of pre-fetching rather than abrupt transitions. As thermal conditions worsen, the system progressively reduces pre-fetching intensity through multiple intermediate states, preventing sudden performance drops while still addressing thermal concerns.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of completely disabling pre-fetching (excessive action), the system applies partial pre-fetching actions tailored to thermal conditions. The pre-fetch controller selectively issues pre-fetch commands based on priority levels and thermal state, maintaining sufficient pre-fetching to support performance while avoiding excessive thermal generation.
3Device complexity
If binary throttling options are used for pre-fetching, then control simplicity is maintained, but performance degradation becomes abrupt and noticeable
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the pre-fetch control into multiple priority levels and operational states rather than using a single binary option. This segmentation allows for fine-grained control of pre-fetching behavior, enabling gradual performance adjustment while maintaining manageable complexity through structured state transitions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback control by continuously monitoring thermal sensor data and adjusting pre-fetch command issuance accordingly. The pre-fetch controller receives thermal condition information and dynamically modifies pre-fetch behavior, creating a closed-loop control system that maintains performance stability while responding to thermal conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention facilitate gracefully degrading performance while gradually throttling memory due to dynamic thermal conditions. An example method includes receiving, by pre-fetch throttling logic, a pre-fetch command requesting data from a memory and a priority level of the pre-fetch command. The priority level of the pre-fetch command indicates a likelihood that data requested by the pre-fetch command will be utilized by a processor. Thermal condition data from one or more sensors is received by the pre-fetch throttling logic. It is determined whether the pre-fetch command should be issued to the memory. The determining is based at least in part on the priority level of the pre-fetch command and the thermal condition data. The pre-fetch command is issued to the memory or prevented from being issued to the memory based at least in part on determining on the determining.