Processing Core Frequency Control for Utilization-Based Thermal Limits
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Solution Overview
Problem
The use of a subset of processor cores in a processing system can cause temperature spikes, leading to the system exceeding its maximum desired temperature, resulting in throttling and potential wear, especially when a user is allocated fewer cores than available, causing higher power consumption at elevated frequencies.
Innovation Solution
A core utilization ratio frequency control system that includes a core utilization ratio frequency control subsystem coupled to a processing system and a BMC device, which receives ambient and operating temperatures to identify frequency limits based on a core utilization ratio profile, configuring the system to apply these limits to prevent temperature exceedance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a subset of processor cores is utilized to perform workloads, then the processing system can allocate resources to specific users, but the processing system temperature increases and may exceed maximum desired temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the operating frequency of processor cores based on real-time temperature monitoring and core utilization ratios. When temperature approaches maximum thresholds, the system reduces frequency to lower power consumption and heat generation, thereby resolving the contradiction between flexible core allocation and temperature control.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operating parameters (frequency) of the processor cores based on temperature conditions and utilization ratios. By adjusting frequency as a variable parameter, the system can maintain flexible workload allocation while controlling temperature within safe operating limits.
2Productivity
If fewer processor cores are allocated to a user, then resource allocation efficiency improves, but the allocated cores operate at higher frequencies causing increased power consumption and temperature spikes
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback control by continuously monitoring temperature and core utilization ratio, then adjusting frequency accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures that when fewer cores are allocated, the system automatically reduces frequency to prevent excessive power consumption and temperature spikes, maintaining efficient resource allocation without energy waste.
3Speed
If processor cores operate at higher frequencies to maintain performance with fewer cores, then workload completion time decreases, but temperature exceeds maximum desired temperature causing throttling
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically balances speed and temperature by adjusting frequency based on real-time thermal conditions. When temperature is within safe limits, higher frequencies maintain fast workload execution; when temperature approaches thresholds, frequency is reduced to prevent throttling, thus dynamically optimizing the speed-temperature trade-off.
Solution Approach 2:
The system proactively reduces frequency before temperature reaches critical levels that would cause throttling. By monitoring temperature trends and core utilization ratios, the system preemptively adjusts operating parameters to prevent temperature-induced performance degradation, cushioning against the harmful effect of thermal throttling.
Data Source
AI summary
A processing system core utilization ratio frequency control system includes a core utilization ratio frequency control subsystem coupled to a processing system having multiple cores, as well as to a BMC device that is also coupled to the processing system. The core utilization ratio frequency control subsystem receives a first ambient temperature and a first processing system operating temperature of the processing system from the BMC device, and uses them to identify respective first frequency limits for different core utilization ratios of the cores in the processing system in a first core utilization ratio frequency limit profile. The core utilization ratio frequency control subsystem then configures the processing system to apply one of the respective first frequency limits to each of a subset of the cores that are currently being utilized in the processing system to provide a current core utilization ratio of the cores in the processing system.