Processor Power Control Logic for Dynamic Performance State Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing power requirements and energy consumption of computing systems, particularly in multicore processors, due to advances in semiconductor processing and logic design, lead to a need for improved power management techniques to enhance energy efficiency and conservation.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of power control logic in processors that analyzes activity levels of cores and processing engines to determine appropriate performance states for energy-efficient operation, including dynamic voltage and frequency scaling, workload swapping, and independent voltage regulation for each core, allowing for fine-grained control of power and performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If autonomous power management is implemented to increase performance as soon as workload begins, then performance responsiveness is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts performance states of processing engines based on real-time analysis of workload characteristics, concurrency levels, and overlap patterns. The power control logic continuously monitors and adapts engine states rather than using static or always-maximal performance modes, resolving the contradiction between responsive performance and power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes operational parameters by analyzing workload characteristics and adjusting performance states (frequency, voltage, activation) of processing engines accordingly. By modifying these parameters based on actual workload needs rather than maintaining constant high-performance settings, the system achieves responsive performance when needed while reducing power consumption during lower-demand periods.
2Productivity
If multiple processing engines operate at high performance states to handle concurrent workloads, then processing throughput is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial action by activating and maintaining high performance states only for the specific number of processing engines needed to handle the current workload concurrency, rather than running all engines at maximum performance. The power control logic determines optimal engine utilization levels that provide sufficient throughput while avoiding excessive energy consumption from over-provisioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention dynamically changes performance parameters (frequency, voltage, state activation) of processing engines based on measured workload characteristics. By adjusting these parameters to match actual throughput requirements rather than maintaining constant high-performance settings, the system achieves adequate processing throughput while significantly reducing energy consumption.
3Productivity
If performance states are increased to reduce execution time of workloads, then productivity is improved, but the opportunity for power conservation is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary analysis of workload characteristics, concurrency patterns, and overlap metrics before making performance state decisions. This advance assessment allows the power control logic to predict when performance state increases will actually lead to power conservation opportunities (by enabling faster completion and longer idle periods) versus when they will simply waste energy, resolving the contradiction between execution rate and power conservation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention implements feedback mechanisms where the power control logic continuously monitors workload execution patterns, performance state effects, and power consumption outcomes. This feedback loop allows the system to learn from past decisions and adjust future performance state selections to maximize both productivity and power conservation, rather than using fixed or purely reactive control.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a processor comprises: a plurality of processing engines including a first processing engine and a second processing engine to independently execute instructions; and a power controller including a performance state control logic to control a performance state of at least one of the processing engines, and a first logic to determine an average number of active processing engines over a first window, an estimated activity level of the processor for the first window, and adjust at least one of a window length at which the performance state control logic is to perform a performance state determination and at least one activity level threshold, based at least in part on a comparison of the estimated activity level and the average number of active processing engines. Other embodiments are described and claimed.