Processor Voltage Droop Prevention via Reactive Instruction Throttling
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing power requirements and energy consumption of multicore processors lead to voltage droop issues, which can cause instability and performance failures in computing systems, particularly in systems with high power fluctuations.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a power management system that includes integrated voltage regulators (IVRs) and a power control unit (PCU) to dynamically control voltage and frequency of processor cores, allowing for independent operation of each core and enabling dynamic voltage and frequency scaling (DVFS), as well as throttling of instruction dispatch to prevent voltage droop.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If dynamic voltage and frequency scaling is implemented to improve energy efficiency, then power consumption is reduced, but voltage stability may deteriorate due to rapid power fluctuations
Solution Approach 1:
The power management system performs preliminary detection of power ramp-up events and preemptively adjusts voltage regulator output before the droop occurs. The system monitors power consumption patterns and anticipates voltage instability, taking corrective action in advance to prevent the harmful effect rather than reacting after it occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the power management system continuously monitors voltage levels and power consumption, and automatically adjusts the voltage regulator output in response to detected conditions. This closed-loop control ensures voltage stability is maintained while allowing dynamic power scaling.
2Use of energy by moving object
If integrated voltage regulators are used to provide fine-grained control, then energy efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the voltage regulator directly into the processor die, merging previously separate components (external voltage regulators) with the processor. This integration reduces the number of discrete components and interconnections, thereby reducing overall device complexity while enabling fine-grained power control for improved energy efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The power management system is designed to perform multiple functions: it monitors power consumption, detects voltage droop conditions, adjusts voltage regulator output, and coordinates with instruction dispatch throttling. This multi-functional approach consolidates what could be multiple separate systems into a unified power management unit, reducing complexity.
3Stability of the object's composition
If instruction dispatch is throttled to prevent voltage droop, then voltage stability is improved, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system detects power ramp-up events early in the instruction dispatch process and preemptively throttles the dispatch rate before voltage droop occurs. By identifying the problematic condition in advance and taking corrective action, the system prevents voltage instability without needing to continuously throttle instruction dispatch, thereby maintaining productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The instruction dispatch throttling is implemented as a dynamic, adaptive mechanism rather than a static limitation. The throttling level adjusts in real-time based on detected power consumption patterns and voltage conditions, allowing maximum productivity when conditions are favorable and providing minimal throttling only when necessary to prevent voltage droop.
Data Source
AI summary
In an embodiment, a processor includes at least one core including a first core. The first core includes memory execution logic to execute one or more memory instructions, memory dispatch logic to output a plurality of memory instructions to the memory execution logic, and reactive memory instruction tracking logic. The reactive memory instruction tracking logic is to detect an onset of a memory instruction high power event associated with execution of at least one of the memory instructions, and to indicate to the memory dispatch logic to throttle output of the memory instructions to the memory execution logic responsive to detection of the onset of the memory instruction high power event. The processor also includes cache memory coupled to the at least one core. Other embodiments are described and claimed.