Patent · US Active

Identifying deterministic performance boost capability of a computer system

US8055477B2 · kind B2 · utility

2Cited by
25References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 20, 2008
Grant dateNov 8, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 2, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F11/24
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A benchmark tester retrieves a voltage margin that corresponds to a device that a system includes. The voltage margin indicates an additional amount of voltage to apply to a nominal voltage that, when added, results in the device operating at a power limit while executing a worst-case power workload. Next, the benchmark tester (or thermal power management device) sets an input voltage for the device to a value equal to the sum of the voltage margin and the nominal voltage. The benchmark tester then dynamically benchmark tests the system, which includes adjusting the device's frequency and input voltage while ensuring that the device does not exceed the device's power limit. In turn, the benchmark tester records a guaranteed minimum performance boost for the system based upon a result of the benchmark testing.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.