Performance state management

1. An apparatus, including:

output measurement logic to measure an output performance metric value associated with a processor;

performance governor logic to set a determined operation frequency of the processor responsive to the output performance metric value;

a comparison module to measure an output performance variation between a first output performance metric value and a current output performance metric value; and

an estimate module to extrapolate an estimated performance variation of the processor based on the measured performance variation.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including:

a timer to measure an adaptation period associated with setting the determined operation frequency.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including:

a memory to store an acceptable performance variation associated with the output performance metric value.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including:

a timer to measure a test-run period associated with setting a trial operation frequency of the processor that is different from a current operation frequency of the processor.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including:

a status bit to indicate a current performance state associated with the determined operation frequency.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , further including:

a memory to store a log of previous performance states including the current performance state.

7. A system, including:

output measurement logic to measure an output performance metric value associated with a first processor;

performance governor logic to set a determined operation frequency of the first processor responsive to the output performance metric value;

a comparison module to measure an output performance variation between a first output performance metric value and a current output performance metric value; and

an estimate module to extrapolate an estimated performance variation of the processor based on the measured performance variation; and

a display to display information associated with data processed by the first processor.

8. The system of claim 7 , further including:

a cellular transceiver to transmit the information.

9. The system of claim 7 , further including:

an operating system to receive a user selection of an acceptable performance variation associated with the output performance metric value.

10. The system of claim 7 , further including:

a second processor dedicated to calculating the output performance metric value.

11. A method, comprising:

measuring a first output performance metric value associated with a processor and a current operation frequency of the processor;

setting a trial operation frequency of the processor;

measuring a second output performance metric value associated with the trial operation frequency of the processor;

comparing the first output performance metric value to the second output performance metric value to determine a measured performance variation; and

extrapolating an estimated performance variation of the processor based on the measured performance variation.

12. The method of claim 11 , further including:

reading a register to determine an acceptable performance variation associated with the first output performance metric and the second output performance metric.

13. The method of claim 11 , further including:

setting the trial operation frequency as a determined operation frequency of the processor if the measured performance variation is less than an acceptable performance variation.

14. The method of claim 11 , further including:

interpolating an estimated performance variation of the processor based on the measured performance variation.

15. The method of claim 14 , further including:

setting a series of monotonically decreasing processor operation frequencies, including the trial operation frequency of the processor.

16. The method of claim 14 , further including:

surveying multiple processors, including the processor, to determine a plurality of associated output performance metric values.

17. A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method comprising:

measuring a first output performance metric value associated with a processor and a current operation frequency of the processor;

setting a trial operation frequency of the processor;

measuring a second output performance metric value associated with the trial operation frequency of the processor; and

extrapolating an estimated performance variation of the processor based on a measured performance variation determined by a comparison between the first output performance metric value and the second output performance metric value.

18. A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method comprising:

measuring a first output performance metric value associated with a processor and a current operation frequency of the processor;

setting a trial operation frequency of the processor;

measuring a second output performance metric value associated with the trial operation frequency of the processor; and

interpolating an estimated performance variation of the processor based on a measured performance variation determined by a comparison between the first output performance metric value and the second output performance metric value.

19. A method, comprising:

measuring a first output performance metric value associated with a processor and a current operation frequency of the processor;

setting a trial operation frequency of the processor;

measuring a second output performance metric value associated with the trial operation frequency of the processor;

comparing the first output performance metric value to the second output performance metric value to determine a measured performance variation; and

interpolating an estimated performance variation of the processor based on the measured performance variation.