IP Library Granted Patent US 8,812,825
Granted Patent B2
US 8,812,825 · App. 12/987,591 · Granted Aug 19, 2014

Methods and systems for managing performance and power utilization of a processor employing a fully multithreaded load threshold

Inventors: Vijay Nijhawan (Austin, TX); Gregory N. Darnell (Georgetown, TX); Wuxian Wu (Round Rock, TX)
Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
G06F11/00G06F1/329G06F1/3234G06F11/3409G06F2201/86G06F2201/81G06F11/3017
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,812,825
App. No.
12/987,591
Filed
Jan 10, 2011
Granted
Aug 19, 2014
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2183
USPC
712/229
Abstract

A method for managing performance and power utilization of a processor in an information handling system (IHS) employing a balanced fully-multithreaded load threshold includes providing a maximum current thread utilization (Umax) and a minimum current thread utilization (Umin) among all current thread utilizations of the processor and determining a current performance state (P state) of the processor. The method also includes increasing a current P state of the processor to a next P state of the processor towards a maximum P state (Pmax) of the processor when the current P state of the processor is between Umax and Umin and the current utilization rate of the processor is less than a first threshold utilization rate. The method further includes engaging the processor in a turbo mode when the current P state of the processor reaches the Pmax and the current utilization of the processor is greater than the first threshold utilization rate of the processor.

Claims (48)

1. A method for managing performance and power utilization of a processor in an information handling system (IHS) employing a balanced fully-multithreaded load threshold, the method comprising:

providing a maximum current thread utilization (Umax) and a minimum current thread utilization (Umin) among all current thread utilizations of the processor;

determining a current performance state (P state) of the processor; and

engaging the processor in a turbo mode when

the current P state of the processor equals a maximum P state (Pmax) of the processor,

a difference between the Umax and the Umin is less than a threshold difference, and

a current utilization of the processor is greater than a first threshold utilization of the processor.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising increasing, in response to increased utilization of the processor, the current P state of the processor to a next P state of the processor when the current P state of the processor is less than the Pmax.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein increasing the current P state of the processor to the next P state of the processor further comprises engaging the processor into a turbo mode wherein a processor load is balanced.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising increasing the current P state of the processor to a next P state of the processor when the difference between the Umax and the Umin is greater than the threshold difference.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first threshold utilization of the processor is 90%.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first threshold utilization of the processor is 98%.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising withholding a processor turbo mode engagement when the current P state of the processor is less than the Pmax or the current utilization of the processor is less than the first threshold utilization of the processor.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising

determining a previous utilization of the processor corresponding to a utilization of the processor at the time of a previous Systems Management Interrupt (SMI);

determining a previous P state of the processor corresponding to a P state of the processor at the time of the previous SMI; and

withholding a processor turbo mode engagement when the previous P state is less than the Pmax or the previous utilization of the processor is less than the first threshold utilization of the processor.

9. A method for managing a processor when the processor executes a fully-multithreaded processor workload, the method comprising:

determining a previous utilization of the processor corresponding to a utilization of the processor at the time of a previous Systems Management Interrupt (SMI);

determining a previous performance state (P state) of the processor corresponding to a P state of the processor at the time of the previous SMI; and

engaging the processor in a turbo mode when

a current P state of the processor equals a maximum P state (Pmax) of the processor,

the previous P state of the processor equals the Pmax,

the previous utilization of the processor is greater than a first threshold utilization of the processor, and

a current utilization of the processor is greater than a second threshold utilization of the processor.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the second threshold utilization of the processor is greater than the first threshold utilization of the processor.

11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising increasing, in response to increased utilization of the processor, the current P state of the processor to a next P state of the processor when the current P state of the processor is less than the Pmax.

12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising withholding a processor turbo mode engagement when the current utilization of the processor is less than the first threshold utilization of the processor.

13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising withholding the processor turbo mode engagement when the current P state of the processor is less than the Pmax.

14. An information handling system (IHS) comprising:

a processor;

one or more peripheral devices coupled to the processor;

a basic input output system (BIOS) executable by the processor; and

a power management module incorporated in the IHS wherein the power management module is an adjunct to the BIOS and provides power management functionality for the IHS, the power management functionality comprising:

evaluating a current utilization of each thread of the processor;

determining a maximum utilization (Umax) and a minimum utilization (Umin) of the current utilization of all threads of the processor; and

engaging the processor in a turbo mode when

the current P state of the processor equals a maximum P state (Pmax) of the processor,

a difference between the Umax and the Umin is less than a threshold difference, and

a current utilization of the processor is greater than a first threshold utilization of the processor.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the power management functionality further comprises increasing the current P state of the processor to a next P state of the processor when a difference between the Umax and the Umin is greater than the threshold difference.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein increasing the current P state of the processor to the next P state of the processor further comprises engaging the processor into a turbo mode.

17. The system of claim 14 , wherein the power management functionality further comprises withholding a processor turbo mode engagement when the current utilization of the processor is less than the first threshold utilization of the processor.

18. The system of claim 14 , wherein the power management functionality further comprises withholding a processor turbo mode engagement when the current P state of the processor is less than the Pmax.

19. The system of claim 14 , wherein the power management functionality further comprises

determining a previous utilization of the processor corresponding to a utilization of the processor at the time of a previous Systems Management Interrupt (SMI);

determining a previous P state of the processor corresponding to a P state of the processor at the time of the previous SMI; and

withholding a processor turbo mode engagement when the previous P state is less than the Pmax or the previous utilization of the processor is less than the first threshold utilization of the processor.

Assignments (15)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053546/0001) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 071642/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (045455/0001) Recorded May 20, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061753/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (040136/0001) Recorded Apr 26, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061324/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL, L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 058216/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2020
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053546/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 21, 2019
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049452/0223 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040136/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040134/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040065/0618 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040040/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040065/0216 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 031898/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM LOAN) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031899/0261 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS FIRST LIEN COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031897/0348 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 12, 2011
From: NIJHAWAN, VIJAY; DARNELL, GREGORY N.; WU, WUXIAN
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P
Reel/Frame 025626/0295 →
Continuity (1)
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