Varying power load conditions on systems under test

1. An apparatus comprising:

a system test module that initiates a system power test for a computer system, the computer system comprising one or more power supplies providing power to a plurality of system components, the system power test comprising determining power system characteristics under various loading conditions;

a configure module that configures a system component of the plurality of system components during the system power test, the system component using a higher amount of power after being configured than in a previous un-configured condition,

wherein the system component includes one of a processor, a core of a multi-core processor, a cache memory, a memory module, a read-only memory, a random access memory, a chipset, a data storage device, a graphics processing unit, a universal serial bus interface, or an input/output interface;

a de-configure module that de-configures the system component during the system power test, the system component using a lower amount of power after being de-configured than in a previous configured condition; and

a diagnostic module that measures power system performance of the computer system during varying loading conditions caused by configuring and de-configuring one or more system components by the configure module and the de-configure module.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the configure module configures the system component and the de-configure module de-configures the system component using one or more system firmware commands while the computer system is operational.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein configuring the system component changes the system component from a non-operational state to an operational state, the system component in the operational state using power and wherein de-configuring the system component changes the system component from the operational state to the non-operational state.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the system component in the non-operational state uses substantially no power.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the system component comprises one of a processor, a processor core, a cache memory, a memory module, an input/output component, a storage device, and a system bus.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the system component is connected to another system component.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more system components receive power from the one or more power supplies via one or more power buses.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the computer system is operational to process data during the system power test.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the computer system is in a final state during the system power test, the final state comprising a state ready for an end user of the computer system to process data.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the configure module configures and the de-configure module de-configures a plurality of system components during the system power test such that system power usage changes within a full operational load range of the one or more power supplies.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the diagnostic module measures one or more of voltage, current, and power at one or more points in the power system.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the diagnostic module measures one or more of steady-state and transient conditions for one or more of voltage, current, and power in the power system.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the configure module and the de-configure module configure and de-configure system components using a communication bus within the computer system.

14. A method comprising:

initiating a system power test for a computer system, the computer system comprising one or more power supplies providing power to a plurality of system components, the system power test comprising determining power system characteristics under various loading conditions;

configuring a system component of the plurality of system components during the system power test, the system component using a higher amount of power after being configured than in a previous un-configured condition,

wherein the system component includes one of a processor, a core of a multi-core processor, a cache memory, a memory module, a read-only memory, a random access memory, a chipset, a data storage device, a graphics processing unit, a universal serial bus interface, or an input/output interface;

de-configuring the system component during the system power test, the system component using a lower amount of power after being de-configured than in a previous configured condition; and

measuring power system performance of the computer system during varying loading conditions caused by configuring and de-configuring one or more system components.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein configuring the system component and de-configuring the system component comprise using one or more system firmware commands while the computer system is operational.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein configuring the system component changes the system component from a non-operational state to an operational state, the system component in the operational state using power and wherein de-configuring the system component changes the system component from the operational state to the non-operational state.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the computer system is operational to process data during the system power test.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the computer system is in a final state during the system power test, the final state comprising a state ready for an end user of the computer system to process data.

19. A computer system comprising:

a power supply;

a plurality of system components configured to process data;

a power bus that provides power from the power supply to the plurality of system components;

a system test module that initiates a system power test for the computer system, the system power test comprising determining power system characteristics under various loading conditions;

a configure module that configures a system component of the plurality of system components during the system power test, the system component using a higher amount of power after being configured than in a previous un-configured condition,

wherein the system component includes one of a processor, a core of a multi-core processor, a cache memory, a memory module, a read-only memory, a random access memory, a chipset, a data storage device, a graphics processing unit, a universal serial bus interface, or an input/output interface;

a de-configure module that de-configures the system component during the system power test, the system component using a lower amount of power after being de-configured than in a previous configured condition; and

a diagnostic module that measures power system performance of the computer system during varying loading conditions caused by configuring and de-configuring one or more system components by the configure module and the de-configure module.

20. The system of claim 19 , further comprising an input device and an electronic display both connected to the computer system.