Modulating processsor core operations
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for reducing processor latency through the use of dedicated cores. In one aspect, a method includes a multi-core processor having n cores, including, selecting k cores of the n cores of the multi-core processor to perform dedicated low-latency operations for the n-core processor, where k is less than n, m cores are unselected, and each core of the multi-core processor has a rated core capacity. The methods operate the selected k cores at less than the rated core capacity such that k cores are collectively underutilized by an underutilized capacity and operate one or more of the m cores at a capacity in excess of the rated core capacity such that the m cores operate at a collective capacity that exceeds a collective capacity of the rated core capacities of the m cores.
1. A method implemented in a multi-core processor having n cores, comprising:
selecting k cores of the n cores of the multi-core processor to perform dedicated low-latency operations for the n-core processor, wherein:
k is less than n;
m cores are unselected; and
each core of the multi-core processor has a rated core capacity;
operating the selected k cores at less than the rated core capacity such that k cores are collectively underutilized by an underutilized capacity; and
operating one or more of the m cores at a capacity in excess of the rated core capacity such that the m cores operate at a collective capacity that exceeds a collective capacity of the rated core capacities of the m cores, and wherein selections of the k cores in the multi-core processor are periodically rotated such that at each selection a different set of k cores are selected.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein operating one or more of the m cores at a capacity in excess of the rated core capacity comprises operating the one or more of the m cores at a capacity that does not exceed a sum of m rated core capacities and the underutilized capacity.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein operating one or more of the m cores at a capacity in excess of the rated core capacity comprises operating the one or more of the m cores at a capacity that temporarily exceeds a sum of m rated core capacities and the underutilized capacity.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the multi-core processor has a processor rated capacity; and
operating one or more of the m cores at a capacity in excess of the rated core capacity comprises operating the one or more of the m cores at capacities such that a sum of the capacities at which the m cores are operating and a sum of the capacities at which the k cores are operating does not exceed the processor rated capacity.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the rated core capacity is a rated core operational frequency.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the rated core capacity is a rated core power consumption.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein k+m is equal to n.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dedicated low-latency operations include at least one of memory accessing operations, I/O operations, and inter-processor communication.
9. A method implemented in a multi-core processor having n cores, comprising:
selecting k cores of the n cores of the multi-core processor to perform dedicated low-latency operations for the n-core processor, wherein:
k is less than n;
m cores are unselected;
each core of the multi-core processor has a rated core capacity; and
the multi-core processor has a processor rated capacity, wherein the processor rated capacity is less than a sum of the rated core capacities of the n cores;
operating the selected k cores at less than the rated core capacity such that k cores are collectively underutilized by an underutilized capacity;
operating one or more of the m cores at a capacity in excess of the rated core capacity such that the m cores operate at a collective capacity that exceeds a collective capacity of the rated core capacities of the m cores; and
operating one or more of the m cores at a capacity in excess of the rated core capacity comprises operating the one or more of the m cores at capacities such that a sum of the capacities at which the m cores are operating and a sum of the capacities at which the k cores are operating does not exceed the processor rated capacity.
10. A method implemented in a multi-core processor having n cores, comprising:
selecting k cores of the n cores of the multi-core processor to perform dedicated low-latency operations for the n-core processor, wherein:
k is less than n;
m cores are unselected; and
each core of the multi-core processor has a rated core capacity, wherein the rated core capacity is a rated core operational temperature;
operating the selected k cores at less than the rated core capacity such that k cores are collectively underutilized by an underutilized capacity; and
operating one or more of the m cores at a capacity in excess of the rated core capacity such that the m cores operate at a collective capacity that exceeds a collective capacity of the rated core capacities of the m cores.
11. A non-transitory storage medium in data communication with a multi-core processor having n cores and storing instructions that cause the multi-core processor to perform operations comprising:
selecting k cores of the n-cores of the multi-core processor to perform dedicated low-latency operations for the n-core processor, where k is less than n, and m cores are unselected, and wherein each core of the multi-core processor has a rated core capacity;
operating the selected k cores at less than the rated core capacity such that k cores are collectively underutilized by an underutilized capacity and periodically rotating selections of the k cores in the multi-core processor; and
operating one or more of the m cores at a capacity in excess of the rated core capacity such that the m cores operate at a collective capacity that exceeds a collective capacity of the rated core capacities of the m cores.
12. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 11 , wherein operating one or more of the m cores at a capacity in excess of the rated core capacity comprises operating the one or more of the m cores at a capacity that does not exceed a sum of m rated core capacities and the underutilized capacity.
13. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 11 , wherein operating one or more of the m cores at a capacity in excess of the rated core capacity comprises operating the one or more of the m cores at a capacity that temporarily exceeds a sum of m rated core capacities and the underutilized capacity.
14. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 11 , wherein:
the multi-core processor has a processor rated capacity; and
operating one or more of the m cores at a capacity in excess of the rated core capacity comprises operating the one or more of the m cores at capacities such that a sum of the capacities at which the m cores are operating and a sum of the capacities at which the k cores are operating does not exceed the processor rated capacity.
15. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the rated core capacity is a rated core operational frequency.
16. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the rated core capacity is a rated core power consumption.
17. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 11 , wherein k+m is equal to n.
18. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the dedicated low-latency operations include at least one of memory accessing operations, I/O operations, and inter-processor communication.
19. A non-transitory storage medium in data communication with a multi-core processor having n cores and storing instructions that cause the multi-core processor to perform operations comprising:
selecting k cores of the n-cores of the multi-core processor to perform dedicated low-latency operations for the n-core processor, where k is less than n, and m cores are unselected, and wherein each core of the multi-core processor has a rated core capacity, and the multi-core processor has a processor rated capacity, wherein the processor rated capacity is less than a sum of the rated core capacities of the n cores;
operating the selected k cores at less than the rated core capacity such that k cores are collectively underutilized by an underutilized capacity;
operating one or more of the m cores at a capacity in excess of the rated core capacity such that the m cores operate at a collective capacity that exceeds a collective capacity of the rated core capacities of the m cores; and
operating one or more of the m cores at a capacity in excess of the rated core capacity comprises operating the one or more of the m cores at capacities such that a sum of the capacities at which the m cores are operating and a sum of the capacities at which the k cores are operating does not exceed the processor rated capacity.
20. A non-transitory storage medium in data communication with a multi-core processor having n cores and storing instructions that cause the multi-core processor to perform operations comprising:
selecting k cores of the n-cores of the multi-core processor to perform dedicated low-latency operations for the n-core processor, where k is less than n, and m cores are unselected, and wherein each core of the multi-core processor has a rated core capacity;
operating the selected k cores at less than the rated core capacity such that k cores are collectively underutilized by an underutilized capacity, wherein the rated core capacity is a rated core operational temperature; and
operating one or more of the m cores at a capacity in excess of the rated core capacity such that the m cores operate at a collective capacity that exceeds a collective capacity of the rated core capacities of the m cores.