Method, apparatus, and system for controlling power consumption of unused hardware of a link interface

摘要

In an embodiment, a plurality of hardware buffers each may store information associated with one or more virtual channels. In turn, a configuration logic is to determine an identifier corresponding to a maximum number of virtual channels commonly supported by first and second devices coupled via a link and to obtain a control value based on the identifier. A gate logic coupled to the configuration logic is to provide an operating voltage to corresponding ones of the hardware buffers based on the control value. In this way, the operating voltage can be withheld from at least one of the hardware buffers when the maximum number of virtual channels is less than the plurality of hardware buffers. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

主权项

1. An apparatus comprising:
a plurality of hardware buffers each to store information associated with one or more virtual channels; a configuration logic to determine an identifier corresponding to a maximum number of virtual channels commonly supported by a first device and a second device coupled via a link and to obtain a control value based on the identifier; and a gate logic to provide an operating voltage to corresponding ones of the plurality of hardware buffers based on the control value, wherein the gate logic is to prevent provision of the operating voltage to at least one of the plurality of hardware buffers when the maximum number of virtual channels is less than the plurality of hardware buffers.