Power shifting in multicore platforms by varying SMT levels

摘要

Power consumption in a microprocessor platform is managed by setting a peak power level for power consumed by a multi-core microprocessor platform executing multi-threaded applications. The multi-core microprocessor platform contains a plurality of physical cores, and each physical core is configurable into a plurality of logical cores. A simultaneous multithreading level in at least one physical core is adjusted by changing the number of logical cores on that physical core in response to a power consumption level of the multi-core microprocessor platform exceeding the peak power level. Performance and power data based on simultaneous multi-threading levels are used in selecting the physical core to be adjusted.

主权项

1. A method for managing power consumption in a microprocessor platform, the method comprising:
setting a peak power level for power consumed by a multi-core microprocessor platform executing multi-threaded applications, the multi-core microprocessor platform comprising a plurality of physical cores, each physical core configurable into a plurality of logical cores, each logical core executing a hardware thread from the multi-threaded application; and adjusting a simultaneous multithreading level in at least one physical core by changing a number of hardware threads executing on that physical core in response to a power consumption level of the multi-core microprocessor platform exceeding the peak power level; wherein the step of adjusting the simultaneous multithreading level further comprises decreasing the number of hardware threads executing for a plurality of physical cores in series until a current power consumption level is less than or equal to the peak power level.