System for reduced power consumption by monitoring instruction buffer and method thereof

摘要

A system and method are provided for reducing power consumption within a video processing portion of a system. Activity associated with an instruction buffer is monitored to determine whether power consumption modes can be initiated within a system. If a number of pending instructions within an instruction buffer is greater than a particular threshold value, a normal mode of operation is initiated. If the number of pending instructions is less than the threshold value, the system is put in a reduced mode of operation. In the reduced mode of operation, processing is reduced to lower power consumption within the system. Accordingly, power consumption is altered to match a level of activity within the instruction buffer.