Features
6.3
Enhanced Intel® SpeedStep® Technology
The processor supports Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology. This technology
enables the processor to switch between multiple frequency and voltage points, which
results in platform power savings. Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology requires
support for dynamic VID transitions in the platform. Switching between voltage/
frequency states is software controlled.
Note:
Not all processors are capable of supporting Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology.
More details on which processor frequencies support this feature is provided in the
Dual-Core Intel® Xeon® Processor 3000 Series Specification Update.
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology creates processor performance states
(P-states) or voltage/frequency operating points. P-states are lower power capability
states within the Normal state as shown in Figure 6-1. Enhanced Intel SpeedStep®
Technology enables real-time dynamic switching between frequency and voltage
points. It alters the performance of the processor by changing the bus to core
frequency ratio and voltage. This allows the processor to run at different core
frequencies and voltages to best serve the performance and power requirements of the
processor and system. The processor has hardware logic that coordinates the
requested voltage (VID) between the processor cores. The highest voltage that is
requested for either of the processor cores is selected for that processor package. Note
that the front side bus is not altered; only the internal core frequency is changed. To
run at reduced power consumption, the voltage is altered in step with the bus ratio.
Dual-Core Intel® Xeon® Processor 3000 Series Datasheet
93
INTEL [ INTEL ]
