Abstract: Power reduction and voltage adjustment techniques for computing systems and processing devices are presented herein. In one example, a method includes executing a voltage characterization service for a processing device of a computing apparatus to determine at least one supply voltage for the processing device, the voltage characterization service comprising a functional test that exercises the processing device at iteratively adjusted voltages in context with associated system elements of the computing apparatus. During execution of the voltage characterization service, the method includes monitoring for operational failures of at least the processing device, and responsive to the operational failures, determining at least one resultant supply voltage.

Abstract: Voltage adjustment techniques for computing systems and processing devices are presented herein. In one example, a method of determining operating voltages for a processing device includes executing a voltage adjustment process to determine at least one input voltage for the processing device lower than a manufacturer specified operating voltage. During the voltage adjustment process, the method includes applying incrementally adjusted input voltages to the processing device, operating the processing device according to a functional test that exercises the processing device in context with associated system elements of a computing assembly, and monitoring for operational failures of at least the processing device during application of each of the incrementally adjusted input voltages.

Abstract: Power reduction and voltage adjustment techniques for computing systems and processing devices are presented herein. In one example, a method includes executing a voltage characterization service for a processing device of a computing apparatus to determine at least one supply voltage for the processing device, the voltage characterization service comprising a functional test that exercises the processing device at iteratively adjusted voltages in context with associated system elements of the computing apparatus. During execution of the voltage characterization service, the method includes monitoring for operational failures of at least the processing device, and responsive to the operational failures, determining at least one resultant supply voltage.

Abstract: Thermal reduction and voltage adjustment techniques for computing systems and processing devices are presented herein. In a first example, a method of operating a voltage control system for a processing device includes operating the processing device in a computing assembly at a selected performance level, the processing device supplied with at least one input voltage at a first voltage level. The method includes monitoring thermal information associated with the computing assembly, and when the thermal information indicates a temperature associated with the computing assembly exceeds a threshold temperature, adjusting the at least one input voltage level supplied to the processing device to a second voltage level lower than the first voltage level and continuing to operate the processing device at the selected performance level.

Abstract: Power reduction and voltage adjustment techniques for computing systems and processing devices are presented herein. In one example, a method includes receiving a voltage characterization service over a communication interface of the computing apparatus as transferred by a deployment platform remote from the computing apparatus. The method includes executing the voltage characterization service for a processing device of the computing apparatus to determine at least one input voltage for the processing device lower than a manufacturer specified operating voltage, the voltage characterization service comprising a functional test that exercises the processing device at iteratively adjusted voltages in context with associated system elements of the computing apparatus.

Abstract: Secure voltage adjustment techniques for computing systems and processing devices are presented herein. In one example, a method of controlling operating voltages for a processing device includes initializing a security portion of the processing device after application of input voltages to the processing device as supplied by voltage regulation circuitry according to voltage identifiers (VIDs) established for the processing device. The method includes, in the security portion, generating adjusted input voltages based on at least the VIDs and authenticated voltage offset information stored according to a digitally signed security process, and instructing the voltage regulation circuitry to supply the adjusted input voltages to the processing device.

Abstract: Power reduction and voltage adjustment techniques for computing systems and processing devices are presented herein. In one example, a method includes receiving a voltage characterization service over a communication interface of the computing apparatus as transferred by a deployment platform remote from the computing apparatus. The method includes executing the voltage characterization service for a processing device of the computing apparatus to determine at least one input voltage for the processing device lower than a manufacturer specified operating voltage, the voltage characterization service comprising a functional test that exercises the processing device at iteratively adjusted voltages in context with associated system elements of the computing apparatus.

Abstract: Voltage adjustment techniques for computing systems and processing devices are presented herein. In one example, a method of determining operating voltages for a processing device includes executing a voltage adjustment process to determine at least one input voltage for the processing device lower than a manufacturer specified operating voltage. During the voltage adjustment process, the method includes applying incrementally adjusted input voltages to the processing device, operating the processing device according to a functional test that exercises the processing device in context with associated system elements of a computing assembly, and monitoring for operational failures of at least the processing device during application of each of the incrementally adjusted input voltages.

Abstract: Thermal reduction and voltage adjustment techniques for computing systems and processing devices are presented herein. In a first example, a method of operating a voltage control system for a processing device includes operating the processing device in a computing assembly at a selected performance level, the processing device supplied with at least one input voltage at a first voltage level. The method includes monitoring thermal information associated with the computing assembly, and when the thermal information indicates a temperature associated with the computing assembly exceeds a threshold temperature, adjusting the at least one input voltage level supplied to the processing device to a second voltage level lower than the first voltage level and continuing to operate the processing device at the selected performance level.

Abstract: Secure voltage adjustment techniques for computing systems and processing devices are presented herein. In one example, a method of controlling operating voltages for a processing device includes initializing a security portion of the processing device after application of input voltages to the processing device as supplied by voltage regulation circuitry according to voltage identifiers (VIDs) established for the processing device. The method includes, in the security portion, generating adjusted input voltages based on at least the VIDs and authenticated voltage offset information stored according to a digitally signed security process, and instructing the voltage regulation circuitry to supply the adjusted input voltages to the processing device.

Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed that relate to implementing semiconductor device cooling systems that leverage awareness of regional voltage and temperature reliability risk considerations. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides a method of implementing a cooling system configured to cool an integrated circuit. The method involves first determining a heat dissipation factor that would reduce each region of the integrated circuit to a reduced temperature in order to maintain an overall failure rate. An analysis is then performed, using an insight about the relative reliability risk of elevated voltage and temperatures, to identify a region of the integrated circuit whose temperature can be permitted to rise without exceeding the overall failure rate, thereby permitting implementation of a cooling system with a reduced heat dissipation factor.

Abstract: A method including sorting read/write commands initiated by a memory controller based upon a destination page within a memory device. The read/write commands having a highest priority level are determined. The commands are then categorized as either page movement commands or data movement commands. The page movement commands or data movement commands are sent to the memory device based upon a signal indicating a current direction of a data bus providing communication between the memory controller and the memory device and further based upon a priority level.

Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed that relate to implementing semiconductor device cooling systems that leverage awareness of regional voltage and temperature reliability risk considerations. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides a method of implementing a cooling system configured to cool an integrated circuit. The method involves first determining a heat dissipation factor that would reduce each region of the integrated circuit to a reduced temperature in order to maintain an overall failure rate. An analysis is then performed, using an insight about the relative reliability risk of elevated voltage and temperatures, to identify a region of the integrated circuit whose temperature can be permitted to rise without exceeding the overall failure rate, thereby permitting implementation of a cooling system with a reduced heat dissipation factor.

Abstract: A method for managing a memory controller comprising selecting a low-power state from a plurality of low-power states. The method further comprises transitioning to the low-power and entering the low-power state when the transition is complete, provided a wake-event has not been received. An apparatus comprises a controller configured to select a power state for transition, a state-machine configured to execute steps for transitions between power states of a memory controller connected by a bus to a memory, a storage configured to store at least one context, and a context engine configured to stream, at the direction of the state-machine engine, the at least one context to the memory controller. Streaming comprises communicating N portions of context data as a stream to N registers in the memory controller. A context comprises a plurality of calibrations corresponding to a state selected for transition.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for maintaining cache coherency across a serial interface bus such as a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) bus. The techniques include generating a snoop request (SNP) to determine whether first data stored in a local memory is coherent relative to second data stored in a data cache, the snoop request including destination information that identifies the data cache on the serial interface bus and causing the snoop request to be transmitted over the serial interface bus to a second processor. The techniques further include extracting a cache line address from the snoop request, determining whether the second data is coherent, generating a complete message (CPL) indicating that the first data is coherent with the second data, and causing the complete message to be transmitted over the bus to the first processor. The snoop request and complete messages may be vendor defined messages.

Abstract: A method including sorting read/write commands initiated by a memory controller based upon a destination page within a memory device. The read/write commands having a highest priority level are determined. The commands are then categorized as either page movement commands or data movement commands. The page movement commands or data movement commands are sent to the memory device based upon a signal indicating a current direction of a data bus providing communication between the memory controller and the memory device and further based upon a priority level.

Abstract: A method of training a memory interface between a memory controller and a memory module. The method includes programming a delay line of a data strobe with a delay value and programming a reference voltage with a voltage value. The method then writes a data bit pattern to the memory module wherein the data bit pattern is of a first plurality of unique data bit patterns. The data bit pattern is read back and a result is compared with the data bit pattern. A determination is made whether the memory module is in a pass state or an error state based on the comparing. The steps are repeated with another data bit pattern of the first plurality of data bit patterns. The method is repeated for each combination of the data strobe delay value and the reference voltage value.

Abstract: A method for managing a memory controller comprising selecting a low-power state from a plurality of low-power states. The method further comprises transitioning to the low-power and entering the low-power state when the transition is complete, provided a wake-event has not been received. An apparatus comprises a controller configured to select a power state for transition, a state-machine configured to execute steps for transitions between power states of a memory controller connected by a bus to a memory, a storage configured to store at least one context, and a context engine configured to stream, at the direction of the state-machine engine, the at least one context to the memory controller. Streaming comprises communicating N portions of context data as a stream to N registers in the memory controller. A context comprises a plurality of calibrations corresponding to a state selected for transition.

Abstract: A bridge is disclosed having a security engine to protect digital content at insecure interfaces of the bridge. The bridge permits cryptographic services to he offloaded from a central processing unit to the bridge. The bridge receives a clear text input from a central processing unit. The bridge encrypts the clear text input as cipher text for storage in a memory. The bridge provided the cipher text to a graphics processing unit.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for maintaining cache coherency across a serial interface bus such as a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) bus. The techniques include generating a snoop request (SNP) to determine whether first data stored in a local memory is coherent relative to second data stored in a data cache, the snoop request including destination information that identifies the data cache on the serial interface bus and causing the snoop request to be transmitted over the serial interface bus to a second processor. The techniques further include extracting a cache line address from the snoop request, determining whether the second data is coherent, generating a complete message (CPL) indicating that the first data is coherent with the second data, and causing the complete message to be transmitted over the bus to the first processor. The snoop request and complete messages may be vendor defined messages.