Abstract: In one embodiment, a multicore processor includes cores that can independently execute instructions, each at an independent voltage and frequency. The processor may include a power controller having logic to provide for configurability of power management features of the processor. One such feature enables at least one core to operate at an independent performance state based on a state of a single power domain indicator present in a control register. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a multicore processor includes cores that can independently execute instructions, each at an independent voltage and frequency. The processor may include a power controller having logic to provide for configurability of power management features of the processor. One such feature enables at least one core to operate at an independent performance state based on a state of a single power domain indicator present in a control register. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A processor of an aspect includes a plurality of logical processors each having one or more corresponding lower level caches. A shared higher level cache is shared by the plurality of logical processors. The shared higher level cache includes a distributed cache slice for each of the logical processors. The processor includes logic to direct an access that misses in one or more lower level caches of a corresponding logical processor to a subset of the distributed cache slices in a virtual cluster that corresponds to the logical processor. Other processors, methods, and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: A processor of an aspect includes a plurality of logical processors each having one or more corresponding lower level caches. A shared higher level cache is shared by the plurality of logical processors. The shared higher level cache includes a distributed cache slice for each of the logical processors. The processor includes logic to direct an access that misses in one or more lower level caches of a corresponding logical processor to a subset of the distributed cache slices in a virtual cluster that corresponds to the logical processor. Other processors, methods, and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: A processor of an aspect includes a plurality of logical processors each having one or more corresponding lower level caches. A shared higher level cache is shared by the plurality of logical processors. The shared higher level cache includes a distributed cache slice for each of the logical processors. The processor includes logic to direct an access that misses in one or more lower level caches of a corresponding logical processor to a subset of the distributed cache slices in a virtual cluster that corresponds to the logical processor. Other processors, methods, and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: A processor of an aspect includes a plurality of logical processors each having one or more corresponding lower level caches. A shared higher level cache is shared by the plurality of logical processors. The shared higher level cache includes a distributed cache slice for each of the logical processors. The processor includes logic to direct an access that misses in one or more lower level caches of a corresponding logical processor to a subset of the distributed cache slices in a virtual cluster that corresponds to the logical processor. Other processors, methods, and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: Work can be migrated between processor cores. For example, a thread causing a heavy load on a first core can be detected. A power control unit can determine to migrate the thread from the first less-efficient core to the second more-efficient core. The power control unit can request that the first core and the second core transition to a low-power state (e.g., a sleep state, a C6 power state, etc.). The first core can transfer its software context to a first core software context storage, halt and quiesce. The second core can halt and quiesce. The software context from the first core software context storage can be transferred to a second core software context storage of the second core. A processing core identifier of the first core can be assigned to the second core. The power control unit can then request the second core to transition to an active state (such as a C0 state).

Abstract: A multicore processor may include multiple processing cores that were previously designated as active cores and at least one processing core that was previously designated as a functional spare. The processor may include an interface to receive, during operation of the processor in an end-user environment, a request to change the designation of at least one of the processing cores. The processor may be to store, into a desired cores configuration data structure in response to the request, data representing a bitmask that reflects the requested change, and to execute a reset sequence. During the reset sequence, the processor may activate, dependent on the bitmask, a processing core previously designated as a functional spare, or may deactivate, dependent on the bitmask, a processing core previously designated as an active core. The processor may include a predetermined maximum number of active cores and a predetermined minimum number of functional spares.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a processor includes cores to execute instructions. At least some of the cores include a telemetry data control logic to send a first telemetry data packet to a power controller according to a stagger schedule to prevent data collisions, and a global alignment counter to count a stagger alignment period. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a multicore processor includes cores that can independently execute instructions, each at an independent voltage and frequency. The processor may include a power controller having logic to provide for configurability of power management features of the processor. One such feature enables at least one core to operate at an independent performance state based on a state of a single power domain indicator present in a control register. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a processor includes cores to execute instructions. At least some of the cores include a telemetry data control logic to send a first telemetry data packet to a power controller according to a stagger schedule to prevent data collisions, and a global alignment counter to count a stagger alignment period. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Work can be migrated between processor cores. For example, a thread causing a heavy load on a first core can be detected. A power control unit can determine to migrate the thread from the first less-efficient core to the second more-efficient core. The power control unit can request that the first core and the second core transition to a low-power state (e.g., a sleep state, a C6 power state, etc.). The first core can transfer its software context to a first core software context storage, halt and quiesce. The second core can halt and quiesce. The software context from the first core software context storage can be transferred to a second core software context storage of the second core. A processing core identifier of the first core can be assigned to the second core. The power control unit can then request the second core to transition to an active state (such as a C0 state).

Abstract: In an embodiment, a processor comprises: a plurality of cores each to execute instructions; a plurality of thermal sensors, at least one of which is associated with each of the cores; and a power control unit (PCU) coupled to the cores. The PCU includes a thermal control logic to preemptively throttle a first core by a first throttle amount when a temperature of a second core exceeds at least one thermal threshold. Note that this first core may be preemptively throttled independently of a throttling of the second core and may have a temperature of the first core does not exceed any thermal threshold. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: One embodiment of an apparatus includes a semiconductor chip having a processor and an on-die non-volatile storage resource. The on-die non-volatile storage may store different, appropriate performance related information for different configurations and usage cases of the processor for a same performance state of the processor.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a processor comprises: a plurality of cores each to execute instructions; a plurality of thermal sensors, at least one of which is associated with each of the cores; and a power control unit (PCU) coupled to the cores. The PCU includes a thermal control logic to preemptively throttle a first core by a first throttle amount when a temperature of a second core exceeds at least one thermal threshold. Note that this first core may be preemptively throttled independently of a throttling of the second core and may have a temperature of the first core does not exceed any thermal threshold. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for per core performance states in a processor. Per Core Performance States (PCPS) refer to the parallel operating of individual cores at different voltage and/frequency points. In one embodiment of the invention, the processor has a plurality of processing cores and a power control module that is coupled with each of the plurality of processing cores. The power control module facilitates each processing core to operate at a different performance state from the other processing cores. By allowing its cores to have per core performance state configuration, the processor is able to reduce its power consumption and increase its performance.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a multicore processor includes a controller to dynamically limit a maximum permitted turbo mode frequency of its cores based on a core activity pattern of the cores and power consumption information of a unit power table. In one embodiment, the core activity pattern can indicate, for each core, an activity level and a logic unit state of the corresponding core. Further, the unit power table can be dynamically computed based on a temperature of the processor. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: One embodiment of an apparatus includes a semiconductor chip having a processor and an on-die non-volatile storage resource. The on-die non-volatile storage may store different, appropriate performance related information for different configurations and usage cases of the processor for a same performance state of the processor.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a multicore processor includes cores that can independently execute instructions, each at an independent voltage and frequency. The processor may include a power controller having logic to provide for configurability of power management features of the processor. One such feature enables at least one core to operate at an independent performance state based on a state of a single power domain indicator present in a control register. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a multicore processor includes cores that can independently execute instructions, each at an independent voltage and frequency. The processor may include a power controller having logic to provide for configurability of power management features of the processor. One such feature enables at least one core to operate at an independent performance state based on a state of a single power domain indicator present in a control register. Other embodiments are described and claimed.