Abstract: A mechanism is invoked when a run queue is looking for a thread to dispatch and there is not a thread currently available. The mechanism checks to see if another logical processor on the same physical processor is running a thread. If another logical processor on the same physical processor is running a thread, the logical processor reduces its priority, allowing the other active processor to consume all of the resources for the physical processor. The hardware contains a timer which periodically wakes up the low priority logical thread. Thus, when a thread becomes ready to dispatch, the logical processor can raise its priority and run a thread.