Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for aligning active and idle phases of components in a computing system are disclosed. A computing system includes components that can be forced into an active or idle phase and components that cannot be forced into an active or idle phase. The system implements schemes for aligning the active and idle phases of the components within the system. For example, a timer starts counting when a processor and memory subsystem go from a low power state to an operational state. If the amount of time spent by the processor and memory subsystems in the operational state without transitioning to the low power state exceeds a threshold, the system forces active-to-idle and idle-to-active phase transitions of components in the system in order to cause a realignment of active and idle phases of the various components within the system.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for aligning active and idle phases of components in a computing system are disclosed. A computing system includes components that can be forced into an active or idle phase and components that cannot be forced into an active or idle phase. The system implements schemes for aligning the active and idle phases of the components within the system. For example, a timer starts counting when a processor and memory subsystem go from a low power state to an operational state. If the amount of time spent by the processor and memory subsystems in the operational state without transitioning to the low power state exceeds a threshold, the system forces active-to-idle and idle-to-active phase transitions of components in the system in order to cause a realignment of active and idle phases of the various components within the system.

Abstract: A circuit for use in a computing system including a bus interface unit and an autoload controller. The autoload controller has an input to receive an initialization signal. In response to receiving the initialization signal, the autoload controller searches for a signature using the bus interface unit and, in response to finding the signature at a signature address, loads a plurality of base addresses corresponding to a plurality of controllers from memory locations having a predetermined relationship to the address, and provides the plurality of base addresses to a control output thereof.

Abstract: Current computer systems support sleep states such as sleep state S3 and sleep state S4. A system in sleep state S3 utilizes more power than one in sleep state S4, however, a system in sleep state S3 can resume function substantially faster than a system in sleep state S4. An idle system is often put into sleep state S3 rather than sleep state S4 because of the shorter resume time even though sleep state S3 utilizes more power. Embodiments include a reduced-power sleep state S3 that uses less power than sleep state S3 yet resumes function faster than sleep state S4. Embodiments reduce the power consumed by compressing and consolidating system context to fewer memory modules, and powering down unused memory modules. Embodiments thus avoid storing system content to non-volatile memory. Embodiments include waking the system by restoring system context in the reverse order to respective memory modules.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for servicing an interrupt in a computer system. The method includes a device driver receiving an interrupt request. The device driver is responsive to the interrupt request to store interrupt data in a portion of the memory. The interrupt data includes identification of at least one processor of the plurality of processors capable of servicing the interrupt request; priority of the interrupt request; a thread context; and an address for instructions to service the interrupt request. The device driver then instructs the peripheral device to issue a memory write to the plurality of processors so that each may determine if it can use the thread context and the instructions to service the interrupt. A computer system is provided with the hardware needed to perform the method.

Abstract: A processor integrated circuit has one or more processor cores and a power management controller in a North-Bridge that generates a first power state recommendation for the one or more processor cores. The North-Bridge also receives a second power state recommendation from a South-Bridge integrated circuit. The North-Bridge determines a final power state for the one or more processor cores based on the first and second power state recommendations.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for servicing an interrupt in a computer system. The method includes a device driver receiving an interrupt request. The device driver is responsive to the interrupt request to store interrupt data in a portion of the memory. The interrupt data includes identification of at least one processor of the plurality of processors capable of servicing the interrupt request; priority of the interrupt request; a thread context; and an address for instructions to service the interrupt request. The device driver then instructs the peripheral device to issue a memory write to the plurality of processors so that each may determine if it can use the thread context and the instructions to service the interrupt. A computer system is provided with the hardware needed to perform the method.

Abstract: A circuit for use in a computing system including and a bus interface unit and an autoload controller. The autoload controller has an input to receive an initialization signal. In response to receiving the initialization signal, autoload controller searches for a signature using the bus interface unit and, in response to finding the signature at a signature address, loads a plurality of base addresses corresponding to a plurality of controllers from memory locations having a predetermined relationship to the address, and provides the plurality of base addresses to a control output thereof.

Abstract: A processor integrated circuit has one or more processor cores and a power management controller in a North-Bridge that generates a first power state recommendation for the one or more processor cores. The North-Bridge also receives a second power state recommendation from a South-Bridge integrated circuit. The North-Bridge determines a final power state for the one or more processor cores based on the first and second power state recommendations.