AMD Turbo Core
| Design firm | Advanced Micro Devices |
|---|---|
| Introduced | 2011 |
| Type | dynamic frequency scaling |
AMD Turbo Core is a technology implemented by AMD that allows the processor to dynamically adjust and control the processor operating frequency in certain versions of its processors which allows for increased performance when needed while maintaining lower power and thermal parameters during normal operation.[1] AMD Turbo Core technology has been implemented beginning with the Bulldozer microarchitecture.[2] AMD Turbo Core is currently available with select AMD A-Series accelerated processing units.[3]
AMD Turbo Core is similar to Intel Turbo Boost, which is another dynamic processor frequency adjustment technology used to increase performance, as well as AMD PowerNow!, which is used to dynamically adjust laptop processor's operating frequencies in order to decrease power consumption (saving battery life), reduce heat, and lower noise. AMD PowerNow! is used to decrease processor frequency, whereas AMD Turbo Core is used to increase processor frequency.
Background
To determine a processors clock speed, the processor is stress tested to determine the maximum speed that the processor can run before the maximum amount of power allowed is reached, which is called thermal design power or TDP. It has been reported that customers would complain that the processors rarely consumed the rated TDP, which meant that most consumers do not come close to the power consumed during maximum stress testing.[2] A parameter called Average CPU Power or ACP is used to address this issue. ACP defines the average power expected to be consumed with regular use, whereas TDP gives the top power consumed. Power consumed is an important factor when considering thermal limits and determining CPU power dissipation.
AMD Turbo Core and similar dynamic processor frequency adjustment technologies take advantage of the fact that average power consumed is less than the maximum design limits and therefore frequency (and the accompanying power and heat) is able to be increased for short amounts of time and still be within design limits.
Features
Some of the AMD Turbo Core benefits include:[2]
- up to 500 MHz of additional clock speed available with all cores active, meaning all cores can boost at the same time
- potentially even higher boost states available with half of the cores active, since fewer active cores would require less power and generate less heat
- governed by power draw, not temperature, so that the same performance increase is available in warmer environments, so that max frequency is dependent on workload
Processors supporting AMD Turbo Core
See also
- AMD Cool'n'Quiet (desktop CPUs)
- AMD PowerNow! (laptop CPUs)
- AMD PowerTune (graphics)
- Dynamic frequency scaling
- Intel SpeedStep (CPUs)
- Turbo button
