CMetaphor
Quadfather
I know we somewhat have this sort of thing already, but I'm wondering if someday we'll have even more. Note: since I'm an AMD fan, this is an idea using their APUs/CPUs.
CPUs. I'm talking about CPUs that completely govern themselves. How? 1) Number of cores active/number of threads/HT on or off. Let the CPU decide when to turn off cores for efficiency or single threaded performance (reduce heat from having the extra cores of threads active and use that TDP headroom to OC the few remaining cores that are in heavy use.
2) Frequency scaling, but to a greater extent. Linked with 1), imagine going from 16 threads at @3ghz to 4 threads at 5.Xghz. Then when the power isn't needed shut down most cores and clock the remaining ones to a ridiculously low frequency, like 800mhz. Save power.
3) Always-on intelligent hybrid crossfire:
3a)For CPUs with integrated graphics(APUs): let the motherboard IO graphics connection be the place to connect at all times. Let integrated GPU share a tiny part of the load from the GPU, or take over 2D rendering, leaving the GPU open for other tasks. Then, when less power is needed the CPU shuts down the GPU entirely and the system relies solely on the integrated graphics for power saving.
3b) for CPUs with no integrated, thelis feature would be limited and th discrete GPU can't be fully powered down.
(Ideally all CPUs will become APUs).
4) For the End user: Nothing? Or as little/much as they want to deal with. Wanting your PC to be faster can be as easy as getting a bigger heatsink, cleaning out dust from it, etc.
4a) Simple metrics shown to the end users could show your recent peak frequency, and your averages over time. This could also assist in troubleshooting problems and even be used to determine when you really DO need to dust out your PC. Possible even to detect if the PCs fans are worn out by monitoring temperatures.
Ah, and therein lies the rub. All of this would require 1) CPUs to be built with integrated graphics always (why not?) and 2) require integrated thermal probes, protections and redundancies.
And the biggest hurdle: do we think end users can be trusted with this? Can a PC tell it's user: "Hey my fan isn't performing well, replace it please" or "Toooo much dust! Clean me!", Etc.
What do you guys think?
CPUs. I'm talking about CPUs that completely govern themselves. How? 1) Number of cores active/number of threads/HT on or off. Let the CPU decide when to turn off cores for efficiency or single threaded performance (reduce heat from having the extra cores of threads active and use that TDP headroom to OC the few remaining cores that are in heavy use.
2) Frequency scaling, but to a greater extent. Linked with 1), imagine going from 16 threads at @3ghz to 4 threads at 5.Xghz. Then when the power isn't needed shut down most cores and clock the remaining ones to a ridiculously low frequency, like 800mhz. Save power.
3) Always-on intelligent hybrid crossfire:
3a)For CPUs with integrated graphics(APUs): let the motherboard IO graphics connection be the place to connect at all times. Let integrated GPU share a tiny part of the load from the GPU, or take over 2D rendering, leaving the GPU open for other tasks. Then, when less power is needed the CPU shuts down the GPU entirely and the system relies solely on the integrated graphics for power saving.
3b) for CPUs with no integrated, thelis feature would be limited and th discrete GPU can't be fully powered down.
(Ideally all CPUs will become APUs).
4) For the End user: Nothing? Or as little/much as they want to deal with. Wanting your PC to be faster can be as easy as getting a bigger heatsink, cleaning out dust from it, etc.
4a) Simple metrics shown to the end users could show your recent peak frequency, and your averages over time. This could also assist in troubleshooting problems and even be used to determine when you really DO need to dust out your PC. Possible even to detect if the PCs fans are worn out by monitoring temperatures.
Ah, and therein lies the rub. All of this would require 1) CPUs to be built with integrated graphics always (why not?) and 2) require integrated thermal probes, protections and redundancies.
And the biggest hurdle: do we think end users can be trusted with this? Can a PC tell it's user: "Hey my fan isn't performing well, replace it please" or "Toooo much dust! Clean me!", Etc.
What do you guys think?
