Intel® Pentium® Silver and Intel® Celeron® Processors Datasheet, Volume 1

Datasheet

ID Date Version Classification
633935 17/06/2021 00:00:00 Public Content

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Document Table of Contents
DSP

Processor IA Core C-State Rules

The following are general rules for all processor IA core C-states, unless specified otherwise:

  • A processor IA core transitions to C0 state when:
    • An interrupt occurs
    • There is an access to the monitored address if the state was entered using an MWAIT/Timed MWAIT instruction.
    • The deadline corresponding to the Timed MWAIT instruction expires.
  • Any interrupt coming into the processor package may wake any processor IA core.
  • A system reset re-initializes all processor IA cores.

Core C-States

Core C-State

C-State Request Instruction

Description

C0

N/A

The normal operating state of a processor IA core where code is being executed

C1

MWAIT(C1)

AutoHalt - core execution stopped, autonomous clock gating (package in C0 state)

C1E

MWAIT(C1E)

Core C1 + lowest frequency and voltage operating point (package in C0 state)

C6

MWAIT(C6)

C6: Halt execution, flush core caches, flush core state, stop clock distribution, turn core voltage off

C6S

MWAIT(C6S)

C6S: C6 + allow entry to MC6

C7-C8

MWAIT(C7/C8)

Same as C6S, shrink the LLC

C10

MWAIT(C10)

Same as C6S, LLC flushed. Enable S0ix

Core C-State Auto-Demotion

In general, deeper C-states, such as C6, have long latencies and have higher energy entry/exit costs. The resulting performance and energy penalties become significant when the entry/exit frequency of a deeper C-state is high. Therefore, incorrect or inefficient usage of deeper C-states have a negative impact on battery life and idle power. To increase residency and improve battery life and idle power in deeper C-states, the processor supports C-state auto-demotion.

C-State auto-demotion:

  • C6 to C1/C1E

The decision to demote a processor IA core from C6 to C1/C1E is based on each processor IA core’s immediate residency history. Upon each processor IA core C6 request, the processor IA core C-state is demoted to C1 until a sufficient amount of residency has been established. At that point, a processor IA core is allowed to go into C6. If the interrupt rate experienced on a processor IA core is high and the processor IA core is rarely in a deep C-state between such interrupts, the processor IA core can be demoted to a C1 state.

This feature is disabled by default. Refer the Firmware Architecture Specifications for more details on how to enable this.

There are also Module C-states related to the core C states.

Module C-States

Module C-State

Description

MC0

At least one core in C0

MC6

All cores in C6 (powered off)

CPLL bypassed (powered off)

L2 flushed, L2 voltage = powered off