Cool'n'Quiet

Cool'n'Quiet ( to German: " cool and quiet ") is a power-saving mode and as such a feature of modern AMD processors since the AMD K8 family as the Athlon 64 or Sempron of. This is an improved version of the well known from the mobile Athlon PowerNow!, But the first time is also used in workstations and servers for use.

Here, the duty cycle of the main processor (CPU ) is lowered during periods of lower workload depending on the model 800 MHz or 1 GHz. In addition, the core voltage and the clock multiplier during operation be dynamically reduced to 32 stages. The control is carried out directly by an ACPI -compliant operating system. For Windows 98SE, ME, 2000 and XP, GNU / Linux ( kernel 2.2), Open / Free / Dragonfly / Net -BSD (older systems are not ACPI -capable), AMD to a processor driver ( amdk8.sys ) available which makes it possible to address the processor as ACPI processor object. Also the Linux cpufreq driver dominated Cool'n'Quiet. Regardless of the operating system you are using the computer's BIOS must support this power saving mode, however, which is basically in all versions is not the case, and the mode must be enabled in the BIOS as well.

An example of the use and function of Cool'n'Quiet is the AMD Athlon 64 3700 with CG Stepping: He clocked to 2400 MHz ( 1.550 Volts, multiplier 12) to 1000 MHz (1.10 volts, multiplier 5) down. Thus, the power consumption drops considerably: from a maximum of 89 watts to a maximum of 22 watts, which benefits mainly the battery life of the mobile Athlon 64 processors.

Due to the lower power dissipation temperature-controlled processor fan can throttle the speed or entirely deactivate what the power consumption can be further reduced. The decreasing noise then allows a more comfortable working.

AMD Sempron processors for Socket 754 base support Cool'n'Quiet only at a clock frequency of 1800 MHz ( from 3000 ), independent of the processor core ( Core). The same applies to the new socket AM2 Semprons. There, however, the processor the 3200 rating, which is due to the, in contrast to the Socket 754, dual-channel capable memory controller receives at 1800 MHz.

AMD Opteron processors have with Optimized Power Management ( OPM) the principle the same technique, but it is known for marketing purposes as different as also the AMD Turion 64, and other notebook processors, where Cool'n'Quiet still PowerNow! means.

In March 2005, the Cool'n'Quiet technology was developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded the Energy Star label. With this award, EPA acknowledged as AMD processor manufacturer whose products save money and energy and help the environment, since the power efficiency of PCs is significantly improved.

Processors with Cool'n'Quiet

  • AMD FX- 4xxx, 6xxx FX, FX- 8xxx
  • AMD Fusion APUs
  • Phenom II X2, X3, X4, X6
  • Athlon II X2, X3, X4
  • Phenom X3, X4
  • AMD Athlon 64
  • AMD Athlon 64 FX (from FX -53 Clawhammer )
  • AMD Athlon 64 X2
  • AMD Athlon X2
  • AMD Sempron (Socket 754 from model 3000 , Socket AM2 from model 3200 , 1800 MHz, respectively )
  • AMD Opteron (as OPM all CPUs after the Sledgehammer )
  • AMD Turion 64 (referred to as PowerNow! )
  • AMD Mobile Athlon 64 (referred to as PowerNow! )
  • AMD Mobile Sempron (referred to as PowerNow! )
Advanced Configuration and Power Interface United States Environmental Protection Agency AMD Phenom Athlon 64 X2#Athlon X2 List of AMD Sempron microprocessors
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