Dual Thermal Profile Diagram - Intel 5100 Series Instruction Manual

Figure 2-8.

Dual Thermal Profile Diagram

T T
CASE CASE
T T
CASE CASE
T T MAX@ MAX@
CASE CASE
P P
_PROFILE_MIN _PROFILE_MIN
The Thermal Profile A is based on Intel's 2U+ air cooling solution. Designing to Thermal
Profile A ensures that no measurable performance loss due to Thermal Control Circuit
(TCC) activation is observed in the processor. It is expected that TCC would only be
activated for very brief periods of time when running a worst-case real world
application in a worst-case thermal condition. These brief instances of TCC activation
are not expected to impact the performance of the processor. A worst case real world
application is defined as a commercially available, useful application which dissipates a
power equal to, or above, the TDP for a thermally relevant timeframe. One example of
a worst-case thermal condition is when a processor local ambient temperature is at or
above 42.3°C for Dual-Core Intel Xeon Processor 5160 Thermal Profile A.
Thermal Profile B supports volumetrically constrained platforms (that is, 1U, blades,
and so forth), and is based on Intel's 1U air cooling solution. Because of the reduced
capability represented by such thermal solutions, designing to Thermal Profile B results
in an increased probability of TCC activation and an associated measurable
performance loss. Measurable performance loss is defined to be any degradation in the
processor's performance greater than 1.5%. The 1.5% number is chosen as the
baseline since the run-to-run variation in a given performance benchmark is typically
between 1 - 2%.
Although designing to Thermal Profile B results in increased T
compared to Thermal Profile A at a given power level, both of these Thermal Profiles
ensure that Intel's long-term processor reliability requirements are satisfied. In other
words, designing to Thermal Profile B does not impose any additional risk to Intel's
long-term reliability requirements. Thermal solutions that exceed Thermal Profile B
specification are considered incompliant and will adversely affect the long-term
reliability of the processor.
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MAX B MAX B
MAX A MAX A
P P
_PROFILE_MIN_B _PROFILE_MIN_B
Dual-Core Intel® Xeon® Processor 5100 Series Thermal/Mechanical Design Guide
Thermal/Mechanical Reference Design
Thermal Profile B Thermal Profile B
Thermal Profile A Thermal Profile A
P P
_PROFILE_MIN_A _PROFILE_MIN_A
Power Power
TDP TDP
temperatures
CASE