Information About Automation Runtime Operation - B&R Automation PC 3100 User Manual

Information:
To operate Automation Runtime Windows (ARwin), parameter Advanced - OEM features - Realtime
environment must be set to Enabled in BIOS and parameter Boot - EFI device first must be set to
Disabled.
Information:
ARwin is no longer supported starting with Automation Runtime V4.6.

7.4.5.5 Information about Automation Runtime operation

Information:
In situations where there is a heavy load on the CPU and GPU simultaneously, it is possible that the
specified thermal design power (TDP) of the CPU is exceeded. When this happens, the CPU's internal
protective mechanisms will begin limiting the load to the TDP. This means that either the CPU frequency
or the graphic frequency (GPU) will be reduced/controlled. In real-time applications, this can result in
increased jitter and/or higher cycle times.
This behavior can be influenced by settings in BIOS. The maximum CPU frequency can be set in BIOS
under Advanced - CPU configuration using option CPU flex ratio override. The number of cores used
can be set using option Active processor cores.
In addition, the maximum frequency of the GPU (Gfx) can be limited in BIOS under Advanced - Power
& Performance - GT power management control with option Maximum GT frequency.
Limiting the CPU and/or GPU frequency reduces power consumption and prevents the TDP from being
exceeded.
The optimal settings for real-time operation depend on several factors:
1) The CPU variant being used:
° If CPU C-3965U is used, no further actions (BIOS settings) are necessary. For pure ARemb oper-
ation, it is recommended to limit Active processor cores to 1 in BIOS.
° If the i3-7100U, i5-7300U or i7-7600U CPU is used, see item 2 "ARemb, ARwin or B&R Hypervisor
mode".
2) ARemb, ARwin or B&R Hypervisor mode:
° For pure ARemb operation, the active processor cores must be limited to 1 and the GPU frequency
must be limited to an average value (see item 3 "Typical use cases for ARemb").
° For ARwin or B&R Hypervisor mode, see item 4 "Typical use cases for ARwin or B&R Hypervisor".
3) Typical use cases for ARemb:
The following operating modes are intended to represent typical use cases.
° xPC3100 C-3965U: No limitation of CPU and/or GPU frequency necessary.
Operation with max. CPU and Gfx frequency is possible, but B&R recommends single-core oper-
ation.
° xPC3100 i3-7100U: Operation as single-core system with 2400 MHz CPU and 600 MHz Gfx fre-
quency
° xPC3100 i5-7300U: Operation as single-core system with 2600 MHz CPU and 600 MHz Gfx fre-
quency
° xPC3100 i7-7600U: Operation as single-core system with 2800 MHz CPU and 600 MHz Gfx fre-
quency
4) Typical use cases for ARwin or B&R Hypervisor:
The following operating modes are intended to represent typical use cases.
° xPC3100 C-3965U: No limitation of CPU and/or GPU frequency necessary.
Operation with max. CPU and Gfx frequency is possible.
° xPC3100 i3-7100U: Operation with 1400 MHz CPU and 800 MHz Gfx frequency
° xPC3100 i3-7100U: Operation with 2000 MHz CPU and 450 MHz Gfx frequency
° xPC3100 i5-7300U: Operation with 1600 MHz CPU and 800 MHz Gfx frequency
° xPC3100 i5-7300U: Operation with 2100 MHz CPU and 450 MHz Gfx frequency
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