Thermal Management Features; Processor Package Thermal Features; Adaptive Thermal Monitor - Intel 2ND GENERATION CORE PROCESSOR FAMILY MOBILE - DATASHEET VOLUME 1 01-2011 Datasheet

5.4

Thermal Management Features

This section covers thermal management features for the processor.
5.4.1

Processor Package Thermal Features

This section covers thermal management features for the entire processor complex
(including the processor core, the graphics core, and integrated memory controller
hub), and will be referred to as processor package, or by simply the package.
Occasionally the package will operate in conditions that exceed its maximum allowable
operating temperature. This can be due to internal overheating or due to overheating in
the entire system. To protect itself and the system from thermal failure, the package is
capable of reducing its power consumption and thereby its temperature to attempt to
remain within normal operating limits using the Adaptive Thermal Monitor.
The Adaptive Thermal Monitor can be activated when any package temperature,
monitored by a digital thermal sensor (DTS), meets or exceeds its maximum junction
temperature specification (T
circuit (TCC) can be activated prior to T
assertion of PROCHOT# activates the thermal control circuit (TCC), and causes both
the processor core and graphics core to reduce frequency and voltage adaptively. The
TCC will remain active as long as any package temperature exceeds its specified limit.
Therefore, the Adaptive Thermal Monitor will continue to reduce the package frequency
and voltage until the TCC is de-activated.
Caution: The Adaptive Thermal Monitor must be enabled for the processor to remain within
specification.
5.4.1.1

Adaptive Thermal Monitor

The purpose of the Adaptive Thermal Monitor is to reduce processor core power
consumption and temperature until it operates at or below its maximum operating
temperature (according for TCC activation offset). Processor core power reduction is
achieved by:
• Adjusting the operating frequency (using the core ratio multiplier) and input
voltage (using the SVID bus).
• Modulating (starting and stopping) the internal processor core clocks (duty cycle).
The temperature at which the Adaptive Thermal Monitor activates the Thermal Control
Circuit is factory calibrated and is not user configurable. The default value is software
visible in the TEMPERATURE_TARGET (1A2h) MSR, Bits 23:16. The Adaptive Thermal
Monitor does not require any additional hardware, software drivers, or interrupt
handling routines. Note that the Adaptive Thermal Monitor is not intended as a
mechanism to maintain processor TDP. The system design should provide a thermal
solution that can maintain TDP within its intended usage range.
70
) and asserts PROCHOT#. Note that thermal control
J,max
by use of the TCC activation offset. The
J,max
Thermal Management
Datasheet, Volume 1