What processor feature enables real-time dynamic hardware adjustments to CPU clock speed and core voltage based on system load, known as SpeedStep in Intel and Cool'n'Quiet in AMD?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: D. DVFS (Dynamic Voltage and Frequency Scaling)
- Step 1: CMOS power consumption is proportional to capacitance, clock frequency, and the square of voltage ().
- Step 2: Dynamic Voltage and Frequency Scaling (DVFS) reduces both core clock frequency and operating voltage during idle or light tasks, cutting power consumption and heat generation exponentially.
Answer
DVFS (Dynamic Voltage and Frequency Scaling)
Why not the others: 'SMT (Simultaneous Multithreading)' SMT executes multiple software threads on one physical core, not dynamic voltage and frequency scaling; 'DMA (Direct Memory Access)' DMA transfers data directly between I/O and RAM without CPU intervention; 'ECC (Error-Correcting Code)' ECC detects and corrects bit flips in memory.
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