Timer coalescing
Timer coalescing is a computer system energy-saving technique that reduces central processing unit (CPU) power consumption by reducing the precision of software timers to allow the synchronization of process wake-ups, minimizing the number of times the CPU is forced to perform the relatively power-costly operation of entering and exiting idle states.[1]
- The Linux kernel added support for deferrable timers in 2.6.22,[2][3] and controllable "timer slack" for threads in 2.6.28 allowing timer coalescing.[4][5]
- Timer coalescing has been a feature of Microsoft Windows from Windows 7 onward.[6]
- Apple's XNU kernel based OS X added support as of OS X Mavericks.[7][8]
See also
- Advanced Configuration and Power Interface
- Advanced Programmable Interrupt Controller
- CPU tick — and tickless kernels
- FreeRTOS
- High Precision Event Timer
- HLT
- Interrupt coalescing
- Interrupt service routine
- Low-power electronics
- Performance per watt
- Programmable interval timer
- Real-time clock
- System clock
- Time Stamp Counter
References
- ^ Anderson, Nate (June 11, 2013). "How OS X "Mavericks" works its power-saving magic". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2014-03-22.
- ^ "Linux Kernel 2 6 22". kernelnewbies.org. Retrieved 2014-03-22.
- ^ "Add support for deferrable timers". 2007-05-08. Retrieved 2014-03-22.
- ^ http://man7.org/linux/man-pages/man7/time.7.html
- ^ http://man7.org/linux/man-pages/man2/prctl.2.html
- ^ "Windows Timer Coalescing". Microsoft. January 20, 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-21.
- ^ "OS X Mavericks - Advanced Technologies". Apple Inc. Retrieved 2014-03-22.
- ^ "OS X Mavericks: Core Technologies Overview" (PDF). Apple, Inc. June 10, 2013. Retrieved 2013-06-10.
 | This computer science article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |