Dynamic Performance Adjustment of CPU and GPU in a Gaming Notebook at the Battery Mode

Abstract

This new design uses a low power embedded controller (EC) in cooperation with the BIOS of a notebook (NB) computer, both to accomplish dynamic adjustment and to maintain a required performance level of the battery mode of the notebook. In order to extend the operation time at the battery mode, in general, the notebook computer will directly reduce the clock rate and then reduce the performance. This design can obtain the necessary balance of the performance and the power consumption by using both the EC and the BIOS cooperatively to implement the dynamic control of both the CPU and the GPU frequency to maintain the system performance at a sufficient level for a high speed and high resolution video game. In contrast, in order to maintain a certain notebook performance, in terms of battery life it will be necessary to make some trade-offs.