SPEC CPU2006 Platform Settings for Intel-based systems

Firmware / BIOS / Microcode Settings

Hardware Prefetch:

This BIOS option allows the enabling/disabling of a processor mechanism to prefetch data into the cache according to a pattern-recognition algorithm In some cases, setting this option to Disabled may improve performance. Users should only disable this option after performing application benchmarking to verify improved performance in their environment.

Adjacent Sector Prefetch:

This BIOS option allows the enabling/disabling of a processor mechanism to fetch the adjacent cache line within a 128-byte sector that contains the data needed due to a cache line miss. In some cases, setting this option to Disabled may improve performance. Users should only disable this option after performing application benchmarking to verify improved performance in their environment.

Hyper-Threading:

This BIOS option allows the enabling/disabling of Intel's Hyper-Threading (HT) Technology. HT Technology allows multithreaded software applications execute two threads in parallel within each processor core.

DIMM Voltage:

Specify the operating voltage of memory. The memory voltage may differ from that specified in this parameter depending on memory configuration.

Power Technology:

This BIOS switch allows 3 options: "Disabled", "Energy Efficent", and "Custom". "Disabled" disables all CPU power efficiency setting. "Energy Efficent" sets the CPU power efficiency automatically, CPU power management configurations can't be set manually. "Custom" allows the enabling/disabling of CPU EIST, Turbo Mode, C1E Support, CPU C3 and C6 Report, this option also allows set Package C State Limit to "C0", "C2", "C6" or "No Limit". The default is "Custom", this option disabled C3 and enabled EIST, Turbo Mode, C1E and C6 support by default, Package C State Limited to "No Limit" by default.

Turbo Mode:

Intel Turbo Boost Technology allows processor cores to run faster than the rated operating frequency if they’re operating below power, current, and temperature specification limits. Disabling this feature will reduce power usage but will reduce the system's maximum achievable performance under some workloads.

C States Support:

Select supported CPU power management status to minimize the idle power consumption of processor. "C1" is C1 only, "C1C3" is C1 and C3, "C1C3C6" is C1, C3 and C6. "C1C3C6C7" is C1, C3, C6 and C7. Default setting is "C1C3C6C7"

Package C State Limit:

Specifies the lowest C-state for the processor package. This feature does not limit the processors to enter any of the core C-states. This default setting is "No Limit", all C-States supported by the processor are available. If set to "C0", no package C-state support.

ICE Performance Modes:

Enhanced C1 Power State boosts system performance.

C1E Performance Modes:

C1 is a state where the processor is not executing instructions, but can return to an executing state immediately. Select Enhanced C1 state (C1E) for lower power consumption when the computer is idle. Select whether to enable or disable Enhanced C1 State.