SPEC CPU2006 Platform Settings for Supermicro 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.

Energy/Performance Bias:

This BIOS option allows for processor performance and power optmization. Available settings are:

• Performance: High performance with less need for power saving.
• Balanced Performance (Default Setting): Provides optimal performance efficiency.
• Balanced Energy: Provides optimal power efficiency.
• Energy Efficient: High power saving with less need for performance.

DRAM RAPL:

RAPL (Running Average Power Limit) provides mechanisms to enforce power consumption limits on supported processors.

Double Refresh:

• Disable: Force memory refresh rate to x1, i.e. 7.8us.
• Auto: 7.8us refresh rate for normal temperature and 3.9us refresh rate when memory overheats.
• Enable: Force memory refresh rate to x2, i.e. 3.9us for high density DIMM. It can make the system more stable, but will increase power and can affect performance.
• Energy Efficient: High power saving with less need for performance.

C1E:

Enhanced C1 Power State boosts system performance.

CPU C3 Report:

Allows the BIOS to report the CPU C3 State (ACPI C2) to the operating system. During the CPU C3 State, the CPU clock generator is turned off.

CPU C6 Report:

Allows the BIOS to report the CPU C6 State (ACPI C3) to the operating system. During the CPU C6 State, the power to all cache is turned off.

C-state Limit:

Allows user to set the limit on the C-State package register

Hyper-threading:

Enhances CPU performance.

Double Refresh:

Description

Force SPD:

Forces the memory to run the frequency value selected despite DIMM per channel configuration. Normally (set as Auto), more DIMM per channel results in memory running at lower speeds.

Demand Scrub:

Demand Scrubbing is a process that allows the CPU to correct correctable memory errors found on a memory module. When the CPU or I/O issues a demand-read command, and the read data from memory turns out to be a correctable error, the error is corrected and sent to the requestor (the original source). Memory is updated as well. Select Enabled to use Demand Scrubbing for ECC memory correction.

Profile: (Profiles may override manually chosen BIOS settings)

• Default: Manually change BIOS settings in other menus
• Profile #1: Optimizes CPU throughput
• Profile #2: Optimizes CPU Int speed
• Profile #3: Optimizes CPU FP speed

COD (Cluster On Die):

Enable/Disable Cluster On Die mode which targets NUMA workloads where sharing across Caching Agents is less important than latency. Cores in a specific cluster will interact primarily with cache slices within cluster.

Early Snoop:

Enable/Disable Early Snoop mode which is best for workloads with high cache to cache transfers or for workloads that are not fully NUMA optimized by sending snoop probes between caching agents. Requires memory populated on all channels.

Enforce POR:

Enable to enforce Plan Of Record restrictions for DDR4 frequency and voltage programming. Memory speeds will be capped at Intel guidelines.

Memory Frequency:

Selects desired memory frequecy (within populated memory limits).