Simulation and Experimental Study of Load Power Probability-Distribution-Function Effect on Platform Efficiency

In this paper, simulation and experimental results are utilized to study the effect of load power distribution behavior on a given voltage rail and on the overall system or platform energy efficiency. First, by utilizing a MatLabreg simulation model that has been developed in this work, it is shown how the combination of the load power probability-distribution-function (P-PDF) and the power efficiency curve of power delivery/voltage regulator affects the overall energy consumption of a voltage rail in a system and/or platform. Then, the same is shown by utilizing experimental data obtained from an experimental platform running real applications workload in both idle and active modes. It is concluded from both simulation and experimental results that there is an important relationship between the power/energy efficiency and the match between the appropriate VR efficiency curve and the P-PDF of a load.