3 ms·

A Google search doesn’t do much to define the term, but from context I believe it means a frequency allowance that’s baked into the CPU rather than one that’s e

A Google search doesn’t do much to define the term, but from context I believe it means a frequency allowance that’s baked into the CPU rather than one that’s enforced dynamically depending on power/thermals. I doubt Intel has validated the hardware outside its “license”. This appears to be a much earlier design constraint than anything they could reasonably expect to bin.

jeffbee 6y ago
The license is an open-loop, predetermined safe operating area for AVX. The other limits, like RAPL and temperature, are closed-loop control systems. I think we can imagine that the static SOA exists for all these parts, but in the newer part it's so large that it doesn't tread much on the territory of the closed-loop systems. Eventually the SOA will be large enough to be irrelevant in practice.
- BeeOnRope 6y ago
  This is an excellent description. May I use, with credit, part of this text, perhaps edited or paraphrased, as a clarifier in the blog post?
  - jeffbee 6y ago
    Sure, feel free. I certainly don't need to be credited for the idea that semiconductors have limits.
    - BeeOnRope 6y ago
      Well yes, but you gave a good bit more detail than "that semiconductors have limits" ;).