AMD PowerNow! is AMD's dynamic frequency scaling and power saving technology for laptop processors. The CPU's clock speed and VCore are automatically decreased when the computer is under low load or idle, to save battery power, reduce heat and noise. The lifetime of the CPU is also extended because of reduced electromigration, which varies exponentially with temperature.
The technology is a concept similar to Intel's SpeedStep technology. The adaptation of PowerNow! for AMD's desktop CPUs is called Cool'n'Quiet. Newer Opterons also use an adaptation of PowerNow! called Optimized Power Management.
AMD has supplied and supported drivers for its PowerNow! technology that work on Windows 98, ME, NT, and 2000.
Processors supporting PowerNow!
- K6-2+
- K6-III+
- Athlon XP-M - some models.
- Mobile Athlon 64
- Mobile Sempron
- Turion 64 and X2
- Athlon II
- AMD Accelerated Processing Unit
See also
Power Saving Technologies:
- AMD Cool'n'Quiet (desktop CPUs)
- AMD PowerTune (graphics)
- Intel SpeedStep (CPUs)
Performance Boosting Technologies:
- AMD Turbo Core (CPUs)
- Intel Turbo Boost (CPUs)
External links
References
"AMD PowerNow!™ Informational White Paper" (PDF). Retrieved 27 August 2021. AMD.com – TechDocs https://www.amd.com/system/files/TechDocs/24404a.pdf ↩
AMD Turion 64 X2 Dual-Core Mobile Technology Utilities & Updates, Advanced Micro Devices, retrieved 2007-04-30 https://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/TechnicalResources/0,,30_182_871_14098,00.html ↩
AMD Turion 64 Mobile Technology Utilities & Updates, Advanced Micro Devices, retrieved 2007-04-30 https://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/ProductInformation/0,,30_118_1202_1073%5E871%5E13349,00.html ↩