Re: [PATCH v10 1/3] cpufreq: Add mechanism for registering utilization update callbacks

[Steve Muckle <steve.muckle@linaro.org>]

On 02/19/2016 08:42 AM, Srinivas Pandruvada wrote:
> We did experiments using util/max in intel_pstate. For some benchmarks
> there were regression of 4 to 5%, for some benchmarks it performed at
> par with getting utilization from the processor. Further optimization
> in the algorithm is possible and still in progress. Idea is that we can
> change P-State fast enough and be more reactive. Once I have good data,
> I will send to this list. The algorithm can be part of the cpufreq
> governor too.

There has been a lot of work in the area of scheduler-driven CPU
frequency selection by Linaro and ARM as well. It was posted most
recently a couple months ago:

http://thread.gmane.org/gmane.linux.power-management.general/69176

It was also posted as part of the energy-aware scheduling series last
July. There's a new RFC series forthcoming which I had hoped (and
failed) to post prior to my business travel this week; it should be out
next week. It will address the feedback received thus far along with
locking and other things.

The scheduler hooks for utilization-based cpufreq operation deserve a
lot more debate I think. They could quite possibly have different
requirements than hooks which are chosen just to guarantee periodic
callbacks into sampling-based governors.

For my part I think it would be best if the util/max parameters are
omitted until it's clear whether these same hooks can be effectively
used for architecture agnostic scheduler-guided (capacity driven) CPU
frequency support. My upcoming RFC will provide another opportunity to
debate the hooks as well as how scheduler-guided CPU frequency should be
structured.

thanks,
Steve