Enhanced SpeedStep technology is a feature that reduces processor
power consumption by automatically lowering frequency and operating
voltage when maximum processor performance is not required or saving
battery power is more important. First microprocessors with Enhanced
SpeedStep technology, mobile Pentium III-M and Pentium 4-M, included
only one low-frequency state. More recent mobile microprocessors have
multiple low-frequency states with different operating frequencies
and core voltages. Having multiple states provides better balance
between battery power savings and required performance, and allows
the CPU to shorten processor downtime during state change (CPU is not
operational during when transitioning from one state to another, and
changing the state from the lowest frequency mode to normal mode
takes most of the time).
Enhanced SpeedStep technology was implemented in Intel
microprocessors. AMD microprocessors have somewhat similar feature
called PowerNow!.
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