PowerEdge: Support for Dell Processor Acceleration Technology
Summary:
Dell EMC PowerEdge servers with Dell Processor Acceleration Technology (DPAT) enabled through the BIOS Dell Controlled Turbo setting may provide the optimal solution for low latency
performance. This article provides a summary of this Dell EMC technology, licensing requirements and required steps to enable this setting.
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Dell Processor Acceleration Technology (DPAT) and Dell Processor Acceleration Technology Pro enabled through the BIOS Dell Controlled Turbo setting may provide the optimal solution for low latency performance.
Dell servers set to Maximum Performance in the BIOS are intended for maximum throughput, not latency. Intel Turbo Boost 2.0 provides the highest frequency of available cores in a multicore multiprocessor environment within the power constraints of the CPU. Turbo Boost is activated by the Operating System (OS) following ACPI standards using processor performance states. When the OS instructs an Active core to enter C3 sleep state the other cores dynamically accelerate to a higher frequency. Turbo Boost is limited by the number of cores, current and estimated power consumption and temperature. There is some latency in stepping frequency, changing C states and other CPU functions. Some environments such as High Frequency Trading in the Financial Markets need low latency in their transactions. Dell Processor Acceleration Technology (DPAT), enabled through the BIOS Dell Controlled Turbo, may provide a better performing solution than turning the turbo off. DPAT limits the settings for the processor to keep latency low all the time.
Licensing for Dell Processor Acceleration Technology
A DPAT license is a perpetual license that is valid for the life of a server providing additional Dell Controller Turbo options such as Controlled Turbo Limit Minus 1 Bin, Controlled Turbo Limit Minus 2 Bins, and so on, and can be bound to the Service Tag of only one server at a time. DPAT license can be included at the time of server purchase or purchased separately and downloaded from Dell Digital Locker.
Trial License:
A 30-day evaluation DPAT trial license is available to fully test and evaluate DPAT to help with a purchasing decision. Learn More and download >
Purchase License:
DPAT license can be included at the time of server purchase or to purchase separately, please contact your local Dell EMC sales representative.
Downloading an upgraded or replacing a lost license:
The DPAT license can downloaded from Dell Digital Locker. License keys are stored online and can be downloaded if needed. If an existing license key in not available in the Dell Digital Locker or there is an issue with a license key, contact Dell EMC Technical Support or Customer Care.
Managing DPAT Licenses
DPAT licenses can be managed on either an individual server basis or through the Dell EMC License Manager which is a one-to-many license and deployment tool.
Dell EMC License Manager is a one-to-many license deployment and reporting tool for OpenManage Enterprise Advanced, iDRAC, CMC, and DPAT licenses. By using License Manager, you can download, bind, deploy, inventory and back up OpenManage Enterprise Advanced Licenses as well as iDRAC, CMC, DPAT, and storage sled license. This tool can also inventory licensable systems to report the licensing status and features of the enabled management controller.
Enabling Dell Processor Acceleration Technology
To enable DPAT on your system, make the following changes in the BIOS setup.
Set the wanted number of cores
Note: Maximum turbo frequency increases with fewer cores enabled.
Note: Extra options such as Controlled Turbo Limit Minus 1 Bin, Controlled Turbo Limit Minus 2 Bins, and Controlled Turbo Limit Minus 3 Bins may be available if a valid DPAT license is installed on the system.
Press F2 to enter the System Setup menu
In the Processor Settings, set the Number of Cores per Processor to the wanted value.
In the Processor Settings, set Dell Controlled Turbo to Enabled.
Required changes in the BIOS system profile
Set the System Profile in the BIOS setup to Performance mode
Make the changes using the System Profile Custom selection
Set the System Profile option in BIOS to Custom mode
Set CPU Power Management to Maximum Performance mode