SPEC CPU2017 Platform Settings for ASUSTek Systems

Operating System Tuning Parameters

cpupower:
The OS 'cpupower' utility is used to change CPU power governors settings. Available settings are:

Firmware / BIOS / Microcode Settings

Determinism Slider:
This BIOS option allows for AGESA determinism to control performance.
cTDP Control:
This BIOS option is for "Configurable TDP (cTDP)", it allows user can set customized value for TDP. Available settings are:
cTDP:
TDP is an acronym for "Thermal Design Power." TDP is the recommended target for power used when designing the cooling capacity for a server. EPYC processors are able to control this target power consumption within certain limits. This capability is referred to as "configurable TDP" or "cTDP." cTDP can be used to reduce power consumption for greater efficiency, or in some cases, increase power consumption above the default value to provide additional performance. cTDP is controlled using a BIOS option.

The default EPYC cTDP value corresponds with the microprocessor's nominal TDP. The default cTDP value is set at a good balance between performance and energy efficiency. The EPYC 7742 cTDP can be reduced as low as 225W, which will minimize the power consumption for the processor under load, but at the expense of peak performance. Increasing the EPYC 7742 cTDP to 240W will maximize peak performance by allowing the CPU to maintain higher dynamic clock speeds, but will make the microprocessor less energy efficient. Note that at maximum cTDP, the CPU thermal solution must be capable of dissipating at least 240W or the EPYC 7742 processor might engage in thermal throttling under load.

The available cTDP ranges for each EPYC model are in the table below:
ModelMinimum cTDPMaximum cTDP
EPYC 7742225240
EPYC 7702165200
EPYC 7702P180200
EPYC 7452155180
EPYC 7H12225280
EPYC 7762225240
EPYC 7642225240
EPYC 7552165200
EPYC 7542225240
EPYC 7532165200
EPYC 7502165200
EPYC 7502P165200
EPYC 7402165200
EPYC 7402P165200
EPYC 7352155180
EPYC 7302155180
EPYC 7302P155180
EPYC 7282120150
EPYC 7272120150
EPYC 7262155180
EPYC 7252120150
EPYC 7232P120150
EPYC 7662225240
EPYC 7F72225240
EPYC 7F52225240
EPYC 7F32165200
* cTDP must remain below the thermal solution design parameters or thermal throttling could be frequently encountered.
Power phase shedding:
Power phase shedding allows efficiency optimization of the voltage regulator across the variety of loads, minimizing average energy consumption by optimizing the powertrain for specific load power states. Values for this BIOS option can be: Enabled/Disabled. Current default is Enabled.
SVM Mode:
This is CPU virtualization function. With SVM enabled you'll be able to install a virtual machine on your system. Values for this BIOS option can be: Enabled/Disabled. Current default is Enabled.
SR-IOV support:
In virtualization, single root input/output virtualization or SR-IOV is a specification that allows the isolation of the PCI Express resources for manageability and performance reasons. A single physical PCI Express can be shared on a virtual environment using the SR-IOV specification. If system has SR-IOV capable PCIe Devices, this option Enables or Disables Single Root IO Virtualization Support. Values for this BIOS option can be: Enabled/Disabled. Current default is Enabled.
DRAM Scrub time:
DRAM scrubbing is a mechanism for the memory controller to periodically read all memory locations and write back corrected data. The time interval for scrubbing the entire memory can be: Disabled/1 hour/4 hours/8 hours/16 hours/24 hours/48 hours/Auto. Current default is Auto(AGESA default value).
NUMA nodes per socket:
Specifies the number of desired NUMA nodes per populated socket in the system: Current default is Auto.
APBDIS:
Application Power Management (APM) allows the processor to provide maximum performance while remaining within the specified power delivery and removal envelope. APM dynamically monitors processor activity and generates an approximation of power consumption. If power consumption exceeds a defined power limit, a P-state limit is applied by APM hardware to reduce power consumption. APM ensures that average power consumption over a thermally significant time period remains at or below the defined power limit. Set APBDIS=1 will disable Data Fabric APM and the SOC P-state will be fixed. Available settings are:
ACPI SRAT L3 Cache as NUMA Domain:
Each L3 Cache will be exposed as a NUMA node when enabling ACPI SRAT L3 Cache as a NUMA node. On a dual processor system, with up to 16 L3 Caches per processor, this setting will expose 32 NUMA domains. Available settings are:
Package Power Limit Control:
This BIOS option allows user can set customized value for processor package power limit(PPT). Available settings are:
Engine Boost:
ASUS individual feature with the power acceleration design to increase CPU over-all performance. Available settings are: disabled(default) and enabled. Enable it could improve performance, but comes with more power consumption.
Package Power Limit:
Set customize processor Package Power Limit (PPT) value to be used on all populated processors in the system. Current default value is 240 = Use the 240W PPT value. ***PPT will be used as the ASIC power limit***