Dynamic Idle Cycle Counter

Common Options : Enabled, Disabled

 

Quick Review

The Dynamic Idle Cycle Counter BIOS feature controls the memory controller’s dynamic page conflict prediction mechanism. This mechanism dynamically adjusts the idle cycle limit to achieve a better page hit-miss ratio, improving memory performance.

When enabled, the memory controller will begin with the idle cycle limit set by DRAM Idle Timer and use its dynamic page conflict prediction mechanism to adjust the limit upwards or downwards according to the number of page misses and page conflicts.

It will increase the idle cycle limit when there is a page miss, to increase the probability of a future page hit.

It will decrease the idle cycle limit when there is a page conflict, to reduce the probability of a future page conflict.

When disabled, the memory controller will just use the idle cycle limit set by DRAM Idle Timer. It will not use its dynamic page conflict prediction mechanism to adjust the limit.

Unlike DRAM Idle Timer, the dynamic page conflict mechanism takes the guesswork out of the equation. So, it is recommended that you enable Dynamic Idle Cycle Counter for better memory performance, irrespective of whether you are configuring a desktop or server.

However, there might be some server users who prefer to force the memory controller to close all open pages whenever there is an idle cycle, to ensure sufficient refreshing of the memory cells. Although it might seem unnecessary, even extreme, for some; server administrators might prefer to err on the side of caution. If so, you should disable Dynamic Idle Cycle Counter and set DRAM Idle Timer to 0T.

 

Details

DRAM chips are internally divided into memory banks, with each bank made up of an array of memory bits arranged in rows and columns. You can think of the array as an Excel page, with many cells arranged in rows and columns, each capable of storing a single bit of data.

When the memory controller wants to access data within the DRAM chip, it first activates the relevant bank and row. All memory bits within the activated row, also known as a page, are loaded into a buffer. The page that is loaded into the buffer is known as an open page. Data can then be read from the open page by activating the relevant columns.

The open page can be kept in the buffer for a certain amount of time before it has to be closed for the bank to be precharged. While it is opened, any subsequent data requests to the open page can be performed without delay. Such data accesses are known as page hits. Needless to say, page hits are desirable because they allow data to be accessed quickly.

However, keeping the page open is a double-edged sword. A page conflict can occur if there is a request for data on an inactive row. As there is already an open page, that page must first be closed and only then can the correct page be opened. This is worse than a page miss, which occurs when there is a request for data on an inactive row and the bank does not have any open page. The correct row can immediately be activated because there is no open page to close.

Therefore, the key to maximizing performance lies in achieving as many page hits as possible with the least number of page conflicts and page misses. One way of doing so is by implementing a counter to keep track of the number of idle cycles and closing open pages after a predetermined number of idle cycles. This is the basis behind DRAM Idle Timer.

To further improve the page hit-miss ratio, AMD developed dynamic page conflict prediction. Instead of closing open pages after a predetermined number of idle cycles, the memory controller can keep track of the number of page misses and page conflicts. It then dynamically adjusts the idle cycle limit to achieve a better page hit-miss ratio.

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The Dynamic Idle Cycle Counter BIOS feature controls the memory controller’s dynamic page conflict prediction mechanism.

When enabled, the memory controller will begin with the idle cycle limit set by DRAM Idle Timer and use its dynamic page conflict prediction mechanism to adjust the limit upwards or downwards according to the number of page misses and page conflicts.

It will increase the idle cycle limit when there is a page miss. This is based on the presumption that the page requested is likely to be the one opened earlier. Keeping that page opened longer could have converted the page miss into a page hit. Therefore, it will increase the idle cycle limit to increase the probability of a future page hit.

It will decrease the idle cycle limit when there is a page conflict. Closing that page earlier would have converted the page conflict into a page miss. Therefore, the idle cycle limit will be decreased to reduce the probability of a future page conflict.

When disabled, the memory controller will just use the idle cycle limit set by DRAM Idle Timer. It will not use its dynamic page conflict prediction mechanism to adjust the limit.

Unlike DRAM Idle Timer, the dynamic page conflict mechanism takes the guesswork out of the equation. So, it is recommended that you enable Dynamic Idle Cycle Counter for better memory performance, irrespective of whether you are configuring a desktop or server.

However, there might be some server users who prefer to force the memory controller to close all open pages whenever there is an idle cycle, to ensure sufficient refreshing of the memory cells. Although it might seem unnecessary, even extreme, for some; server administrators might prefer to err on the side of caution. If so, you should disable Dynamic Idle Cycle Counter and set DRAM Idle Timer to 0T.

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