Microsoft Word - wisc_ep_new.docx

The original definition of energy-proportional computing, first introduced by Barroso and Hölzle, does not characterize the energy efficiency of recent reconfigurable computers, resulting in non-intuitive “super-proportional” behavior. This paper proposes a new definition of “ideal” energy-proportional computing and new metrics to help design and configure systems to operate close to this ideal efficiency. “We see that peak energy efficiency occurs at peak utilization and drops quickly as utilization decreases.” –Luiz André Barroso and Urs Hölzle aximizing energy efficiency that is, Work