Intel i5-2510E FF8062700853304 User Manual

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Datasheet

This section will cover thermal management features for the processor.

Occasionally the processor core will operate in conditions that exceed its maximum 

allowable operating temperature. This can be due to internal overheating or due to 

overheating in the entire system. In order to protect itself and the system from thermal 

failure, the processor core is capable of reducing its power consumption and thereby its 

temperature until it is back within normal operating limits via the Adaptive Thermal 

Monitor. 

The Adaptive Thermal Monitor can be activated when any core temperature, monitored 

by a digital thermal sensor (DTS), exceeds its maximum junction temperature (T

j,Max

) 

and asserts PROCHOT#. The assertion of PROCHOT# activates the thermal control 

circuit (TCC). The TCC will remain active as long as any core exceeds its temperature 

limit. Therefore, the Adaptive Thermal Monitor will continue to reduce the processor 

core power consumption until the TCC is de-activated.

The Adaptive Thermal Monitor must be enabled for the processor to remain within 

specification.

The purpose of the Adaptive Thermal Monitor is to reduce processor core power 

consumption and temperature until it operates at or below its maximum operating 

temperature. Processor core power reduction is achieved by:

• Adjusting the operating frequency (via the core ratio multiplier) and input voltage 

(via the VID signals). 

• Modulating (starting and stopping) the internal processor core clocks (duty cycle). 

The Adaptive Thermal Monitor dynamically selects the appropriate method. BIOS is not 

required to select a specific method as with previous-generation processors supporting 

Intel® Thermal Monitor 1 (TM1) or Intel® Thermal Monitor 2 (TM2). The temperature 

at which the Adaptive Thermal Monitor activates the Thermal Control Circuit is not user 

configurable but is software visible in the IA32_TEMPERATURE_TARGET (0x1A2) MSR, 

Bits 23:16.

 

The Adaptive Thermal Monitor does not require any additional hardware, 

software drivers, or interrupt handling routines. Note that the Adaptive Thermal 

Monitor is not intended as a mechanism to maintain processor TDP. The system design 

should provide a thermal solution that can maintain TDP within its intended usage 

range.

Upon TCC activation, the processor core attempts to dynamically reduce processor core 

power by lowering the frequency and voltage operating point. The operating points are 

automatically calculated by the processor core itself and do not require the BIOS to 

program them as with previous generations of Intel processors. The processor core will 

scale the operating points such that:

• The voltage will be optimized according to the temperature, the core bus ratio, and 

number of cores in deep C-states.

• The core power and temperature are reduced while minimizing performance 

degradation.