Apparatus and method for dynamic control of microprocessor configuration

Abstract

An apparatus and method for intelligently scheduling threads across a plurality of logical processors. For example, one embodiment of a processor comprises: a plurality of cores to be allocated to form a first plurality of logical processors (LPs) to execute threads, wherein one or more logical processors (LPs) are to be associated with each core of the plurality of cores; scheduling guide circuitry to: monitor execution characteristics of the first plurality of LPs and the threads; generate a first plurality of LP rankings, each LP ranking including all or a subset of the plurality of LPs in a particular order; and store the first plurality of LP rankings in a memory to be provided to a scheduler, the scheduler to schedule the threads on the plurality of LPs using the first plurality of LP rankings; a power controller to execute power management code to perform power management operations including independently adjusting frequencies and/or voltages of one or more of the plurality of cores; wherein in response to a core configuration command to deactivate a first core of the plurality of cores, the power controller or privileged program code executed on the processor are to update the memory with an indication of deactivation of the first core, wherein responsive to the indication of deactivation of the first core, the scheduler is to modify the scheduling of the threads.