Intel Platinum 8260 Power Testing
In this ATC Insight
Summary
If you read my previous ATC Insight around some power testing we did in the Advanced Technology Center (or ATC) in January of 2020, you will be glad to know that these efforts and lab activities NEVER stop in the ATC. The train just keeps moving down the track!
I am back to share an ATC Insight around some power testing we did recently (February 2020) in the the ATC around the Intel Platinum 8260 CPU. In this testing run, we used an HPE ProLiant DL360 Gen10 server.
From a tooling perspective, we used SPECpower, which is an industry-standard benchmark that evaluates the power and performance characteristics of volume server class computers, and a Yokogawa power meter to specifically record the power demands of the Intel Platinum 8260 CPU.
We were interested in determining the power demands in this specific setup, and these tests showed one of our customers the compute capacity and power demands in a standard way. Our customer likes this type of testing because it can be used to compare different server/processor configurations. These power numbers can also help define the max number of servers that can be placed in a rack due to data center power limitations.
ATC Insight
The SPECpower software runs three calibration runs to determine the max power (100%) and then uses that data to step through the power draws in 10% increments. This data can be used to get an idea of the power demands under most load conditions.
The ssj_ops is the workload operations per second generated by SPECpower to achieve the specific CPU loads on the processor. This number can be used to compare CPU operations against power draw and is used to determine the performance to power ratio.
The formula for calculating the Performance to Power Ratio (or PPR) is:
(workload operations per second (ssj_ops) / power (W)) = PPR
From the calculation, you can understand that a higher PPR means higher workload operations per second and lower power outputs (W) consumed during that snapshot in time.
System Under Test (SUT)
**The power testing was performed 2/3/2020. The server was up to date on all firmware as of the testing date. Improvements in power efficiency are possible with future firmware updates.
The server architecture we used (and the major components of the systems) are listed below. To see additional information around the hardware platform, the test tools used, and the test strategy used, check out Test Plan/Test Case Section, Technologies Under Test Section and Test Tools Section. The server was using the same BIOS workload profile of "Virtualization - Max Performance".
1) HPE ProLiant DL360 Gen10
- Overall Performance To Power Ratio (PPR) 4,237
As you can see the Intel Platinum 8260 performs well even at maximum target loads (100%) loads topping out at a Performance to Power Ratio (or PPR) of 6,511. Again, when you calculate the average to obtain the Overall Performance to Power Ratio this is 4,237.
So Why Does This Power Testing Help Our Customers?
- Power Testing in this manner helps our customers test power draw with a consistent, reliable and repeatable process.
- Customers will typically use OEM online tools for power calculations which can be more accurate and efficient then using power supply label ratings. These OEM online tools can have a slight margin of error associated with them, and these online tools don't allow customers to test different customized scenarios. An example might be how onboard power capping features affect the power/performance of a system.
- Customers do not have dedicated workspaces that allow them to segment a single system. Testing a power draw can also be a challenge as lab space is usually limited and shared.
- Our customers datacenter operations teams simply don't have the access or means to do this type of testing.
Using the SPECpower software along with a Power Meter in the Advanced Technology Center (ATC) allows WWT and specifically the ATC Lab Services team to test power draw in a step down approach. We gather data straight from the power supplies of the system, and it gives our customers an accurate way to properly plan their data center rack build that fits their particular rack power envelope.
Next Steps
Upon the writing of this ATC Insight (February 2020) the next step is to continue to provide you with Power Testing Results of several scenarios containing several OEMs and Partners that are industry leaders and in demand for our customers. Please come back regularly for updates!
Test Plan/Test Case
- Complete simulation of power draw tests, incrementing the percentage of total utilization and power draw from 100% to 0%, in 10% increments (i.e., 100%, 90%, 80%, 70%….30%, 20%, 10%. 0%-idle) utilizing SPECpower, which is an industry-standard benchmark that evaluates the power and performance characteristics of volume server class computers, and a Yokogawa power meter to specifically record the power demands of an Intel Platinum 8260 CPU in the HPE server.
- Provide power numbers in relation to our testing that help define the maximum number of servers that can be placed in a rack due to data center power limitations.
Technologies Under Test
Intel Processors
- Platinum 8260
HPE Servers
- ProLiant DL360 Gen10 Plus
Power Testing
Test Tools
SPECpower Software
https://www.spec.org/power_ssj2008/
Yokogawa Corp of America WT310E