View source for PowerNow!

{{short description|Dynamic frequency scaling technology by AMD}}
{{Infobox computer hardware
| name = AMD PowerNow!
| logo = 
| image = AMD-PowerNow-logo.svg
| caption = 
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| designfirm = [[Advanced Micro Devices]]
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| introduced = April 2000
| discontinued = February 2017
| type = [[Dynamic frequency scaling]] technology
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'''AMD PowerNow!''' was [[AMD]]'s [[dynamic frequency scaling]] and power saving technology targeted at mobile and embedded [[Microprocessor|microprocessors]]. It allows for the [[CPU core voltage|core voltage]] and [[Clock rate|frequency]] to be controlled on-the-fly by the host [[operating system]], or [[BIOS]] for [[Embedded system|embedded systems]]. PowerNow! was introduced with AMD's embedded processors using their [[List of AMD K6 processors|K6 architecture]], with the goal to combat the ever-increasing power demands and heat output with [[microprocessors]] at the time.<ref name=":0">https://www.amd.com/content/dam/amd/en/documents/archived-tech-docs/white-papers/24404a.pdf</ref><ref>https://www.amd.com/content/dam/amd/en/documents/archived-tech-docs/datasheets/23542a.pdf</ref>

The technology is similar in concept to [[Intel]]'s first generation [[SpeedStep]] technology. However, at the time PowerNow! was released, [[Intel]]'s [[SpeedStep]] only allowed the system to step between two predefined states for [[CPU core voltage|core voltage]] and [[Clock rate|frequency]] (high and low). This is in contrast to [[AMD]]'s implementation which allowed for up to 32 customizable settings for [[CPU core voltage|core voltage]] and [[Clock rate|frequency]], with steps as small as 25 or 50 mV and 33 to 55 MHz respectively. The [[Clock rate|core frequency]] itself can also be controlled independently.<ref name=":0" /><ref>https://www.pctechguide.com/cpu-technology/guide-to-powernow-amds-dynamic-power-management-technology</ref>

Though PowerNow! was originally designed with mobile and [[Embedded system|embedded]] systems in mind, it was adapted for use in [[Desktop computer|desktop]] and [[Server (computing)|server]] applications with the advent of [[Cool'n'Quiet]] and [[Cool'n'Quiet|Optimized Power Management]] respectively. All three of these technologies aimed to complete the same goal for different segments of the market. PowerNow! as a feature was supported on [[AMD]]'s [[Server (computing)|server]] and [[Desktop computer|desktop]] [[Microprocessor|microprocessors]] and were not exclusive to [[Embedded system|embedded]] or mobile systems. It was retired and succeeded by [[AMD]]'s SenseMI's Pure Power feature in 2017 with the introduction of the first generation [[Zen (microarchitecture)|Zen architecture]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cutress |first=Ian |date=March 2, 2017 |title=The AMD Zen and Ryzen 7 Review: A Depp Dive on 1800X, 1700X, and 1700 |url=https://www.anandtech.com/show/11170/the-amd-zen-and-ryzen-7-review-a-deep-dive-on-1800x-1700x-and-1700/11 |url-status=live |access-date=June 28, 2025 |website=AnandTech}}</ref>

==Processors supporting PowerNow!==
* [[AMD K6-2|K6-2+]]
* [[AMD K6-III|K6-III+]]
* [[Athlon|Athlon XP-M]] - some models.
* [[Athlon 64|Mobile Athlon 64]]
* [[Sempron|Mobile Sempron]]
* [[Turion 64]] and [[Turion 64 X2|X2]]
* [[Athlon II]]
* [[AMD Accelerated Processing Unit]]

==See also==
* [[Dynamic frequency scaling]]
Power Saving Technologies:
* [[Cool'n'Quiet|AMD Cool'n'Quiet]] (desktop CPUs)
* [[AMD PowerTune]] (graphics)
* [[SpeedStep|Intel SpeedStep]] (CPUs)
Performance Boosting Technologies:
* [[AMD Turbo Core]] (CPUs)
* [[Intel Turbo Boost]] (CPUs)

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
<!-- * [https://web.archive.org/web/20090503153727/http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/ProductInformation/0,,30_118_10220_10221%5E964,00.html AMD PowerNow!] -->
* [https://www.amd.com/us/products/technologies/amd-powernow-technology/Pages/amd-powernow-technology.aspx AMD PowerNow!]

{{AMD technology}}
{{Computer processor power management technologies}}

[[Category:AMD technologies]]
[[Category:Computer hardware tuning]]

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[[Category:X86 architecture]]
[[Category:Laptops]]
[[Category:Computer-related introductions in 2000]]