Power up and initialization of secondary cores

[VMeht1]

Two questions when a PC system is powered on:

1. On system boot up does Windows execute code which powers on secondary cores ?

2. If the answer to 1. is yes then can Windows power on and make active a secondary core on demand once the system has completed the entire boot process ? So in other words can the primary core core0 be programmed using Boolean logic gates to power on a secondary core core1 on demand by either Windows or some user mode level code ?

Thank you

[CarlosAM_INTEL]

Hello INFO-X ,

Thank you for contacting the Intel Embedded Community.

The information that may help you as a reference can be found at the https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/dn613983(v=vs.85).aspx Processor power management in Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 , https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/mt422910(v=vs.85).aspx Processor power management options , and https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/dn593765(v=vs.85).aspx Processor Power Management (PPM) Tuning for the Windows Server Balanced Power Plan articles.

It is important to let you know that the Windows consultations should be addressed as a reference at the http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows Microsoft Windows Forum.

We hope that this information is useful to you.

Best Regards,

Carlos_A.

[VMeht1]

Thanks again Carlos. Carlos the links provided above does not discuss details about powering up the Intel CPU cores. How can I find out if an undocumented core can be powered up by way of some assembly language code and or some special ROM boot loader ? I need to find out from Intel R&D or appropriate department if the CPU architecture would allow the powering up and loading of such an undocumented core by way of ROM boot loader or by way some undocumented special instruction or opcodes.

Thanks

[CarlosAM_INTEL]

Hello INFO-X ,

Thanks for your update.

We suggest you as a reference review the information stated at the http://www.intel.com/content/dam/www/public/us/en/documents/white-papers/minimal-intel-architecture-boot-loader-paper.pdf Minimum Steps Necessary to Boot an Intel(R) Architecture Platform .

We hope that this information may help you.

Best Regards,

Carlos_A.