Newswise — Chip designers normally build wide safety margins into their microprocessors, running them at slower speeds and higher voltages than are necessary for correct operation most of the time.
These chips can be operated at a lower voltage (saving on power) or at greater speeds if a mechanism is included to detect errors and correct them. The authors of this article have demonstrated that capability in a general-purpose microprocessor and have shown that it can cut power use by about a third. Their technique has inspired researchers at Intel to apply a similar strategy to boost microprocessor speeds.
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