Windows Server 2012 has three built-in power plans designed to meet different sets of business needs. These plans provide a simple way for an administrator to customize a server to meet power or performance goals. Table 4 describes the plans, lists common scenarios in which to use each plan, and gives some implementation details for each plan.
Table 4. Built-in Server Power Plans
Plan
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Description
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Common applicable scenarios
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Implementation highlights
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Balanced (recommended)
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Default setting. Targets good energy efficiency with minimal performance impact.
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Matches capacity to demand. Energy-saving features balance power and performance.
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High Performance
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Increases performance at the cost of high energy consumption. Power and thermal limitations, operating expenses, and reliability considerations apply.
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Processors are always locked at the highest performance state (including “turbo” frequencies). All cores are unparked.
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Power Saver
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Limits performance to save energy and reduce operating cost.
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Caps processor frequency at a percentage of maximum (if supported), and enables other energy-saving features.
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These plans exist in the Windows operating system for alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) powered systems, but in this guide we assume that servers are using an AC power source.
For more information on power plans, power policies, and power policy configurations, see Resources later in this guide.
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