→ Applies to: VMware ESXi 6.5 and above

VMware ESXi does not directly show the activation of Turbo Boost, but only the base frequency of the processor.

However, according to VMware's Best Practices, the power management of Syneto systems is set in Balanced mode to make maximum use of Turbo Boost.

In Balanced mode, the CPU frequency is dynamically adjusted, activating Turbo Boost only when necessary. If High Performance mode is set, instead, the CPU operates constantly at maximum frequency.

Balanced mode: Turbo Boost is activated only when necessary.

High Performance mode: CPU always operates at its maximum real frequency (no Turbo Boost).

Step 1. Connect to ESXI via SSH as root

ssh root@<your_ip_address_or_hostname>

Step 2. Generate CPU payload

cat /dev/urandom | md5sum

This command will generate a payload to observe the effect of Turbo Boost.

Step 3. Connect with a new console to ESXI via SSH as root

ssh root@<your_ip_address_or_hostname>

Do not close the first ESXi console previously open.

Step 4. Run esxtop

esxtop

Step 5. Press P key to access the processor monitoring tab

Step 6. Press F key to access the configurable columns, then press F key again to select %Aperf/Mperf field and then Enter key to confirm the selection

Step 7. Check updated results with %A/MPERF column

Observe the %A/MPERF column: if these exceed the value 100.0, Turbo Boost is active.

NOTE: In the example above, Turbo Boost is therefore not active, since no value exceeds 100.0.