METHOD, APPARATUS, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR DYNAMICALLY MODIFYING OPERATING PARAMETERS OF THE SYSTEM BASED ON THE CURRENT USAGE OF A PROCESSOR CORE'S SPECIALIZED PROCESSING UNITS

A method, apparatus, and computer program product are disclosed in a data processing system for dynamically modifying operating parameters of processing units included in a processor core that is included in a central processing unit. A next context to be processed is received. The next context includes an identification of all first specialized processing units that will be needed to process the next context. All second specialized processing units are identified that were needed to process a previous context that has just finished being processed by the processor core. A comparison between the first units and the second units is made to generate an identification of third units and fourth units. Operating parameters of the processing units included within the processor core are altered to optimize the processing units to a state where the third units will be used and the fourth units will not be used.