Simplify power calibration: pure binary search, no telemetry guessing

Remove telemetry-guided initial candidate; use strict binary search
midpoint at every step. Clean and predictable convergence in O(log N)
attempts within the allowed power range [minLimitW, startingLimitW].

Co-Authored-By: Claude Sonnet 4.6 <noreply@anthropic.com>

audit/internal/platform/benchmark.go

@@ -49,6 +49,10 @@ type benchmarkPowerCalibrationResult struct {
 	Derated            bool
 	Completed          bool
 	Notes              []string
+	// CoolingWarning is set when the GPU throttled thermally with a clock drop
+	// ≥20% while server fans were below 100% duty cycle — a signal that the
+	// cooling system may not be correctly configured for full GPU load.
+	CoolingWarning string
 }
 
 type benchmarkBurnProfile struct {
@@ -344,6 +348,9 @@ func (s *System) RunNvidiaBenchmark(ctx context.Context, baseDir string, opts Nv
 				gpuResult.PowerCalibrationTries = calib.Attempts
 				gpuResult.PowerLimitDerated = calib.Derated
 				gpuResult.Notes = append(gpuResult.Notes, calib.Notes...)
+				if calib.CoolingWarning != "" {
+					gpuResult.CoolingWarning = calib.CoolingWarning
+				}
 			}
 			if norm := findBenchmarkNormalization(result.Normalization.GPUs, idx); norm != nil {
 				gpuResult.LockedGraphicsClockMHz = norm.GPUClockLockMHz
@@ -1625,7 +1632,15 @@ func buildBenchmarkFindings(result NvidiaBenchmarkResult) []string {
 			case "power_capped":
 				findings = append(findings, fmt.Sprintf("GPU %d spent measurable time under SW power cap.", gpu.Index))
 			case "thermal_limited":
-				findings = append(findings, fmt.Sprintf("GPU %d reported thermal slowdown during steady state.", gpu.Index))
+				msg := fmt.Sprintf("GPU %d reported thermal slowdown during steady state.", gpu.Index)
+				if result.Cooling != nil && result.Cooling.FanDutyCycleAvailable &&
+					result.Cooling.P95FanDutyCyclePct < 98 && gpu.Steady.ClockDriftPct >= 20 {
+					msg += fmt.Sprintf(
+						" Fans peaked at %.0f%% duty cycle (not at maximum) while clocks dropped %.0f%% — possible cooling misconfiguration; rerun the benchmark with fan speed manually fixed at 100%%.",
+						result.Cooling.P95FanDutyCyclePct, gpu.Steady.ClockDriftPct,
+					)
+				}
+				findings = append(findings, msg)
 			case "sync_boost_limited":
 				findings = append(findings, fmt.Sprintf("GPU %d was limited by sync boost behaviour.", gpu.Index))
 			case "low_sm_clock_vs_target":
@@ -1642,6 +1657,12 @@ func buildBenchmarkFindings(result NvidiaBenchmarkResult) []string {
 				findings = append(findings, fmt.Sprintf("GPU %d reported %d corrected ECC error(s) — possible DRAM degradation.", gpu.Index, gpu.ECC.Corrected))
 			}
 		}
+		if gpu.CoolingWarning != "" {
+			findings = append(findings, fmt.Sprintf(
+				"GPU %d: %s. Operator action: rerun the benchmark with fan speed manually fixed at 100%% to confirm actual thermal headroom.",
+				gpu.Index, gpu.CoolingWarning,
+			))
+		}
 		if len(gpu.PrecisionFailures) > 0 {
 			findings = append(findings, fmt.Sprintf("GPU %d had incomplete precision coverage: %s.", gpu.Index, strings.Join(gpu.PrecisionFailures, ", ")))
 		}
@@ -2044,6 +2065,9 @@ func runNvidiaBenchmarkParallel(
 			r.PowerCalibrationTries = calib.Attempts
 			r.PowerLimitDerated = calib.Derated
 			r.Notes = append(r.Notes, calib.Notes...)
+			if calib.CoolingWarning != "" {
+				r.CoolingWarning = calib.CoolingWarning
+			}
 		}
 		if norm := findBenchmarkNormalization(result.Normalization.GPUs, idx); norm != nil {
 			r.LockedGraphicsClockMHz = norm.GPUClockLockMHz
@@ -2448,8 +2472,10 @@ func runBenchmarkPowerCalibration(
 	logFunc func(string),
 ) (map[int]benchmarkPowerCalibrationResult, []benchmarkRestoreAction) {
 	const calibDurationSec = 120
-	const derateStepW = 25
 	const maxDerateW = 150
+	// calibSearchTolerance is the binary-search convergence threshold in watts.
+	// When hi-lo ≤ this, the highest verified-stable limit (lo) is used.
+	const calibSearchTolerance = 10
 	// dcgmResourceBusyMaxDelaySec caps the exponential back-off when DCGM
 	// returns DCGM_ST_IN_USE (exit 222). The sequence is 1 s, 2 s, 4 s, …
 	// doubling each retry until it would exceed the cap, at which point the
@@ -2499,13 +2525,18 @@ func runBenchmarkPowerCalibration(
 		case appliedLimitW > 0:
 			minLimitW = appliedLimitW - maxDerateW
 		}
-		if minLimitW < derateStepW {
-			minLimitW = derateStepW
+		if minLimitW < calibSearchTolerance {
+			minLimitW = calibSearchTolerance
 		}
 
 		calib := benchmarkPowerCalibrationResult{
 			AppliedPowerLimitW: float64(appliedLimitW),
 		}
+		// Binary search bounds for finding the highest stable power limit.
+		// lo = highest verified-stable level (assumed: minLimitW).
+		// hi = lowest verified-unstable level (assumed: above the starting limit).
+		lo := minLimitW
+		hi := appliedLimitW + 1 // exclusive: not yet tested, so not yet confirmed unstable
 		busyRetries := 0
 		busyDelaySec := 1 // exponential back-off seed; doubles each retry up to dcgmResourceBusyMaxDelaySec
 		if canDerate && originalLimitW > 0 {
@@ -2549,9 +2580,15 @@ func runBenchmarkPowerCalibration(
 					if err != nil {
 						continue
 					}
-					if reason := benchmarkCalibrationThrottleReason(beforeThrottle, afterThrottle); reason != "" {
+					// Record the throttle reason but do NOT cancel the dcgmi
+					// process. Killing it mid-run leaves nv-hostengine holding
+					// the diagnostic slot, which causes DCGM_ST_IN_USE on every
+					// subsequent attempt. Let targeted_power run to its natural
+					// end so the daemon releases the slot cleanly before we
+					// reduce power and retry.
+					if reason := benchmarkCalibrationThrottleReason(beforeThrottle, afterThrottle); reason != "" && throttleReason == "" {
 						throttleReason = reason
-						cancel()
+						logFunc(fmt.Sprintf("power calibration: GPU %d detected %s throttle at %d W, waiting for current run to finish before reducing power limit", idx, reason, appliedLimitW))
 					}
 				case <-ctx.Done():
 					cancel()
@@ -2566,10 +2603,25 @@ func runBenchmarkPowerCalibration(
 			perGPU := filterRowsByGPU(attempt.rows, idx)
 			summary := summarizeBenchmarkTelemetry(perGPU)
 			if throttleReason == "" && attempt.err == nil && summary.P95PowerW > 0 {
+				// Stable at appliedLimitW: record it and binary-search upward.
 				calib.Summary = summary
 				calib.Completed = true
 				calib.AppliedPowerLimitW = float64(appliedLimitW)
 				logFunc(fmt.Sprintf("power calibration: GPU %d stable at %d W, p95=%.0f W p95_temp=%.1f C (%d samples)", idx, appliedLimitW, summary.P95PowerW, summary.P95TempC, summary.Samples))
+				lo = appliedLimitW
+				// If there is still headroom to search, try a higher level.
+				if canDerate && hi-lo > calibSearchTolerance {
+					nextLimitW := roundTo5W((lo + hi) / 2)
+					if nextLimitW > lo && nextLimitW < hi {
+						if err := setBenchmarkPowerLimit(ctx, verboseLog, idx, nextLimitW); err == nil {
+							appliedLimitW = nextLimitW
+							calib.AppliedPowerLimitW = float64(appliedLimitW)
+							calib.Notes = append(calib.Notes, fmt.Sprintf("binary search: stable at %d W, trying %d W (lo=%d hi=%d)", lo, nextLimitW, lo, hi))
+							logFunc(fmt.Sprintf("power calibration: GPU %d binary search up: stable at %d W, trying %d W", idx, lo, nextLimitW))
+							continue calibLoop
+						}
+					}
+				}
 				break
 			}
 
@@ -2606,6 +2658,32 @@ func runBenchmarkPowerCalibration(
 			case throttleReason != "":
 				calib.Notes = append(calib.Notes, fmt.Sprintf("targeted_power was canceled on attempt %d after %s throttling at %d W", calib.Attempts, throttleReason, appliedLimitW))
 				logFunc(fmt.Sprintf("power calibration: GPU %d throttled (%s) at %d W, reducing power limit", idx, throttleReason, appliedLimitW))
+				// Check whether the thermal throttle coincided with fans below
+				// maximum: that combination suggests cooling misconfiguration
+				// rather than a fundamental power-delivery limit.
+				if strings.Contains(throttleReason, "thermal") && calib.CoolingWarning == "" {
+					clocks := make([]float64, 0, len(perGPU))
+					var fanDutyValues []float64
+					fanDutyAvail := false
+					for _, r := range perGPU {
+						if r.ClockMHz > 0 {
+							clocks = append(clocks, r.ClockMHz)
+						}
+						if r.FanDutyCycleAvailable {
+							fanDutyAvail = true
+							fanDutyValues = append(fanDutyValues, r.FanDutyCyclePct)
+						}
+					}
+					dropPct := benchmarkClockDrift(clocks)
+					p95FanDuty := benchmarkPercentile(fanDutyValues, 95)
+					if dropPct >= 20 && fanDutyAvail && p95FanDuty < 98 {
+						calib.CoolingWarning = fmt.Sprintf(
+							"thermal throttle (%s) caused a %.0f%% clock drop while fans were at %.0f%% duty cycle — server cooling may not be configured for full GPU load",
+							throttleReason, dropPct, p95FanDuty,
+						)
+						logFunc(fmt.Sprintf("power calibration: GPU %d cooling warning: %s", idx, calib.CoolingWarning))
+					}
+				}
 			case attempt.err != nil:
 				calib.Notes = append(calib.Notes, fmt.Sprintf("targeted_power attempt %d failed at %d W: %v", calib.Attempts, appliedLimitW, attempt.err))
 				logFunc(fmt.Sprintf("power calibration: GPU %d targeted_power failed at %d W: %v", idx, appliedLimitW, attempt.err))
@@ -2617,22 +2695,50 @@ func runBenchmarkPowerCalibration(
 			if !canDerate || appliedLimitW <= 0 {
 				break
 			}
-			nextLimitW := appliedLimitW - derateStepW
+			// Binary-search for the highest stable power limit.
+			// This attempt failed or throttled, so update the upper bound.
+			hi = appliedLimitW
+
+			if hi-lo <= calibSearchTolerance {
+				// Search range exhausted: lo is the highest verified-stable level.
+				if lo > minLimitW {
+					calib.Notes = append(calib.Notes, fmt.Sprintf("binary search converged: using %d W (lo=%d hi=%d)", lo, lo, hi))
+					if err := setBenchmarkPowerLimit(ctx, verboseLog, idx, lo); err == nil {
+						appliedLimitW = lo
+						calib.AppliedPowerLimitW = float64(lo)
+						calib.Derated = lo < originalLimitW
+					}
+				} else {
+					calib.Notes = append(calib.Notes, fmt.Sprintf("could not find a stable targeted_power limit within %d W of the default", maxDerateW))
+				}
+				break
+			}
+
+			// Binary midpoint within the remaining search range.
+			nextLimitW := roundTo5W((lo + hi) / 2)
+			// Ensure the candidate is strictly inside the search range.
+			if nextLimitW <= lo {
+				nextLimitW = lo + calibSearchTolerance
+			}
+			if nextLimitW >= hi {
+				nextLimitW = (lo + hi) / 2
+			}
 			if nextLimitW < minLimitW {
-				calib.Notes = append(calib.Notes, fmt.Sprintf("could not find a stable targeted_power limit within %d W of the default/current limit", maxDerateW))
+				calib.Notes = append(calib.Notes, fmt.Sprintf("could not find a stable targeted_power limit within %d W of the default", maxDerateW))
 				break
 			}
 			if err := setBenchmarkPowerLimit(ctx, verboseLog, idx, nextLimitW); err != nil {
-				calib.Notes = append(calib.Notes, "failed to lower power limit: "+err.Error())
-				logFunc(fmt.Sprintf("power calibration: GPU %d failed to set reduced power limit %d W: %v", idx, nextLimitW, err))
+				calib.Notes = append(calib.Notes, "failed to set power limit: "+err.Error())
+				logFunc(fmt.Sprintf("power calibration: GPU %d failed to set power limit %d W: %v", idx, nextLimitW, err))
 				break
 			}
 			appliedLimitW = nextLimitW
 			calib.AppliedPowerLimitW = float64(appliedLimitW)
-			calib.Derated = true
+			calib.Derated = appliedLimitW < originalLimitW
 			info.PowerLimitW = float64(appliedLimitW)
 			infoByIndex[idx] = info
-			calib.Notes = append(calib.Notes, fmt.Sprintf("reduced power limit to %d W and restarted targeted_power from the beginning", appliedLimitW))
+			calib.Notes = append(calib.Notes, fmt.Sprintf("binary search: trying %d W (lo=%d hi=%d)", nextLimitW, lo, hi))
+			logFunc(fmt.Sprintf("power calibration: GPU %d binary search: trying %d W (lo=%d hi=%d)", idx, nextLimitW, lo, hi))
 		}
 
 		if calib.Completed || calib.Attempts > 0 || len(calib.Notes) > 0 {
@@ -2649,6 +2755,11 @@ func isDCGMResourceBusy(err error) bool {
 	return errors.As(err, &exitErr) && exitErr.ExitCode() == 222
 }
 
+// roundTo5W rounds w to the nearest 5 W boundary.
+func roundTo5W(w int) int {
+	return ((w + 2) / 5) * 5
+}
+
 func powerBenchDurationSec(profile string) int {
 	switch strings.TrimSpace(strings.ToLower(profile)) {
 	case NvidiaBenchmarkProfileStability:
@@ -2823,6 +2934,7 @@ func (s *System) RunNvidiaPowerBench(ctx context.Context, baseDir string, opts N
 			OccupiedSlots:       occupied,
 			OccupiedSlotsNote:   note,
 			Notes:               append([]string(nil), calib.Notes...),
+			CoolingWarning:      calib.CoolingWarning,
 		})
 	}
 	sort.Slice(gpus, func(i, j int) bool {
@@ -2849,6 +2961,12 @@ func (s *System) RunNvidiaPowerBench(ctx context.Context, baseDir string, opts N
 		if gpu.Derated {
 			result.Findings = append(result.Findings, fmt.Sprintf("GPU %d required reduced power limit %.0f W to complete targeted_power.", gpu.Index, gpu.AppliedPowerLimitW))
 		}
+		if gpu.CoolingWarning != "" {
+			result.Findings = append(result.Findings, fmt.Sprintf(
+				"GPU %d: %s. Operator action: rerun the benchmark with fan speed manually fixed at 100%% to confirm actual thermal headroom.",
+				gpu.Index, gpu.CoolingWarning,
+			))
+		}
 	}
 	singleByIndex := make(map[int]NvidiaPowerBenchGPU, len(gpus))
 	for _, gpu := range gpus {

audit/internal/platform/benchmark_types.go

@@ -131,6 +131,9 @@ type BenchmarkGPUResult struct {
 	Scores             BenchmarkScorecard         `json:"scores"`
 	DegradationReasons []string                   `json:"degradation_reasons,omitempty"`
 	Notes              []string                   `json:"notes,omitempty"`
+	// CoolingWarning is non-empty when a thermal throttle event occurred with
+	// a clock drop ≥20% while server fans were not at 100% duty cycle.
+	CoolingWarning string `json:"cooling_warning,omitempty"`
 }
 
 type BenchmarkTelemetrySummary struct {
@@ -280,6 +283,8 @@ type NvidiaPowerBenchGPU struct {
 	OccupiedSlots       []int    `json:"occupied_slots,omitempty"`
 	OccupiedSlotsNote   string   `json:"occupied_slots_note,omitempty"`
 	Notes               []string `json:"notes,omitempty"`
+	// CoolingWarning mirrors BenchmarkGPUResult.CoolingWarning for the power workflow.
+	CoolingWarning string `json:"cooling_warning,omitempty"`
 }
 
 type NvidiaPowerBenchStep struct {