a memory power management system and method supporting multiple power modes for powering memory channels . the power management system can include a memory controller that controls the memory channel ; a throughput detector that detects a requested throughput of the memory channel ; a power control logic that determines a desired power mode corresponding to the requested throughput ; and a power control device that supplies a desired voltage of the desired power mode to the memory channel . the power management system can include multiple memory controllers for controlling a multi - channel memory independently . the method includes detecting a requested throughput for the memory channel ; determining a desired voltage related to the requested throughput ; requesting the desired voltage from a voltage device ; and applying the desired voltage to the memory channel . in some embodiments , the method only applies the desired voltage if it does not change for a threshold time duration .