1. A method comprising: a processor executing a first task having a first urgency level; the processor executing a first power management state machine that specifies a first plurality of processor power states and one or more conditions for transitioning between the first plurality of processor power states; the processor executing a second task having a second urgency level; and in response to determining that the second urgency level is greater than the first urgency level, the processor executing a second power management state machine, wherein the second power management state machine specifies a second plurality of processor power states and one or more conditions for transitioning between the second plurality of processor power states, and wherein the second plurality of processor power states includes a higher frequency power state than any of the power states in the first plurality of power states.