Disclosed methods support dynamic adjustment of graphics processing unit (GPU) frequency. According to one embodiment, a program comprises workload to execute, at least in part, on a GPU of a data processing system. A predetermined memory/compute ratio for the program is automatically retrieved, in response to the program being called for execution. The memory/compute ratio represents a ratio of memory accesses within the program, relative to compute operations within the program. In addition, a frequency of the GPU is automatically adjusted, based on the predetermined memory/compute ratio for the program. For instance, the GPU may be set to a relatively low frequency if the predetermined memory/compute ratio is relatively high, or to a relatively high frequency if the predetermined ratio is relatively low. After the frequency of the GPU is automatically adjusted, the program may execute, at least in part, on the GPU. Other embodiments are described and claimed.