Linux Kills Ancient x86 Fallbacks
unknownuniverse.uk
As Linux 7.2 makes the Time Stamp Counter mandatory, we look at why dropping legacy x86 fallback timing code is long overdue.

Linux 7.2 has landed, dragging x86 timing clean out of the nineties by making the Time Stamp Counter mandatory.

I wrote up a quick article on why ditching those ancient legacy fallbacks is good housekeeping, plus a few other bits like cache-aware scheduling and memory tweaks worth noting.

Is anyone still using legacy hardware? If so, what do you use it for?

  • boonhet@sopuli.xyz
    3·
    4 hours ago

    Less than the cost of the power of running a 35 year old CPU for a year I’m pretty sure. They still have to pay for electricity in the third world. And wages. If your employees take a bunch of extra time to do really simple things on the computer, that also costs money.

    Could also probably get a couple grand for a working i486 PC at this point, it’s a museum piece.

    • cmnybo@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
      1·
      3 hours ago

      Could also probably get a couple grand for a working i486 PC at this point

      Yes, clean it up and sell it as a “vintage gaming PC”. You can get some good money for them now. You won’t get a couple grand unless it’s something rare though.