[SOLVED] Worth updating from generic kernel to cpu-specific kernel?

BigVig · 10-10-2022, 03:16 PM

I have the linux mint 5.15.0-50-generic kernel installed on my old T430 Thinkpad.

The laptop has an Intel Core i5-3320M CPU installed.

Is it worth it to move away from the generic kernel image and to install the intel specific linux headers, image, etc.?

If the intel version of the kernel was installed, would there be that much of an increase in the perceivable speed of the computer? It works fine. I am just wondering and figured I'd ask here.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts or advice.

rokytnji · 10-10-2022, 03:45 PM

Code:

$ sensors
acpitz-acpi-0
Adapter: ACPI interface
temp1:        +40.0°C  (crit = +124.0°C)

k8temp-pci-00c3
Adapter: PCI adapter
Core0 Temp:   +43.0°C  
Core1 Temp:   +42.0°C

Is it running hot? Does everything work like it should? I've been told the 4.9 kernel hammers the cpu less on older gear. But your t430 does not fall into what I consider old gear status.

I am posting from old gear.

Code:

$ inxi -b
System:
  Host: shop1 Kernel: 5.10.57-antix.1-amd64-smp arch: x86_64 bits: 64
    Desktop: IceWM v: 3.0.0
    Distro: antiX-21_x64-full Grup Yorum 31 October 2021
Machine:
  Type: Desktop System: Acer product: Aspire T180 v: R01-B3
    serial: <superuser required>
  Mobo: Acer model: EM61SM/EM61PM serial: <superuser required>
    BIOS: Phoenix v: R01-B3 date: 02/07/2007
CPU:
  Info: single core AMD Athlon 64 3800+ [UP] speed (MHz): 2400
    min/max: 1000/2400
Graphics:
  Device-1: NVIDIA C61 [GeForce 6100 nForce 405] driver: nvidiafb v: kernel
  Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 1.20.11 driver: X: loaded: fbdev,nouveau
    unloaded: modesetting,vesa gpu: nvidiafb resolution: 1600x900~60Hz
  OpenGL: renderer: llvmpipe (LLVM 11.0.1 128 bits) v: 4.5 Mesa 20.3.5
Network:
  Device-1: Marvell 88E8056 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet driver: sky2
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 1.88 TiB used: 48.71 GiB (2.5%)
Info:
  Processes: 133 Uptime: 1h 45m Memory: 2.67 GiB used: 1.2 GiB (44.9%)
  Shell: Bash inxi: 3.3.19

Saying all of that. It don't hurt to try out a spare kernel. It helps when the other kernel won't boot anymore.

I've got one

Code:

$ find /boot/vmli*
/boot/vmlinuz-4.9.0-279-antix.1-amd64-smp
/boot/vmlinuz-5.10.57-antix.1-amd64-smp

Happy trails, rok.

syg00 · 10-10-2022, 05:43 PM

It may make a slight difference, but I doubt you'd be able to measure the difference let alone notice it yourself. Unless of course you're doing 3D realtime modelling of the earths weather systems on that thing ...

Over all, the kernel is a very small component of any application latency - which is what you really see.