Kernel config parameter: Processor family

[Dave Jones]

On Tue, Dec 20, 2005 at 07:34:27AM -0600, J. K. Cliburn wrote:
 > The stock x86_64 Fedora 4 kernel provided in the updates-released repo
 > is built with the "Generic-x86-64" config parameter selected in the
 > kernel config file.  There are two other processor family options
 > available: "AMD-Opteron/Athlon64" and "Intel EM64T".  For an Athlon64
 > CPU like mine, does anyone know what advantages might derive from
 > rebuilding the kernel with the AMD-Opteron/Athlon64 config parameter
 > set?

Pretty much none other than the inability to boot the same
kernel on an Intel CPU.   Intel CPUs underperform when code
is tuned for AMD.  AMD eats code up regardless of what its tuned for.

You may be able to notice some performance gains in some
microbenchmarks if you tune for AMD, but in everyday usage,
you'll not see anything dramatic.

		Dave