End of an Era: Linux Kernel 7.2 to Drop Support for Legendary AMD K5 and Non-TSC CPUsThe upcoming Linux Kernel 7.2, currently under development, is set to prune some historic deadwood from its codebase. Developers have confirmed plans to officially retire support for several vintage i586 and i686 CPU architectures most notably the legendary AMD K5 and certain Cyrix processors.
The Technical Roadblock: Missing TSC
The primary reason for this phase-out is the absence of the Time Stamp Counter (TSC) register in these older chips. First introduced by Intel in the original Pentium, the TSC is a high-resolution timer used to count CPU cycles.
Maintaining modern kernel code that remains compatible with processors lacking TSC has become an increasingly heavy burden for developers. By dropping these "non-TSC" legacy chips, the kernel can be further optimized for modern hardware. However, i586/i686 processors that do feature TSC, such as the classic Intel Pentium, will remain supported for now.
Remembering the AMD K5
Launched in 1996, the AMD K5 holds a special place in computing history. It was the first x86 processor designed entirely in-house by AMD, aimed squarely at competing with Intel’s dominant Pentium series. While it faced stiff competition, the K5 paved the way for the AMD K6 in 1997, which famously solidified AMD’s reputation as a high-performance alternative to Intel.
What many people may not know is that the AMD K5 was a very cutting-edge CPU for its time. It used a RISC-based architecture that translated complex x86 instructions into "u-ops" (microoperations) before processing, which is the foundation of the Ryzen and Intel Core CPUs we use today.
The removal of Cyrix also marked the end of one of the most thriving "third-party" CPUs of the 90s. Cyrix chips were known for their incredibly fast integer processing at a lower price than competitors, but they had a weakness in floating-point processing (FPU), crucial for 3D games like Quake at the time.
This decryption reflects a balance between Linux's status as a "software museum" and the need for further development. While Linux is known for running on almost anything, even refrigerators, the architecture was too old (almost 30 years), making its removal in Kernel 7.2 to simplify memory and power management inevitable.
Snapseed 4.0 is Here Google Pro Photo Editor Finally Hits Android and iOS with a New Look.
Source: Phoronix
End of an Era: Linux Kernel 7.2 to Drop Support for Legendary AMD K5 and Non-TSC CPUsThe upcoming Linux Kernel 7.2, currently under development, is set to prune some historic deadwood from its codebase. Developers have confirmed plans to officially retire support for several vintage i586 and i686 CPU architectures most notably the legendary AMD K5 and certain Cyrix processors.
The Technical Roadblock: Missing TSC
The primary reason for this phase-out is the absence of the Time Stamp Counter (TSC) register in these older chips. First introduced by Intel in the original Pentium, the TSC is a high-resolution timer used to count CPU cycles.
Maintaining modern kernel code that remains compatible with processors lacking TSC has become an increasingly heavy burden for developers. By dropping these "non-TSC" legacy chips, the kernel can be further optimized for modern hardware. However, i586/i686 processors that do feature TSC, such as the classic Intel Pentium, will remain supported for now.
Remembering the AMD K5
Launched in 1996, the AMD K5 holds a special place in computing history. It was the first x86 processor designed entirely in-house by AMD, aimed squarely at competing with Intel’s dominant Pentium series. While it faced stiff competition, the K5 paved the way for the AMD K6 in 1997, which famously solidified AMD’s reputation as a high-performance alternative to Intel.
What many people may not know is that the AMD K5 was a very cutting-edge CPU for its time. It used a RISC-based architecture that translated complex x86 instructions into "u-ops" (microoperations) before processing, which is the foundation of the Ryzen and Intel Core CPUs we use today.
The removal of Cyrix also marked the end of one of the most thriving "third-party" CPUs of the 90s. Cyrix chips were known for their incredibly fast integer processing at a lower price than competitors, but they had a weakness in floating-point processing (FPU), crucial for 3D games like Quake at the time.
This decryption reflects a balance between Linux's status as a "software museum" and the need for further development. While Linux is known for running on almost anything, even refrigerators, the architecture was too old (almost 30 years), making its removal in Kernel 7.2 to simplify memory and power management inevitable.
Snapseed 4.0 is Here Google Pro Photo Editor Finally Hits Android and iOS with a New Look.
Source: Phoronix
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