Re: Intel P6 vs P7 system call performance

H. Peter Anvin
2002-12-17T20:04:37Z

Alan Cox wrote:
> On Tue, 2002-12-17 at 19:12, H. Peter Anvin wrote:
>
>>The complexity only applies to nonsynchronized TSCs though, I would
>>assume. I believe x86-64 uses a vsyscall using the TSC when it can
>>provide synchronized TSCs, and if it can't it puts a normal system call
>>inside the vsyscall in question.
>
>
> For x86-64 there is the hpet timer, which is a lot saner but I don't
> think we can mmap it
>

It's only necessary, though, when TSC isn't usable. TSC is psycho fast
when it's available. Just about anything is saner than the old 8042 or
whatever it is called timer chip, though...

-hpa