Re: Intel P6 vs P7 system call performance

H. Peter Anvin
2002-12-17T19:05:10Z

Linus Torvalds wrote:
>
> It's not as good as a pure user-mode solution using tsc could be, but
> we've seen the kinds of complexities that has with multi-CPU systems, and
> they are so painful that I suspect the sysenter approach is a lot more
> palatable even if it doesn't allow for the absolute best theoretical
> numbers.
>

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.

-hpa