Re: [PATCH 8/5] llist: Remove cpu_relax() usage in cmpxchg loops

Andi Kleen
2011-09-12T16:38:49Z

> so basically, in typical locking primitives (spinlock), it looks like
> lower power consumption is preferred over getting the raw maximal

It's not only power, its:
- Allow the other siblings make more progress on SMT
- Do some backoff to stress the interconnect less (this is important on >2S):
A tight loop which constantly writes is a extremly stressfull pattern.
- Save some power by allowing the CPU to do more clock gating

-Andi