Re: [PATCH] 2.6 workaround for Athlon/Opteron prefetch errata

Jeff Garzik
2003-09-12T18:48:12Z

Andi Kleen wrote:
>>config X86_USE_3DNOW
>> bool
>> depends on MCYRIXIII || MK7
>> default y
>
>
> All 3dnow! code is dynamically patched depending on the CPUID.

Note that the people who care most about x86 kernel size, such as people
running on brand new 486 and 586 embedded processors (AMD Elan, ...) are
precisely the people that don't need the "convenience" of having the
feature dynamically patched into the kernel.

Removal of CONFIG_SSE2 was wrong for this same reason.

300 bytes here, 300 bytes there, and all this code is adding up quick.

We have CONFIG_EMBEDDED to hide such things from your sight, so you
don't even have to worry about them... they will always be dynamically
patched in your kernels :)

Jeff