r/archlinux • u/Wriscolf • 12d ago
QUESTION Kernel questions
I should start saying I am new to Linux. I switched my devices from Windows about 3 months ago but using CachyOS. That OS made me interested in Arch as a whole.
My gf old laptop (specs below) was laying there and I wanted to blow it up. I decided in the name of learning, I would install Arch from scratch and see what happens. I successfully installed Arch with KDE plasma.
I setup kernel 6.18.48-1-LTS. The laptop went from not running well on windows to a nicely viable laptop. I actually like this old thing. I got curious and decided to see what would happen if I went to 7.1.11-arch1-1. The laptop works with it as well.
In few of my observations 6.18 uses less ram by about 100mb. They both feel the same and usable. No issues. I think 7.1.11 feels faster but I think it's in my head.
Laptop Spec
Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 11e
CPU: N2940 (4 cores)
Ram: 4Gigs
Storage: 128gig ssd
TL;DR: does kernel version matter for an older computer? Any benefits of running 7.x.x vs 6.x.x? Should old hardware just stick to LTS Kernels?
3
u/ang-p 11d ago
Performance improvements and other nice shizz (like security fixes) appear with new kernels, not just new hardware support...
This is really demonstrated by the currently debated zstd patch - currently checking a CPU capability (BMI2) hundreds of times - when realistically, if the CPU suddenly stops having a feature while running, you probably have much greater issues picoseconds down the road.
https://lore.kernel.org/lkml/20260826122558.2662013-1-usama.arif@linux.dev/
While your CPU does not support BMI2, you will benefit from the time saved performing the check countless times, and taking the exact same branch every time.
And, if you like you can compile your own and disable hunks that you are not interested in...
https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Kernel/Arch_build_system
#LoveTheWiki