New Ryzen Running Stable On Linux, Threadripper Builds Kernel In 36 Seconds (phoronix.com)

An anonymous reader writes: After AMD confirmed the a "performance marginality problem" affecting some Ryzen Linux users, RMAs are being issued and replacement Ryzen processors arriving for affected opensource fans. Phoronix has been able to confirm that the new Ryzen CPUs are running stable without the segmentation fault problem that would occur under very heavy workloads. They have also been able to test now the Ryzen Threadripper 1950X. The Threadripper 1950X on Linux is unaffected by any issues unless you count the lack of a thermal reporting driver. With the 32 threads under Linux they have been able to build the Linux kernel in just about a half minute.

Comments

Apple needs this not the $700 more intel cpu!

[Joe_Dragon]

Apple needs this not the $700 more intel cpu!

Re:Apple needs this not the $700 more intel cpu!

[alvinrod]

I think I had read that Apple is locked into a deal with Intel for several more years, so I wouldn't expect to see any AMD processors soon.

I suspect that in the long run, Apple's plan is to replace Intel with their own custom chips. Their recent ARM SoCs don't clock as high as Intel chips, but they have been able to achieve similar performance per clock in many areas.

It's probably still a few years before they make the move to their own chips, but it seems like that's where they're going. This seems even more likely as the amount of performance needed for consumer PCs is going to remain relatively fixed while improvements in chip design and fabrication processes make it economically possible for Apple to use their own SoCs in their notebooks or desktops even if they can't compete with the most powerful high-end Intel or AMD chips.

Perhaps Apple will start designing products intended for the professional market that still use those high-end CPUs from Intel/AMD, but most of their customers don't require that level of power and it's probably much more cost economical for Apple to use their own custom chips, especially if they have lower power draw for similar levels of performance.

What is an average kernel build time?

[CycleFreak]

For those of us that have not actually built a kernel, is 36 seconds astonishingly fast? A little faster? A totally random number with no meaning whatsoever?

Maybe some of you that do build kernels every once in a while could share your times along with specs for your rig.

Re:What is an average kernel build time?

[TimothyHollins]

For those of us that have not actually built a kernel, is 36 seconds astonishingly fast?

I did a little checking and here's what I found. It's faster than 37 seconds, but not as fast as 35 seconds.

Re:What is an average kernel build time?

[CycleFreak]

That is incredibly helpful insight. You should work at Gartner.

Re:Stable at last!

[DontBeAMoran]

My AMD 80386 DX-40 was stable.

Re:Can Confirm

[ffkom]

"Bloody stellar" I would call if they:

- Had an understanding of the root cause of the bug, and told the public what it was and how they solved it
- Told everyone how to distinguish affected CPUs from unaffected CPUs (without a multi-hour run of some test-script that not AMD, but desparate affected buyers implemented and made available)
- Recalled all the defective CPUs and replaced them with working ones, including CPUs sold as part of computers

What you describe is rather the bare minimum they owe customers going through lots of trouble due to a defect product they were sold.