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Linux 4.20 is Running Slower Than 4.19 On Intel CPUs (phoronix.com)
Freshly Exhumed writes: An intentional kernel change in Linux kernel 4.20 for enhanced Spectre mitigation is unfortunately causing Intel Linux performance to be much slower than with 4.19. That change is 'STIBP' (Single Thread Indirect Branch Predictors), which allows for preventing cross-hyperthread control of decisions that are made by indirect branch predictors. It affects Intel systems that have up-to-date microcode and CPU Hyper Threading enabled. Phoronix gives the evidence.
BRING BACK MEAN LINUS
Linux kernel doesn't let your insecure and sloppy design do things that compromise the security of the OS. Sounds like a feature to me.
There is now a price to pay. Not really a surprise.
Most ACs are not even worth the keystrokes to insult them. Be generically insulted by this and ignored otherwise.
Whats a Windows?
No. 4.19 was insecure, but faster. 4.20 is more secure, but slower. So? If I store my passwords in plain-text it's faster. Faster still if I don't have to do a DB lookup and just hard code some that I need.
4.20 is better. The performance penalty is the cost of better security in almost all computer operations (often negligible due to faster and faster chips). Because of hardware advancements though, it's most of the time a very worthwhile tradeoff. If your application suffers that much, size up the gear.