Intel’s upcoming CPUs taking inspiration from Meteor Lake for enhanced performance monitoring

Intel’s upcoming CPUs taking inspiration from Meteor Lake for enhanced performance monitoring


Intel’s Linux development team is working on implementing new performance monitoring capabilities for their upcoming Arrow Lake and Lunar Lake CPUs. These new processors are expected to offer significant improvements in processing power. The new features being integrated into the Linux kernel’s “perf” subsystem include model-specific snippets for the Arrow and Lunar Lake CPUs. The performance monitoring unit (PMU) for these processors is similar to that of the Meteor Lake CPUs, with some key tweaks.

The major differences between the Arrow and Lunar Lake CPUs lie in the monitoring capabilities of the low-power E cores. These cores will have access to three new fixed counters for more detailed performance monitoring. The performance-oriented P cores will retain their event sampling capabilities, but with an updated data source format that allows for capturing detailed information about branch instructions executed by the CPU. The new format suggests improvements to the data capture process. Additionally, the patches hint at a more modern approach to performance monitoring with the introduction of new architectural performance monitoring features, a new PEBS V6 format, and a new RDPMC Metrics Cleanup Mode.

The planned release dates for the Arrow and Lunar Lake CPUs indicate a smooth transition from Meteor Lake to its successors. Lunar Lake is expected to be released in September, followed closely by Arrow Lake in October. This timeline suggests a focus on refining existing features rather than introducing completely new ones.

Overall, the new Linux patches provide insight into the future of performance monitoring for Intel’s next-generation processors. While there are similarities to the Meteor Lake CPUs, the emphasis on efficiency improvements and data capture suggests a continued dedication to providing developers and power users with the tools needed to optimize their systems. The integration of new monitoring capabilities in the Linux kernel indicates a commitment to staying at the forefront of performance monitoring technology.

In conclusion, Intel’s development team is making strides in enhancing performance monitoring capabilities for the Arrow and Lunar Lake CPUs, building on the success of the Meteor Lake processors. The integration of new features and improvements in the data capture process suggest a continued focus on efficiency and providing users with the tools necessary for system optimization. The planned release dates for the upcoming CPUs indicate a seamless transition from the current generation, with a strong commitment to refining existing features.

Article Source
https://www.pcguide.com/news/intels-next-gen-cpus-are-borrowing-a-page-from-meteor-lakes-book-with-performance-monitoring/