The Disappointing Direction Of Linux Performance From 4.16 To 5.4 Kernels

If taking the geometric mean of 71 different benchmarks ran across the tested kernels, the Linux 5.4 Git kernel is running at just 89% the speed of Linux 4.16 from April 2018. Keep in mind that it was prior to Linux 4.16 when Spectre/Meltdown mitigations were originally introduced but since 4.16 the mainline kernel (sans back-ports) has seen MDS and STIBP additions among other changes on the mitigation front.

If counting the number of first place finishes, Linux 4.16 did the best with winning 35% of the time while Linux 5.4 picked up first place finishes just 5% of the time.

Linux 5.4 finished in last place most often of the tested kernels.

Stay tuned for more Linux kernel benchmarks soon on Phoronix.