In regard to F32 proposal:
https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Changes/x86-64_micro-architecture_update
I've done some checking into the AVX2 situation. Please see the
wikipedia page that is referenced in the proposal. Note the
parentheticals There are many newer PCs that do not have the explicitly
branded processors. More details can be found by reading the
manufacturer's data sheets for the processors you are personally
concerned with. From what I've found there are some processors in some
of the generations of processors listed that do not have AVX2.
An additional complication is that AVX2 has several components and some
parts of AVX2 may not be implemented in a given CPU and chip set that
has AVX2. the software that installs/implements AVX2 will need to query
the hardware to understand which components are available. Given that
they are doing that, it's easy for them to know if AVX2 is not
available. In such case another set of graphics software can be loaded
allowing people with non-AVX2 hardware to continue using Fedora.
In regard to the statement in the proposal "Fedora installations on
systems with CPUs which are not able to execute AVX2 instructions will
not be able to upgrade.", I would call that Draconian. "Developers will
benefit from the knowledge that code with AVX2 optimizations will run
wherever Fedora runs." The word "some" should precede the word
"developers" in this statement. This would be gained by closing out
fedora users without AVX2 hardware.
I think this could be a win - win if the implementation was done so that
Fedora would use the available hardware instead of forcing mass hardware
purchases. The people who want the software that would use AVX2 (3d
graphics, 3d CAD, and Games) are likely to have or be willing to buy
required hardware because it will enable their work to go faster
(financial justification). Just intuition, but my guess is that the
majority of Redhat, and Fedora users are not in those groups. Upgrading
the graphics capability is certainly a good thing, but it could be done
in a more friendly less harmful way.
All the PCs I support run fedora so getting complete information on the
CPU is easy with a little application called cpuid. I installed cupid
and ran:
cupid > PC1-CPU.txt
Then I reviewed the file with gedit. All seven PCs I maintain will have
to be replaced in order to run F32 as it is currently proposed. There is
about a year before this would happen so the budget can be allowed for,
but no one here will see any benefit.
I know the pundits complain that the application windows don't pop up on
the screen as fast as they want them to. I really doubt that this is a
serious issue for regular users. It's nice to please the pundits, but
it's nice to keep regular users happy too. I think both could be done.
After all, pundits always have the most super zippy hardware. So the
installation and setup of graphics software just needs to be for what
the machine is capable of for users and pundits. Everyone can be happy.
Have a Great Day!
Pat (tablepc)
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