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Intel has recently released their 12th generation Alder Lake processors, which feature a unique hybrid architecture. The processors combine two types of cores: Performance-cores (P-cores) and Efficient-cores (E-cores). P-cores are the traditional cores that we're used to, with high clock speeds and Hyper-Threading. E-cores, on the other hand, are smaller, consume less power, but are slower and do not offer Hyper-Threading.

The Alder Lake processors are now fully compatible with the latest version of Linux Kernel 5.18+. This new architecture brings a significant improvement in performance compared to traditional single-core processors. It allows for better multi-threaded application performance and more efficient power consumption. Additionally, Intel has optimized the Alder Lake processors to provide improved system responsiveness across a wide range of workloads. By combining the power of both E-cores and P-cores, Intel has achieved the perfect balance between power and efficiency.

To activate E-cores in Linux, users must run the command “lscpu —all —extended”. This will display the CPU column and CORE column, which can be used to identify which cores are P-cores and which are E-cores. Once identified, users can then configure their system to use the appropriate cores for different tasks.

One of the most interesting features of the Alder Lake processors is that the performance of P-cores scales reliably with the number of cores, while the E-cores provide a massive 40% improvement in single-core efficiency over Skylake chips. This allows for improved battery life in laptops. Intel has configured their 12th generation CPUs with 8 blocks dedicated to P-cores and two blocks dedicated to E-cores. This configuration is faster for rendering than if Intel had used all 10 blocks for P-cores.

In summary, the Intel Alder Lake processors are now compatible with Linux 5.18, and offer improved performance and efficiency thanks to their hybrid architecture. Users can take advantage of this by running the “lscpu —all —extended” command in Linux to identify and configure their system to use the appropriate cores for different tasks.

Citations :

1. https://helpdeskgeek.com/reviews/what-are-intels-e-cores-and-p-cores/
2. https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/gaming/resources/how-hybrid-design-works.html
3. https://stackoverflow.com/questions/71122837/how-to-detect-e-cores-and-p-cores-in-linux-alder-lake-system
4. https://www.makeuseof.com/intel-cpus-explained-what-are-e-cores-and-p-cores/
5. https://www.itsfoss.net/linux-5-18-arrives-with-important-improvements-for-intel-alder-lake/
6. https://www.cgdirector.com/p-cores-vs-e-cores/
7. https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/724636/enable-e-cores-in-linux
8. https://www.pugetsystems.com/labs/articles/intel-12th-gen-how-do-p-cores-and-e-cores-compare-2289/