Linux Laptops Intel KPTI Linux Benchmarks
Lenovo ThinkPad Linux benchmarks by Michael Larabel for a future article.


Linux 4.14: ThinkPad T61: 

	Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo T9300 @ 2.50GHz (2 Cores), Motherboard: LENOVO 6459CTO, Chipset: Intel Mobile PM965/GM965/GL960 + ICH8M-E, Memory: 4096MB, Disk: 100GB Hitachi HTS72201, Graphics: NVIDIA Quadro NVS 140M 128MB, Audio: Analog Devices AD1984, Network: Intel 82566MM Gigabit Connection + Intel PRO/Wireless

	OS: Ubuntu 17.10, Kernel: 4.14.0-041400-generic (x86_64), Desktop: GNOME Shell 3.26.2, Display Driver: nouveau 1.0.15, File-System: ext4, Screen Resolution: 1680x1050

Linux 4.14: ThinkPad W510: 

	Processor: Intel Core i7 720Q @ 1.60GHz (4 Cores / 8 Threads), Motherboard: LENOVO 4318CTO, Chipset: Intel Core DMI, Memory: 4096MB, Disk: 160GB FUJITSU MHZ2160B, Graphics: NVA5 1024MB, Audio: Conexant CX20585, Network: Intel 82577LM Gigabit Connection + Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300

	OS: Ubuntu 17.10, Kernel: 4.14.0-041400-generic (x86_64), Desktop: GNOME Shell 3.26.1, Display Server: Wayland, OpenGL: 3.3 Mesa 17.2.2, Compiler: GCC 7.2.0, File-System: ext4, Screen Resolution: 1600x900

Linux 4.14: ThinkPad X1: 

	Processor: Intel Core i7-5600U @ 3.20GHz (2 Cores / 4 Threads), Motherboard: LENOVO 20BSCTO1WW(BIOS: N14ET25W 1.03), Chipset: Intel Broadwell-U-OPI, Memory: 8192MB, Disk: 128GB SAMSUNG MZNTE128, Graphics: Intel HD 5500 3072MB (950MHz), Audio: Intel Broadwell-U Audio, Network: Intel Connection + Intel Wireless 7265

	OS: Ubuntu 17.10, Kernel: 4.14.0-041400-generic (x86_64), Desktop: GNOME Shell 3.26.1, Display Server: Wayland, OpenGL: 4.5 Mesa 17.2.2, Compiler: GCC 7.2.0, File-System: ext4, Screen Resolution: 1920x1080

KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad T61: 

	Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo T9300 @ 2.50GHz (2 Cores), Motherboard: LENOVO 6459CTO, Chipset: Intel Mobile PM965/GM965/GL960 + ICH8M-E, Memory: 4096MB, Disk: 100GB Hitachi HTS72201, Graphics: NV86 128MB, Audio: Analog Devices AD1984, Network: Intel 82566MM Gigabit Connection + Intel PRO/Wireless

	OS: Ubuntu 17.10, Kernel: 4.14.0-phx-retpoline-gcc-retpo (x86_64), Desktop: GNOME Shell 3.26.2, Display Driver: modesetting 1.19.5, OpenGL: 3.3 Mesa 17.2.2, Compiler: GCC 7.2.0, File-System: ext4, Screen Resolution: 1680x1050

KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad W510: 

	Processor: Intel Core i7 720Q @ 1.60GHz (4 Cores / 8 Threads), Motherboard: LENOVO 4318CTO, Chipset: Intel Core DMI, Memory: 4096MB, Disk: 160GB FUJITSU MHZ2160B, Graphics: NVA5 1024MB, Audio: Conexant CX20585, Network: Intel 82577LM Gigabit Connection + Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300

	OS: Ubuntu 17.10, Kernel: 4.14.0-phx-retpoline-gcc-retpo (x86_64), Desktop: GNOME Shell 3.26.1, Display Server: Wayland, OpenGL: 3.3 Mesa 17.2.2, Compiler: GCC 7.2.0, File-System: ext4, Screen Resolution: 1600x900

KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad X1: 

	Processor: Intel Core i7-5600U @ 3.20GHz (2 Cores / 4 Threads), Motherboard: LENOVO 20BSCTO1WW(BIOS: N14ET25W 1.03), Chipset: Intel Broadwell-U-OPI, Memory: 8192MB, Disk: 128GB SAMSUNG MZNTE128, Graphics: Intel HD 5500 3072MB (950MHz), Audio: Intel Broadwell-U Audio, Network: Intel Connection + Intel Wireless 7265

	OS: Ubuntu 17.10, Kernel: 4.14.0-phx-retpoline-gcc-retpo (x86_64), Desktop: GNOME Shell 3.26.1, Display Server: Wayland, OpenGL: 4.5 Mesa 17.2.2, Compiler: GCC 7.2.0, File-System: ext4, Screen Resolution: 1920x1080

KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad W520: 

	Processor: Intel Core i7-2630QM @ 2.90GHz (4 Cores / 8 Threads), Motherboard: LENOVO 42844DG, Chipset: Intel 2nd Generation Core Family DRAM, Memory: 16384MB, Disk: 120GB GOODRAM + 250GB Crucial_CT250MX2, Graphics: NVC1 2048MB, Audio: Conexant CX20590, Network: Intel 82579LM Gigabit Connection + Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300

	OS: Fedora 27, Kernel: 4.14.14-300.fc27.x86_64 (x86_64), Desktop: GNOME Shell 3.26.2, Display Server: Wayland, Display Driver: modesetting 1.19.5, OpenGL: 4.3 Mesa 17.2.4, OpenCL: OpenCL 1.1 Mesa 17.2.4, Vulkan: 1.0.61, Compiler: CUDA 9.1, File-System: ext4, Screen Resolution: 1600x900


SQLite 3.8.10.2
Test Target: Default Test Directory
Seconds < Lower Is Better
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad T61 ........ 447.25 |===============================
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad W510 ....... 488.35 |==================================
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad X1 ......... 91.58  |======
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad T61 .. 445.48 |===============================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad W510 . 538.64 |=====================================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad X1 ... 93.88  |======
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad W520 . 96.50  |=======


FS-Mark 3.3
Test: 1000 Files, 1MB Size
Files/s > Higher Is Better
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad T61 ........ 16.50 |========
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad W510 ....... 17.20 |=========
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad X1 ......... 40.95 |=====================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad T61 .. 16.37 |========
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad W510 . 17.20 |=========
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad X1 ... 40.57 |====================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad W520 . 75.40 |======================================


FS-Mark 3.3
Test: 4000 Files, 32 Sub Dirs, 1MB Size
Files/s > Higher Is Better
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad T61 ........ 15.30 |=======
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad W510 ....... 16.78 |========
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad X1 ......... 42.17 |====================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad T61 .. 15.15 |=======
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad W510 . 16.78 |========
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad X1 ... 39.73 |===================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad W520 . 80.30 |======================================


Compile Bench 0.6
Test: Compile
MB/s > Higher Is Better
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad T61 ........ 47.38  |====
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad W510 ....... 42.08  |===
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad X1 ......... 310.12 |=======================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad T61 .. 47.55  |====
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad W510 . 42.28  |===
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad X1 ... 271.02 |====================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad W520 . 489.93 |=====================================


Compile Bench 0.6
Test: Initial Create
MB/s > Higher Is Better
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad T61 ........ 53.45  |========
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad W510 ....... 62.17  |==========
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad X1 ......... 241.32 |=====================================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad T61 .. 49.72  |========
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad W510 . 58.06  |=========
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad X1 ... 212.36 |=================================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad W520 . 174.17 |===========================


Go Benchmarks
Test: json
Nanoseconds/Operation < Lower Is Better
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad T61 ........ 74630053 |===================================
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad W510 ....... 47199972 |======================
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad X1 ......... 44678762 |=====================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad T61 .. 74753814 |===================================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad W510 . 47264907 |======================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad X1 ... 44679572 |=====================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad W520 . 24442493 |===========


Go Benchmarks
Test: build
Nanoseconds/Operation < Lower Is Better
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad T61 ........ 32195224912 |==============================
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad W510 ....... 28364548603 |===========================
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad X1 ......... 15560772639 |===============
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad T61 .. 34024344510 |================================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad W510 . 28975972922 |===========================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad X1 ... 15826064487 |===============
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad W520 . 21004212345 |====================


Go Benchmarks
Test: garbage
Nanoseconds/Operation < Lower Is Better
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad T61 ........ 15778114 |==================================
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad W510 ....... 8556981  |===================
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad X1 ......... 8264076  |==================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad T61 .. 16135985 |===================================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad W510 . 8578276  |===================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad X1 ... 8414721  |==================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad W520 . 4822830  |==========


GraphicsMagick 1.3.19
Operation: Resizing
Iterations Per Minute > Higher Is Better
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad T61 ........ 77  |========================
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad W510 ....... 96  |==============================
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad X1 ......... 126 |========================================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad T61 .. 76  |========================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad W510 . 94  |==============================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad X1 ... 126 |========================================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad W520 . 125 |========================================


Timed Apache Compilation 2.4.7
Time To Compile
Seconds < Lower Is Better
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad T61 ........ 101.08 |===================================
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad W510 ....... 63.93  |======================
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad X1 ......... 59.08  |=====================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad T61 .. 105.70 |=====================================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad W510 . 66.84  |=======================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad X1 ... 60.13  |=====================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad W520 . 43.37  |===============


Timed Linux Kernel Compilation 4.13
Time To Compile
Seconds < Lower Is Better
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad T61 ........ 751.35 |====================================
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad W510 ....... 413.19 |====================
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad X1 ......... 412.03 |====================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad T61 .. 779.00 |=====================================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad W510 . 427.19 |====================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad X1 ... 418.30 |====================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad W520 . 247.40 |============


FLAC Audio Encoding 1.3.1
WAV To FLAC
Seconds < Lower Is Better
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad T61 ........ 21.01 |======================================
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad W510 ....... 12.46 |======================
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad X1 ......... 7.08  |=============
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad T61 .. 21.10 |======================================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad W510 . 12.64 |=======================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad X1 ... 7.11  |=============
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad W520 . 10.04 |==================


Systemd Total Boot Time
Test: Total
ms < Lower Is Better
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad T61 ........ 47510 |=================================
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad W510 ....... 48210 |=================================
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad X1 ......... 32310 |======================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad T61 .. 55490 |======================================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad W510 . 48190 |=================================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad X1 ... 34390 |========================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad W520 . 50413 |===================================


Systemd Total Boot Time
Test: Kernel
ms < Lower Is Better
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad T61 ........ 6760 |=====================================
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad W510 ....... 5620 |===============================
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad X1 ......... 2670 |===============
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad T61 .. 7040 |=======================================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad W510 . 5800 |================================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad X1 ... 2740 |===============
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad W520 . 2217 |============


Systemd Total Boot Time
Test: Userspace
ms < Lower Is Better
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad T61 ........ 40750 |================================
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad W510 ....... 42580 |=================================
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad X1 ......... 21380 |=================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad T61 .. 48450 |======================================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad W510 . 42380 |=================================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad X1 ... 23310 |==================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad W520 . 34208 |===========================


PostgreSQL pgbench 10.0
Scaling: Buffer Test - Test: Normal Load - Mode: Read Write
TPS > Higher Is Better
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad T61 ........ 321.97  |===
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad W510 ....... 338.81  |===
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad X1 ......... 1605.59 |==============
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad T61 .. 319.61  |===
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad W510 . 337.26  |===
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad X1 ... 1581.72 |==============
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad W520 . 3999.52 |====================================


Darktable 2.2.5
Test: Boat - Acceleration: CPU-only
Seconds < Lower Is Better
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad T61 ........ 238.80 |=====================================
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad W510 ....... 59.81  |=========
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad X1 ......... 44.09  |=======
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad T61 .. 241.42 |=====================================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad W510 . 60.05  |=========
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad X1 ... 44.23  |=======


Darktable 2.2.5
Test: Masskrug - Acceleration: CPU-only
Seconds < Lower Is Better
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad T61 ........ 233.43 |====================================
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad W510 ....... 32.09  |=====
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad X1 ......... 28.29  |====
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad T61 .. 236.65 |=====================================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad W510 . 32.65  |=====
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad X1 ... 28.54  |====


Darktable 2.2.5
Test: Server Room - Acceleration: CPU-only
Seconds < Lower Is Better
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad T61 ........ 221.50 |=====================================
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad W510 ....... 27.23  |====
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad X1 ......... 22.48  |====
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad T61 .. 224.11 |=====================================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad W510 . 27.43  |=====
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad X1 ... 22.60  |====


GIMP 2.8.20
Test: resize
Seconds < Lower Is Better
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad T61 ........ 9.44  |================================
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad W510 ....... 8.56  |=============================
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad X1 ......... 3.57  |============
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad T61 .. 11.10 |======================================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad W510 . 10.72 |=====================================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad X1 ... 3.94  |=============


GIMP 2.8.20
Test: auto-levels
Seconds < Lower Is Better
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad T61 ........ 15.15 |=================================
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad W510 ....... 13.33 |=============================
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad X1 ......... 6.82  |===============
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad T61 .. 17.19 |======================================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad W510 . 16.08 |====================================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad X1 ... 7.30  |================


GIMP 2.8.20
Test: unsharp-mask
Seconds < Lower Is Better
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad T61 ........ 30.43 |=================================
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad W510 ....... 26.92 |=============================
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad X1 ......... 13.50 |===============
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad T61 .. 35.20 |======================================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad W510 . 31.92 |==================================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad X1 ... 14.65 |================


Redis 3.0.1
Test: LPUSH
Requests Per Second > Higher Is Better
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad T61 ........ 174076.98  |====
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad W510 ....... 952845.39  |===================
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad X1 ......... 1637504.48 |=================================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad T61 .. 108367.62  |==
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad W510 . 791426.52  |================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad X1 ... 1527545.33 |===============================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad W520 . 988155.77  |====================


Redis 3.0.1
Test: GET
Requests Per Second > Higher Is Better
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad T61 ........ 193811.62  |===
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad W510 ....... 1303046.83 |==================
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad X1 ......... 2443039.00 |=================================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad T61 .. 129535.48  |==
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad W510 . 1111278.21 |===============
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad X1 ... 2165615.08 |=============================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad W520 . 1359643.17 |==================


Redis 3.0.1
Test: SET
Requests Per Second > Higher Is Better
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad T61 ........ 165079.92  |===
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad W510 ....... 1009039.19 |====================
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad X1 ......... 1687647.50 |=================================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad T61 .. 107773.49  |==
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad W510 . 857991.64  |=================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad X1 ... 1546283.67 |==============================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad W520 . 1039511.09 |====================


Stress-NG 0.07.26
Test: Socket Activity
Bogo Ops/s > Higher Is Better
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad T61 ........ 954.02  |=====================
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad W510 ....... 1493.17 |=================================
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad X1 ......... 1640.05 |====================================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad T61 .. 607.44  |=============
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad W510 . 1057.14 |=======================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad X1 ... 1115.78 |========================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad W520 . 845.03  |===================


Stress-NG 0.07.26
Test: Context Switching
Bogo Ops/s > Higher Is Better
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad T61 ........ 505190.48  |==============
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad W510 ....... 847639.34  |========================
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad X1 ......... 929902.85  |==========================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad T61 .. 340906.57  |==========
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad W510 . 592191.89  |=================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad X1 ... 817200.34  |=======================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad W520 . 1167680.61 |=================================


Stress-NG 0.07.26
Test: System V Message Passing
Bogo Ops/s > Higher Is Better
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad T61 ........ 1429892.96 |============
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad W510 ....... 3988434.84 |=================================
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad X1 ......... 2221473.92 |==================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad T61 .. 764023.46  |======
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad W510 . 1525006.60 |=============
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad X1 ... 1731089.18 |==============
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad W520 . 955573.88  |========


Apache Benchmark 2.4.7
Static Web Page Serving
Requests Per Second > Higher Is Better
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad T61 ........ 7331.48  |===========
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad W510 ....... 10611.38 |=================
Linux 4.14: ThinkPad X1 ......... 22448.41 |===================================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad T61 .. 6254.06  |==========
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad W510 . 8970.47  |==============
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad X1 ... 18798.24 |=============================
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad W520 . 8222.33  |=============


Darktable darktable-2.4.0-2.fc27
Test: Boat - Acceleration: CPU-only
Seconds < Lower Is Better
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad W520 . 40.52 |======================================


Darktable darktable-2.4.0-2.fc27
Test: Masskrug - Acceleration: CPU-only
Seconds < Lower Is Better
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad W520 . 18.18 |======================================


Darktable darktable-2.4.0-2.fc27
Test: Server Room - Acceleration: CPU-only
Seconds < Lower Is Better
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad W520 . 14.16 |======================================


GIMP 2.8.22
Test: resize
Seconds < Lower Is Better
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad W520 . 7.79 |=======================================


GIMP 2.8.22
Test: auto-levels
Seconds < Lower Is Better
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad W520 . 12.25 |======================================


GIMP 2.8.22
Test: unsharp-mask
Seconds < Lower Is Better
KPTI + Retpoline: ThinkPad W520 . 21.73 |======================================