x86: support always running TSC on Intel CPUs
Impact: reward non-stop TSCs with good TSC-based clocksources, etc.
Add support for CPUID_0x80000007_Bit8 on Intel CPUs as well. This bit means
that the TSC is invariant with C/P/T states and always runs at constant
frequency.
With Intel CPUs, we have 3 classes
* CPUs where TSC runs at constant rate and does not stop n C-states
* CPUs where TSC runs at constant rate, but will stop in deep C-states
* CPUs where TSC rate will vary based on P/T-states and TSC will stop in deep
C-states.
To cover these 3, one feature bit (CONSTANT_TSC) is not enough. So, add a
second bit (NONSTOP_TSC). CONSTANT_TSC indicates that the TSC runs at
constant frequency irrespective of P/T-states, and NONSTOP_TSC indicates
that TSC does not stop in deep C-states.
CPUID_0x8000000_Bit8 indicates both these feature bit can be set.
We still have CONSTANT_TSC _set_ and NONSTOP_TSC _not_set_ on some older Intel
CPUs, based on model checks. We can use TSC on such CPUs for time, as long as
those CPUs do not support/enter deep C-states.
Signed-off-by: Venkatesh Pallipadi <venkatesh.pallipadi@intel.com>
Signed-off-by: Ingo Molnar <mingo@elte.hu>
4 files changed