any benefit to compiling kernel if everything is working ?

[win2lin]

Just wondering if I will get any real benefit (speedwise mostly I guess)out of compiling the kernel on a livedvd install of latest sabayon linux x86 rc2. I have a pIII 1ghz (coppermine) cpu. Just wondering as I always used to compile the kernel back in the day, because I would get a much better responding system afterwards(with my blazin fast AMD K6 200 mmx ). Haven't done it in a few years because I didn't really see a need.

[Dio]

actually, yes. by compiling your own kernel, you can build in support for only your hardware, resulting in a smaller kernel, and generally speaking, the smaller the kernel, the faster it'll load. However, you're looking at probably shortening your boot time bt a second or two...you'll also have to recompile with each kernel update, but that's not that big of a deal because you can save your kernel configuration in a .config file which can be read by newer kernel versions. it would still be wise to double check all you options durring an update even if your loading your configuration from a .config file though

[win2lin]

Thanks, I'll prolly wait until the 3.0 final comes out to do that.

James

[cvill64]

You usually see major differences when you majorly deviate from the default kernel. In this case, we've gone with an i686 kernel...so probably you won't see too much improvement with your pIII (imho) but you would see an enormous benefit let's say if you had a dual core intel 32bit next gen proc or even an atholon amd(32) core in the later gens. See where I'm going with this?

I personally always recompile as I don't mind taking the time to set the specific arch, mem things, which modules I want built in (strip all unneeded) etc etc. This is also due to the fact that I'm crunching loads of numbers (emboss, diff equations, rna structures, etc) and high kernel/proc/mem intensive jobs constantly and I need a smooth production stable system.

The problem with having a livecd/dvd is that we have to make the kernel a bit bloated to take into account all the different types of hard ware etc. So while you may see a difference, it won't be truely noticable until you get into some heavy kernel work. But like Dio said, a smaller kernel is a happier kernel

Hope this explains a bit more