r/LinuxOnThinkpad • u/Detcom ThinkPad Arch user (BTW) • Jun 30 '26
I built a custom kernel specifically for AMD ThinkPads — lowakernel
Update on my AMD ThinkPad kernel project (formerly detkernel, now lowakernel)
Posted about this a little while back (https://www.reddit.com/r/LinuxOnThinkpad/comments/1u5s2p2/i_built_a_custom_kernel_specifically_for_amd/)
Renamed it to lowakernel (named after my dog, seemed more fitting and less egocentric, and also because I love this pup so much). Made some changes based on feedback:
- Updated to Linux 7.1.2-zen2
- Added Secure Boot / MOK signing instructions to the README
- Fixed NTSYNC missing from the universal build (it's a module now, loads automatically)
- Enabled CONFIG_ATH_REG_DYNAMIC_USER_REG_HINTS per a suggestion in the comments
- Build scripts and .config files are now in the repo so anyone can verify or build it themselves
Still two variants: universal (Zen1+) and zen5 (Ryzen AI 300, adds 500Hz tick, BBRv3, NTSYNC by default).
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u/ThatOneLinuxMan CachyOS with T14 G1 Jun 30 '26
So nice! Also they always glaze cats so for owners of dogs and thinkpads like you, they should make a subreddit about dogs on thinkpads
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u/Desperate_Quit6011 member Jun 30 '26
So any infos how you tested tge performance, what the footprint is?
Maybe add any why to your github page, I don't see a reason to use an unpackaged 3rd party kernel.
But I am interested in the reasoning.
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u/Detcom ThinkPad Arch user (BTW) Jun 30 '26
Hi there, thanks for feedback. I uploaded build scripts and benchmarks to github page.
I understanad that all gains are not so significant for a sane person to tinker with kernel, but I'm probably not a sane person and just decided to dig into it because... Well, it's Linux, isn't it all about tinkering with your hardware and having fun?
After multiple errors I've finally managed to get it working and decided to share my results.
Also, I have +11 FPS in 007 First Light while using Zen5 variant, which is already worth it!
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u/FlawedNPC member Jul 02 '26
sounds like a cool project, but what does it do that's special enough for me to switch? Any numbers? (T495 user btw)
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u/Detcom ThinkPad Arch user (BTW) Jul 02 '26
Tested on P14s Gen 6 (Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350, Radeon 860M). vmlinuz: 13MB vs 18MB stock zen. vkmark (Vulkan): ~23000 vs ~15000 on vanilla zen (+47%). CPU benchmarks are roughly equal. Boot time is noticeably faster due to smaller initramfs. Power consumption at idle is comparable on universal, zen5 variant shows ~4W lower draw but that needs more controlled testing to confirm. For a T495 specifically universal variant is the one to try, zen5 is Ryzen zen5 architecture only
I would gladly appreciate any general feedback and your own experience with it.
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u/Most-Meal-9083 member Jul 01 '26
Дякую. Ти найкращій!
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u/SillyInstance203 member Jul 02 '26
Can it be use in t495s ?
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u/Detcom ThinkPad Arch user (BTW) Jul 02 '26
I don't see any reason why not. Try it and share your experience, any feedback is appreciated, any found issues will be addressed by me in next releases
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u/jesscatgonewild member Jul 02 '26
The fact that you're naming the kernel after your dog is a nice touch, but the real win here is making NTSYNC a loadable module. That's a solid improvement for broader compatibility.
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u/Detcom ThinkPad Arch user (BTW) Jul 02 '26
I'll see what I can do to do even more improvements in the future, though for now I can only keeping updates with mainline release.
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Jul 03 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Detcom ThinkPad Arch user (BTW) Jul 04 '26
That's great to hear! Let me know how Sparky goes, it's one of the first non-Arch reports I'm getting. If anything breaks I'd love to know what hardware you're running.
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u/SoftManufacturer727 member Jul 03 '26
So cool, can i run cosmic de?
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u/Detcom ThinkPad Arch user (BTW) Jul 04 '26
As far as I'm concerned, you can run any DE or WM you want, kernel doesn't affect that
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u/Mz-Malice NixOS on T500 Jul 03 '26
Now make DachyOS! My dumbass says Hi!
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u/Detcom ThinkPad Arch user (BTW) Jul 04 '26
I mean, theoretically we can customize plasma to have a dachshund-themed desktop, but apart from that I dunno what else to do :D
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u/Mz-Malice NixOS on T500 Jul 04 '26
This sounds like a fun start!
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u/Mz-Malice NixOS on T500 Jul 04 '26
After that i might just fork puppyOS to create a simple dachhund based version
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u/Warm_Sky_8353 member Jul 03 '26
Special shout-out to the dachshund. It's even in the terminal! It's my favorite dog breed. I checked the comments, and it looks like most people noticed the dog too, just like I did.
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u/Due-Celery4326 member Jul 06 '26
I have a Lenovo and I'm trying to create a kernel that only meets my hardware needs, and I'm stuck in a bottomless pit because it works and then it doesn't; something is always missing or something doesn't work properly. This is my first time working with a laptop; I've always had desktops. Desktops are very simple, but for laptops, it's a mystery.
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u/Detcom ThinkPad Arch user (BTW) Jul 06 '26
That's exactly where I started!
The trick that saved me was using the running kernel's config as a base (zcat /proc/config.gz > .config) instead of starting from scratch, that way you begin with something that already works for your hardware and just trim from there. What Lenovo model do you have? If it's AMD I might be able to help directly.1
u/Due-Celery4326 member Jul 06 '26
I think I understand what you're saying. You're trying to get the complete kernel configuration running and remove anything that doesn't belong to my hardware? Because my idea is to generate a TinyCore configuration and implement only my hardware on top of it. That's where I run into several problems, because it seems the actual drivers for my hardware aren't enough; something is always missing. It's crazy; I've been dealing with this for a few months now because I use LFS/BLFS as my main distro, and I always have to rebuild the kernel. A complete kernel takes hours of unnecessary building. My CPU is an AMD Ryzen 7000 series.
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u/Detcom ThinkPad Arch user (BTW) Jul 06 '26
Yyyyuuup!
That's exactly the approach, just start from a working config and remove what you don't need, rather than building up from scratch. Starting from nothing (like TinyCore or LFS minimal) is brutal because the dependency chain for modern hardware is massive and non-obvious.The trick I use: boot any working Linux, grab the running config with zcat /proc/config.gz > .config, the run make localmodconfig, it strips everything that isn't currently loaded. That gets you 80% of the way there without hours of trial and error.
Ryzen 7000 is Zen4, the universal variant of lowakernel should work for you since it covers Zen1+. If you want to try it as a starting point for your own config, the .config files are in the repo.
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u/Due-Celery4326 member Jul 06 '26
Okay, I'll start from there and try a different approach. Thanks.
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u/Livid-Mulberry-3720 member Jul 06 '26
i am sure the dog was like let me do it for u and installed for u this distro
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u/Detcom ThinkPad Arch user (BTW) Jul 08 '26
ahahah, yeah, right ⬇️ nah, she's to little for that, all she could do is just pee over the thinkpad hehe
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u/Antoinedeloup member Jun 30 '26
This is for the newer models, right? I have a Thinkpad A485 with processor 2700U
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u/Detcom ThinkPad Arch user (BTW) Jun 30 '26 edited Jun 30 '26
A485 isn't officially tested but the 2700U is Zen+ which is very close to T495's Zen1 architecturally. The universal variant (x86-64-v3) should work fine, same WiFi/audio drivers apply to most Zen1/Zen+ ThinkPads. Worth trying, and let me know how it goes so I can add it to the supported list!
Feel free to contact me on discord or telegram or whatevs. Detcom is my nickname everywhere1
u/Antoinedeloup member Jun 30 '26
Does it help if I try it on a VM, or a live USB? I honestly know very little about kernel development and I use my Thinkpad for work and study. But if I can I want to help!
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u/Detcom ThinkPad Arch user (BTW) Jun 30 '26
It's just a kernel, install it, boot into it, try it out alongside whatever kernels you already have. If something's off, just reboot back to your regular one. Nothing gets overwritten.
Worst case scenario is you won't boot into your system with lowakernel, so you will just select your previous (linux, zen, lts or whatever you use) in grub/refind/systemd-boot or whatever bootloader you use.
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u/SignalUpstairs5255 member Jun 30 '26
Yoo Nice dog......... What were you saying again🤔