Apple SoC CPUFreq Linux Driver Moves Closer To Mainline

The Apple SoC CPUFreq driver worked on by the Asahi Linux crew for CPU frequency scaling with the M1 and M2 chips under Linux looks like it could soon be reaching the mainline kernel.

The past few months Asahi Linux lead developer Hector Martin has been working to get the Apple SoC CPUFreq driver together for CPU frequency scaling under Linux. In October with the v2 patches the M2 SoC was now working and this week marked the fourth iteration of these patches.

The v4 patches just incorporate some minor review feedback with no functional changes. It's looking like work is about wrapped up and in a state where this apple-soc-cpufreq driver could be merged to mainline -- possibly for the next merge window. Though in developers reviewing the v4 patches, some minor items were raised that will lead to a v5 re-spin of the patches coming up soon.

The v4 patches for those interested can be found on the linux-pm mailing list.

Given the continued improvements and more Apple M1/M2 support reaching mainline, it looks like soon will be time for a follow-up Apple M1/M2 Linux benchmarking. See my prior Apple M2 vs. Intel vs. AMD Linux benchmarks from this summer for those interested. One of the areas that remains under most active work is on the GPU side with raising their Rust-based DRM kernel driver and AGX Gallium3D Mesa code. On the Rust DRM kernel driver side that looks like it may still be a while before it's buttoned up for mainline.