Kernel tweaks improve Raspberry Pi performance, efficiency

Development efforts are underway to enhance Raspberry Pi performance and efficiency through kernel tweaks. One initiative introduces "Suspend to idle" support for older Pi models, while another brings NUMA support to the Pi 5, unexpectedly boosting its performance. The power management improvements target Pis based on the Broadcom BCM2835 SoC, with a modest reduction in power consumption observed. Additionally, enabling NUMA support on the Pi 5 enhances performance by splitting physical RAM into chunks, resulting in notable performance gains in benchmark tests. These advancements showcase the benefits of adapting power and memory management techniques from larger systems to single-board computers like the Raspberry Pi, potentially leading to significant power savings in large clusters. The developments highlight the versatility of a single OS capable of running on a wide range of devices, from mobile phones to supercomputer clusters, emphasizing the importance of efficient computing practices in various environments.