Final Clear Linux performance on Intel: about 48% faster than Ubuntu out of the box

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Intel’s recent release of its Clear Linux distribution marks the end of a decade of intense optimization designed to get the most out of the brand’s x86_64 processors. With performance gains peaking at nearly 48% over Ubuntu 25.04 out of the box, Clear Linux has long been a benchmark for speed on Intel platforms. This performance difference, the result of advanced technological innovations, demonstrates the key role Clear Linux has played in driving efficiency on modern operating systems tailored to Intel processors. Clear Linux has not only been an internal laboratory for Intel, but also a veritable tool for experimenting with optimizations at the compiler, Linux kernel, and system configuration levels. This article describes the technical details of this performance, notably comparing Clear Linux with Ubuntu 25.04, the latest version of the mainstream distribution. Based on benchmarks performed on a latest-generation Xeon Max server platform, this analysis also addresses the impact of this optimization on energy consumption and the concrete benefits for professional environments and advanced users. Discover Clear Linux, a powerful and optimized operating system, offering up to 48% faster performance compared to Ubuntu. Ideal for developers and users looking for a smooth and fast experience. Clear Linux’s Advanced Optimizations: How Intel Revolutionized Performance on x86_64 Processors

Clear Linux was developed by Intel engineers with a clear objective: to fully exploit the capabilities of x86_64 architectures, notably through specific technologies such as AVX-512, now standard on Intel Xeon processors. The distribution applies a series of targeted optimizations to the GCC compiler, the Linux kernel, and many essential packages.

These optimizations are based on:

Aggressive compilation:

Systematic use of Intel architecture-specific flags (e.g., -march=native, -O3, -flto) to generate highly optimized binaries.

Kernel application patches:

  • Modifications to the Linux 6.15.5 kernel adapted to Intel microarchitectures to improve interrupt handling, optimize task scheduling, and refine AVX-512 support. System configuration: Selection of CPU governors tailored to maximize performance (intel_cpufreq with default performance profile), scheduler adjustments, and memory settings.
  • Continuous software component updates: Clear Linux ships updated versions of GCC (15.1.1), Python (3.13), and other essential packages via rolling release, ensuring a modern software base.
  • This approach is radically different from most traditional distributions, including Ubuntu, which adopt more generic settings aimed at balancing performance and power consumption across a wider range of hardware. A concrete example: on a Xeon Max 9468 server, Clear Linux takes full advantage of the processor’s flexibility by leveraging AVX-512 to accelerate vector calculations, a crucial advantage for HPC applications or parallel processing. This ability to leverage advanced instructions explains part of the massive performance gains observed in certain CPU benchmarks and real-world workloads.
  • Intel’s rigor on this project also resulted in the creation of an innovative packaging system, promoting modularity and rapid component updates, as well as in-depth technical documentation, accessible to the open-source community. System administrators and developers seeking precise optimization for their servers will find in Clear Linux a coherent system engineering model, which perfectly illustrates that software optimization plays as important a role as the hardware itself in overall performance.

Intel architecture-specific compilation

Targeted kernel optimizations Performance-first CPU configuration Continuous software updates

Advanced AVX-512 support

Discover Clear Linux, a powerful and optimized operating system that delivers 48% faster performance than Ubuntu. Ideal for developers and technology enthusiasts, Clear Linux maximizes the efficiency of your hardware while ensuring a smooth and responsive user experience. Comparative Benchmark: Clear Linux versus Ubuntu 25.04 on Xeon Max 9468 To concretely measure these differences, tests were conducted on a Supermicro Hyper SuperServer SYS-221H-TNR server equipped with dual Xeon Max 9468 processors, 512 GB of RAM, and very fast NVMe storage.

  • The benchmarks include standard multi-threaded measurements, compilation tests, as well as scientific computing workloads, an area where Clear Linux has optimized AVX-512 vector instructions.
  • Here are the key findings:
  • Clear Linux displays up to 48% better CPU performance
  • than Ubuntu 25.04 by default (with the schedutil CPU governor).
  • Ubuntu’s switch to a performance-mode CPU governor closes some of the gap, but Clear Linux remains ahead by more than 30% in many tests.
The energy consumption measured on the server reveals Clear Linux's more efficient use of energy, thanks to refined CPU management and an adapted scheduler.

Compilation times for large projects are significantly improved, minimizing wait times during software development.

The combination of a recent 6.15.5 kernel and a GCC 15.1.1 compiler under Clear Linux contributes to these figures, while Ubuntu 25.04, although recent, uses a slightly older version of the kernel (6.14) and GCC (14.2), which impacts performance. These results are confirmed by several comparative analyses, such as those offered on Linux Encaja, which detail the gains related to specific kernel versions and CPU optimizations.

This benchmark represents only a fraction of the usage, but clearly illustrates the benefits of Intel’s optimized distribution, including in server environments where speed is often a key criterion. Optimized multi-threaded testing

Workloads accelerated by advanced instructions

  • Net gain in compilation times Reduced energy consumption Direct comparison with Ubuntu 25.04
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xYxfGjeEac
  • The practical impacts of Clear Linux’s performance gains for users and businesses For system administrators, developers, and demanding users, these performance improvements translate into:Improved response times
  • on a daily basis for heavy tasks, particularly for web servers, databases, and computing applications, as demonstrated in the in-depth performance analysis with nginx under Linux 6.15 on

Linux Encaja .Optimized energy consumption, essential in large-scale infrastructures where every watt counts.

Faster software project builds

  • , accelerating development cycles and encouraging rapid innovation.
  • Extensive compatibility
  • even with recent AMD hardware, demonstrating that optimization doesn’t stop at the Intel ecosystem.
  • These factors play a role in the choice of Linux distributions to adopt in professional contexts: a clear, optimized, and secure operating system helps teams focus on business value rather than manually optimizing systems.
  • Clear Linux has also allowed Intel to test features such as modular packaging and improved container management, helping prepare for more efficient cloud and DevOps environments. These innovations contribute to the overall development of open source, a vital area for the IT industry.
For those who want to experience Linux with a powerful display and an optimized base without any significant effort, mainstream alternatives like Ubuntu remain solid choices. However, to get the most out of Intel technology, Clear Linux has long offered a compelling benchmark. More details on Linux innovations and various benchmarks can also be found on dedicated resources such as Linux Encaja.

Optimized energy consumption Improved developer productivity Extensive cross-platform compatibility

  • Modularity and innovation in packaging Readiness for cloud and container environments Discover Clear Linux, a high-performance operating system, up to 48% faster than Ubuntu. Enjoy a smooth, optimized user experience for your applications and daily tasks.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tq2DFYyVdQQ
  • What role for Linux distributions after the end of Clear Linux: a future of innovation and adaptabilityIntel’s decision to discontinue Clear Linux has sparked considerable controversy in the Linux community, given its significant impact and the innovations it has brought. However, this discontinuation does not mean the end of optimizations, whose achievements are likely to be readily adopted by the community and other distributions.
  • Several points should be considered to understand this future:Dissemination of optimizations:
  • Since patches and tools designed for Clear Linux are open source, they can continue to inspire alternative projects or be integrated into mainstream Linux kernels. Adoption by other distributions:

Ubuntu, Fedora, and Debian, among the most popular, are gradually integrating elements from Clear Linux, particularly in CPU frequency management and compilation, as confirmed by a recent comparative analysis of performance across several versions of the Linux kernel available on Linux Encaja. Continued innovation:

The discontinuation of Clear Linux paves the way for new, more modular and specialized projects, such as distributions focused on high-performance computing (HPC) or lightweight containers.

Maintaining user benefits: Users and businesses using Clear Linux must now consider migrating to other distributions while maintaining the flexibility to adopt optimizations tailored to Intel systems.The Linux ecosystem is inherently collaborative. Even if Intel withdraws its official support, its work on Clear Linux will undoubtedly enrich all distributions in the long term. For those interested in delving deeper into the many innovations underway in the Linux kernel and exploring performance comparisons, we recommend reading the articles on Linux Encaja.

  • Maintaining open source optimizations
  • Progressive integration into mainstream distributions
  • Launch of new specific projects
  • Support for system migrations
  • Community collaboration and enrichment
Detailed analysis of the energy and hardware implications of Clear Linux's enhanced performance
An important distinction between distributions lies in their management of energy consumption, a key parameter in today’s production environments. Benchmarks conducted on the latest version of Clear Linux demonstrate that despite the increased performance, the impact on energy consumption is controlled thanks to precise adjustment of the CPU governor and kernel optimization.

On the Xeon Max 9468 server, Clear Linux uses the performance mode of the intel_cpufreq driver by default, allowing the CPU to run at full frequency on demand. In comparison, Ubuntu 25.04 retains its default schedutil governor, which moderates frequency increases to prioritize power reduction. With this configuration, Ubuntu attempts to preserve battery life and power consumption, but at the cost of a significant loss in speed. In consecutive tests, the results show that Clear Linux achieves:

Performance gains of up to 48%

depending on workloads

  • Well-optimized energy usage per watt thanks to efficient use of P-state and C-state modes
  • Intelligent balancing between scaling frequency and power consumption reducing unnecessary energy waste Improved performance per wattnoted in high-performance computing benchmarks
  • These results are particularly appreciated in data centers, where energy costs represent a significant portion of the operating budget. For companies looking to modernize their infrastructure without increasing their carbon footprint, particularly in the context of strict environmental regulations, Clear Linux has offered an efficient model, combining speed and efficiency. The importance of these specific features is also visible in the field of Linux workstations, where high performance is an asset for developers, researchers, and graphics professionals. A detailed analysis of GPU performance, for example, reveals that the Clear Linux environment on machines compatible with AMD Radeon RX 9070 cards offers optimized fluidity and efficiency, compatible with the latest Linux kernel improvements and open source graphics drivers, as explained in this article on Linux Encaja.
  • Default CPU performance governor Advanced P-state and C-state management

Controlled energy consumption Optimization for performance per wattApplication in data centers and workstations