Canonical has begun supplying separate package options with executables optimized for the x86-64-v3 architecture for Ubuntu 25.10. Currently, about 2000 packages from the main repository are prepared for x86-64-v3, available as an option. These packages have not been tested at the core package level but can already be used by enthusiasts looking for maximum performance. In Ubuntu 26.04, they plan to compile optimized versions for the x86-64-v3 architecture of all available packages and ensure comprehensive testing.
The ability to use packages optimized for x86-64-v3 has been implemented without compromising support for older hardware. Modifications have been made to dpkg, apt, and Launchpad to allow for the building and distribution of packages simultaneously for multiple x86-64 architecture variants. The following commands can be used to check support for the x86-64-v3 architecture, configure the repository, and install the corresponding packages: $ ld.so —help | grep ‘\-v[0-9]’ x86-64-v4 (supported, searched) x86-64-v3 (supported, searched) x86-64-v2 (supported, searched) echo ‘APT::Architecture-Variants «amd64v3»;’ | sudo tee /etc/apt/apt.conf.d/99enable-amd64v3 sudo apt update sudo apt upgrade
The x86-64-v* versions define an unofficial way of identifying microarchitecture state slices that cover certain sets of extensions. The third version of the x86-64 microarchitecture (x86-64-v3) has been applied in Intel processors since around 2015 (starting with Intel Haswell) and is distinguished by the presence of AVX, AVX2, BMI2, FMA, LZCNT, MOVBE, and SXSAVE extensions. The x86-64-v2 version covers the SSE3, SSE4_2, SSSE3, POPCNT, LAHF-SAHF, and CMPXCHG16B extensions, while the x86-64-v4 version includes AVX512F, AVX512BW, AVX512CD, AVX512DQ, and AVX512VL extensions.
In most cases, the performance gain when building with optimizations for the x86-64-v3 architecture is about 1%, but in certain situations in applications performing large computations, a more noticeable increase in performance can be observed.
Source: opennet.ru
