title: Why is a pthread mutex considered "slower" than a futex?
body: <p>Why are POSIX mutexes considered heavier or slower than futexes? Where is the overhead coming from in the pthread mutex type? I've heard that pthread mutexes are based on futexes, and when uncontested, do not make any calls into the kernel.  It seems then that a pthread mutex is merely a "wrapper" around a futex.</p>
  
  <p>Is the overhead simply in the function-wrapper call and the need for the mutex function to "setup" the futex (i.e., basically the setup of the stack for the pthread mutex function call)?  Or are there some extra memory barrier steps taking place with the pthread mutex?</p>