Re: CPU support (was: UEFI grub install fails)
Van Snyder composed on 2025-08-19 16:30 (UTC-0700):
> MS says Windoze 11 isn't
> supported on Intel i5
I suspect this is inaccurate. What I believe may be that Win11 is not supported on
the particular i5 tested for support.
# inxi -SC
System:
Host: ab250 Kernel: 6.12.38+deb13-amd64 arch: x86_64 bits: 64
Console: pty pts/0 Distro: Debian GNU/Linux 13 (trixie)
CPU:
Info: quad core model: Intel Core i5-7500T bits: 64 type: MCP cache:
L2: 1024 KiB
Speed (MHz): avg: 800 min/max: 800/3300 cores: 1: 800 2: 800 3: 800 4: 800
# /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/ld-linux-x86-64.so.2 --help | tail -11
Shared library search path:
(libraries located via /etc/ld.so.cache)
/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu (system search path)
/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu (system search path)
/lib (system search path)
/usr/lib (system search path)
Subdirectories of glibc-hwcaps directories, in priority order:
x86-64-v4
x86-64-v3 (supported, searched)
x86-64-v2 (supported, searched)
#
# inxi -CS
System:
Host: hp750 Kernel: 6.12.41+deb13-amd64 arch: x86_64 bits: 64
Console: pty pts/0 Distro: Debian GNU/Linux 13 (trixie)
CPU:
Info: dual core model: Intel Core i5 660 bits: 64 type: MT MCP cache:
L2: 512 KiB
Speed (MHz): avg: 1200 min/max: 1200/3334 cores: 1: 1200 2: 1200 3: 1200
4: 1200
# /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/ld-linux-x86-64.so.2 --help | tail -11
Shared library search path:
(libraries located via /etc/ld.so.cache)
/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu (system search path)
/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu (system search path)
/lib (system search path)
/usr/lib (system search path)
Subdirectories of glibc-hwcaps directories, in priority order:
x86-64-v4
x86-64-v3
x86-64-v2 (supported, searched)
#
# inxi -CS
System:
Host: k9msi Kernel: 6.12.41+deb13-amd64 arch: x86_64 bits: 64
Desktop: TDE (Trinity) v: R14.1.5~[DEVELOPMENT] Distro: Debian GNU/Linux
13 (trixie)
CPU:
Info: dual core model: AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ bits: 64 type: MCP cache:
L2: 1024 KiB
Speed (MHz): avg: 2587 min/max: N/A cores: 1: 2587 2: 2587
root@k9msi:~# /lib64/ld-linux-x86-64.so.2 --help | tail -11
Shared library search path:
(libraries located via /etc/ld.so.cache)
/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu (system search path)
/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu (system search path)
/lib (system search path)
/usr/lib (system search path)
Subdirectories of glibc-hwcaps directories, in priority order:
x86-64-v4
x86-64-v3
x86-64-v2
#
Of the three installations above, the first two meet the v2 "specification", but
not the third. In all likelihood, M$ does an equivalent check to what is shown
resulting above from Trixie, and below from openSUSE Leap, to see whether specific
CPU features are available. Leap 16.0 due in October requires v2 as a minimum,
while SUSE 16 according to the following URL will require v3.
<https://en.opensuse.org/X86-64_microarchitecture_levels>
I imagine Win11's requirements are different from *SUSE's, but the idea of
requiring specific CPU features is not. Whether any i5s would fail to meet v2 I
have doubts, as I believe the first post-Core2Duo/Core2Quad "Core" (e.g. i5-xxx)
CPUs from Intel provide the minimum features constituting v2, though it could be
i5-2xxx or even i5-3xxx. The Pentium and Celeron chips in the i3/5/7-4xxx series
do not meet v3, while the 3/5/7 do. Maybe for Win11 the minimum is stricter than v2.
# inxi -CS
System:
Host: hp750 Kernel: 6.12.0-160000.19-default arch: x86_64 bits: 64
Console: pty pts/0 Distro: openSUSE Leap 16.0 Beta
CPU:
Info: dual core model: Intel Core i5 660 bits: 64 type: MT MCP cache:
L2: 512 KiB
Speed (MHz): avg: 1200 min/max: 1200/3334 cores: 1: 1200 2: 1200 3: 1200
4: 1200
# /lib64/ld-linux-x86-64.so.2 --help | tail -11
This program interpreter self-identifies as: /lib64/ld-linux-x86-64.so.2
Shared library search path:
(libraries located via /etc/ld.so.cache)
/lib64 (system search path)
/usr/lib64 (system search path)
Subdirectories of glibc-hwcaps directories, in priority order:
x86-64-v4
x86-64-v3
x86-64-v2 (supported, searched)
#
# inxi -CS
System:
Host: k9msi Kernel: 6.4.0-150600.23.60-default arch: x86_64 bits: 64
Console: pty pts/0 Distro: openSUSE Leap 15.6
CPU:
Info: dual core model: AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ bits: 64 type: MCP cache:
L2: 1024 KiB
Speed (MHz): avg: 2587 min/max: N/A cores: 1: 2587 2: 2587
k9msi:~ # /lib64/ld-linux-x86-64.so.2 --help | tail -11
This program interpreter self-identifies as: /lib64/ld-linux-x86-64.so.2
Shared library search path:
(libraries located via /etc/ld.so.cache)
/lib64 (system search path)
/usr/lib64 (system search path)
Subdirectories of glibc-hwcaps directories, in priority order:
x86-64-v4
x86-64-v3
x86-64-v2
#
The i5 host hp750 would qualify to run Leap 16, but the Athlon X2 host k9msi now
running Leap 15.6 won't be able to upgrade to 16, or install it afresh. This kind
of limitation looms as a potential in other distros to come, such as Forky,
somewhat like Trixie shed 32bit support. :(
--
Evolution as taught in public schools is, like religion,
based on faith, not based on science.
Team OS/2 ** Reg. Linux User #211409 ** a11y rocks!
Felix Miata
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