supported processors in amd64/ release 5.x through 7.x

[Walter Jansen]

Dear,

 

In the "hardware notes" shown in the documentation of all releases 5.x
through 7.x Beta, the supported Intel processors are described as follows:

 

*         Intel 64-bit XeonT ("Nacona"). This processor is fabricated on
90nm process technology, and operates with 2.80 to 3.60 GHz (FSB 800MHz) and
Intel E7520/E7525/E7320 chipsets.

*         Intel PentiumR 4 Processor supporting Intel EM64T ("Prescott").
This is fabricated on 90nm process technology, uses FC-LGA775 package, and
operates with 3.20F/3.40F/3.60F GHz and Intel 925X Express chipsets. The
corresponding S-Spec numbers are SL7L9, SL7L8, SL7LA, SL7NZ, SL7PZ, and
SL7PX. Note that processors marked as 5xx numbers do not support EM64T.

Intel EM64T is an extended version of IA-32 (x86) and different from Intel
IA-64 (Itanium) architecture, which FreeBSD/ia64 supports. Some Intel's old
documentation refers to Intel EM64T as "64-bit extension technology" or
"IA-32e".

The information seems outdated. "Nacona" had many successors, EM64T is now
named Intel-64, many other Xeon processors support Intel-64 as well as other
processors with different names do. Socket- and package numbers are either
restrictive or do not exist any more.

 

Being not technically skilled myself, I can not help you to a better and
more to the point description of processor compatibility, but the
discussions in forums indicate that ther is a need for this. I still hope to
find an answer to my question: "Can I install Freebsd amd64 on my Dell SC440
server with Xeon 3060 processor" 

 

My full respect for all the good work you do; have a very good X-mas 

 

 

Kind regards

 

Walter Jansen

Elst, The Netherlands