Detecting CPU Type

[RW]

On Tue, 10 Jul 2007 16:42:33 -0400
Rob <r17fbsd at xxiii.com> wrote:

> Olivier Regnier wrote:
> > I searching to find information about my CPU type.
> > i have this: CPU: Mobile AMD Sempron(tm) Processor 2800+
> > (1600.06-Mhz 686-class CPU) I must configure my CPUTYPE?=
> > in /etc/make.conf. I'ts i686 (686-class) or i386 ?
> 
> "i386" is the architecture;  it includes all the similar processors
> including the 486, Pentiums, Athlon, etc.   Other architectures are
> completely different hardware, eg Sun's SPARC.
> 
> The 686-class is the specific processor within the i386
> architecture.  if you look in /usr/share/examples/etc/make.conf
> you'll see a list of options for CPUTYPE.  athlon-xp might be the
> closest to your cpu.  However, some folks here recommend against
> using overly specific cpu optimization.  You can go safe and just use
> pentium4



I'm not sure that is safe, Athlons, Sempron etc are back-compatible to
686 i.e. Pentium Pro, which is way before Intel developed the Pentium4.