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Intel Core 2

This is about the Intel Core2 Duo processor. (Keywords: Core 2 Duo, Core2 Duo, Core2Duo)

[edit] General Information

The Intel Core 2 Duo processor can be used in both a 32 bit and a 64 bit mode. In the latter case, the relevant Gentoo architecture is amd64, i.e., the amd64 version of the Gentoo handbook describes how to install and tailor the software for the Intel 64 bit processors as well as the AMD processors.

Gentoo has an amd64 subproject that supports both the AMD and the Intel 64 bit architectures. They have been developing software that supports the running of 32 bit software in a 64 bit environment. The portage packages are usually named "emul-linux-x86-[something, e.g., baselibs]."

(Make sure you see 2 cores in /proc/cpuinfo, if not make sure apic is enabled in your bios.)

[edit] Cflags

See CFlags

[edit] Kernel

[edit] 32bit

Processor type and features  --->
    [*] Symmetric multi-processing support
    Subarchitecture Type ()  --->
        (X) PC-compatible
    Processor family ()  ---> 
        (X) Core 2 / newer Xeon
    (2) Maximum number of CPUs (2-256)
    [ ] SMT (Hyperthreading) scheduler support                                                 
    [*] Multi-core scheduler support
    [*] Machine Check Exception                                                                                 
    < >   Check for non-fatal errors on AMD Athlon/Duron / Intel Pentium 4                                        

[edit] 64bit

Processor type and features  --->
    Subarchitecture Type ()  --->
        (X) PC-compatible
    Processor family ()  ---> 
        (X) Core 2 / newer Xeon
    [*] Symmetric multi-processing support
    [ ]   SMT (Hyperthreading) scheduler support                                                 
    [*]   Multi-core scheduler support
    (2) Maximum number of CPUs (2-256)
    -- Machine check support	 
    [*] Intel MCE features
Executable file formats / Emulations  --->
    [*] IA32 Emulation

[edit] CPU Frequency Scaling

See this HowTo.

[edit] Hardware Sensors

There is an experimental driver for the temperature sensor inside the cpu called "coretemp". The driver is included into the kernel 2.6.22 and later.

Device Drivers  --->
    Hardware Monitoring support  --->
        <M> Hardware Monitoring support
        <M> Intel Core (2) Duo/Solo temperature sensor

Rebuild your kernel and follow the Sensors Howto.

[edit] Virtualization

Most of the Intel Core2 processors supports Intel VT. All except:

• 'Merom' <T5600
• 'Allendale' E4xxx

So you can use e.g. HOWTO Xen and Gentoo in its whole beauty. Do remember to enable it in the BIOS.