Is an Atom N2600 64-bit or 32-bit?

Question

I'm looking at an Intel spec sheet. It says that the processor has a 64-bit instruction set. However, running:

uname -m 

results in i686, and running:

grep flags /proc/cpuinfo

indicates that each processor has a tm flag and not an lm flag.

Does this processor support 64-bit operating systems? If not, what's the difference between what's being said and what is actually the case?

Solution 1

The official Intel specs indicate that the processor is 64-bit.

However, you are running a 32-bit operating system, which explains i686 and the absence of the lm (long mode—the 64-bit operating mode of an x86-64 processor) flag. tm refers to thermal monitor support and has nothing to do with 64-bit support.

In your case, it looks like the manufacturer of the computer has disabled 64-bit support, which means you probably need to purchase another computer to be able to install a 64-bit operating system.

Solution 2

I have an Asus eeePC 1025c. It has an atom N2600, but will not boot a 64bit OS. According to this forum thread, the manufacturer has disabled it in the BIOS: http://www.bios-mods.com/forum/Thread-REQUEST-Asus-eeepc-1025C.

I didn't try to flash the replacement, but at least I know why I'm stuck with 32bit processing.

Comments

[anonymous]

I tried installing a 64 bit operating system. It failed because the cpu was not somehow marked as "x86_64".

[bwDraco]

Is your BIOS configured to enable 64-bit support?