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Subarches
Funtoo Linux Sub-Architectures
This page provides an overview of Funtoo Linux sub-architectures (also called subarches,) designed for quick and easy reference. While this information is available in other places, such as Wikipedia, it often takes some time to study and cross-reference the various articles to get a good understanding of each type of sub-architecture, and this information generally isn't all collected neatly in one place. That is the purpose of this page. When possible, links to more detailed Wikipedia pages are provided. You are encouraged to help maintain this page as well as the Wikipedia articles referenced here.
64-bit Suport (Generic)
generic_64
The generic_64 subarch is designed to support 64-bit PC-compatible CPUs, such as the AMD K8-series processors, which were introduced in late 2003. They were notable as the first processors that supported the AMD64 (also called X86-64) 64-bit instruction set for PC-compatible systems, which was introduced as a backwards-compatible 64-bit alternative to Intel's IA-64 architecture. Intel followed suit and also began supporting this 64-bit instruction set, which they called "Intel 64", by releasing X86-64 64-bit compatible CPUs from mid-2004 onwards (See Intel 64 implementations.)
AMD desktop 64-bit CPUs include the Athlon 64, Athlon 64 FX, Athlon 64 X2, Athlon X2, Turion 64, Turion 64 X2 and Sempron series processors. AMD server processors were released under the Opteron brand and have codenames SledgeHammer, Venus, Troy, Athens, Denmark, Italy, Egypt, Santa Ana and Santa Rosa. All Opterons released through late 2006 were based on the K8 microarchitecture with original X86-64 instructions.
64-bit AMD Processors
amd64-k10
The amd64-k10 subarch provides support for the AMD Family 10h processors, which were released in late 2007 as a successor to the AMD K8 series processors.
Desktop amd64-k10 CPUs include AMD Phenom, AMD Phenom II and AMD Athlon II. Server CPUs include Opterons with codenames Budapest, Barcelona, Suzuka, Shanghai, Istanbul, Lisbon, and Magny-Cours. A full listing of amd64-k10 Opteron models can be found here.
amd64-bulldozer
The amd64-bulldozer subarch supports the AMD bulldozer microarchitecture CPUs, which were released from late 2011 through the first quarter of 2012 as a replacement for the K10 microarchitecture CPUs. Bulldozer desktop CPUs use the AM3+ socket and server CPUs use the G34 socket.
Desktop bulldozer CPUs include the Zambezi FX-series CPUs. Server bulldozer CPUs include Opterons with codenames Zurich (Opteron 3200-series), Valencia (Opteron 4200-series) and Interlagos (Opteron 6200 series). A complete list of Opteron models can be found here..
amd64-piledriver
The amd64-piledriver subarch supports the AMD Piledriver microarchitecture produced by AMD from mid-2012 through 2015, which is the successor to the AMD bulldozer microarchitecture. Piledriver CPUs and APUs are available that use the FM2 socket. Desktop Piledriver CPUs use the AM3+ socket. Server Piledriver CPUs use a variety of sockets, including AM3+, C32 and G34.
Desktop piledriver CPU and APUs include FX-series with codename Vishera (FX-8350, FX-8370), A-series with codename Trinity (A6-5400K, A10-5800K) and A-series with codename Richland.
Server piledriver CPUs include Opterons with codenames Delhi (Opteron 3300-series, AM3+), Seoul (Opteron 4300-series, C32) and Abu Dhabi (Opteron 6300-series, G34). A full listing of Opteron models is available here.
Piledriver adds several new instructions over bulldozer, so AMD bulldozer systems cannot run amd64-piledriver-optimized stages. However, this subarch is instruction-compatible with its successor, the, so amd64-piledriver stages can run on amd64-steamroller systems, and vice versa.
amd64-steamroller
The amd64-steamroller subarch supports the AMD steamroller microarchitecture, produced from early 2014. It is the successor to the AMD Piledriver microarchitecture. Steamroller APUs are available that use the FM2+ socket and FP3 socket (mobile.)
Desktop steamroller APUs include the A-Series with codename Kaveri, such as the quad-core AMD A10-7850K APU. Steamroller APUs are also available in mobile versions. Server steamroller APUs will include the codename Berlin APUs, which are expected to be released some time in 2015.
Amd64-steamroller subarches are instruction-compatible with amd64-piledriver, but add new instructions over amd64-bulldozer.
amd64-jaguar
The amd64-jaguar (also called AMD Family 16h) subarch supports the AMD jaguar microarchitecture, which is targeted at low-power devices, including notebooks, tablets and small form-factor desktops and servers. It is perhaps most well-known for being the microarchitecture used for the Playstation 4 and Xbox One, which each use custom 8-core Jaguar APUs. Socketed Jaguar APUs use the AM1 socket, and FT3 socket for mobile devices. G-series "system on a chip" (SoC) APUs are available for non-socketed devices such as tablets and embedded system boards.
Desktop Jaguar APUs include the Kabini A-series APUs and Temash E-series APUs, such as the Athlon 5150 and 5350 APUs, and Sempron 2650 and 3850.
Amd64-jaguar subarches use the MOVBE instruction which is not available on amd64-bulldozer, amd64-piledriver or amd64-steamroller. They are thus not instruction-compatible with any of these subarches.
64-bit intel Processors
corei7
core2_64
Introduced July of 2006 and phased out July of 2011, the core2_64 subarch supports the Core microarchitecture. Successor to the Intel Core (first gen; 32-bit), Pentium D and Pentium 4, with up to four cores and available for Socket T (LGA 775), Socket M (µPGA 478), Socket P (µPGA 478), Micro-FCBGA (µBGA 479), Micro-FCBGA (µBGA 965).
The Core 2-branded CPUs include: "Conroe"/"Allendale" (dual-core for desktops), "Merom" (dual-core for laptops), "Merom-L" (single-core for laptops), "Kentsfield" (quad-core for desktops), and the updated variants named "Wolfdale" (dual-core for desktops), "Penryn" (dual-core for laptops), and "Yorkfield" (quad-core for desktops). (Note: For the server and workstation "Woodcrest", "Tigerton", "Harpertown" and "Dunnington" CPUs see the Xeon brand.)
atom_64
The atom_64 (also known under the code names Diamondville, Pineview, Cedarview and Centerton) subarch supports the 64-bit Intel Atom Bonnell microarchitecture, representing a partial revival of the principles used in earlier Intel designs such as P5 and the i486, with the sole purpose of enhancing the performance per watt ratio. Successor to the Stealey (microprocessor), which was derived from the Pentium M, the Intel Atom has been produced since 2008. Targeted at low-power devices, Atom processors can be found in a wide range of notebooks, tablets and small form-factor desktops and servers.
The Atom N2xx series Atom Diamondville models cannot support 64-bit operation, while the 2xx and 3xx Diamondville, Pineview, Cedarview and Centerton only can with a processor, chipset, BIOS that all support Intel 64. This can lead to situations where non-Intel branded motherboards can have a 64-bit capable Atom processor which cannot run a 64-bit operating system. In this situation, you would need to use the atom_32 subarch.