Via CPUs don't support some Linux distributions

IT'S NOT ONLY Sun's Solaris that has problems recognising Via's X86 CPUs, it has emerged.

SuSE Linux confirmed this morning that distributions since version 8.1 have difficulty recognising some CPUs.

But those with version 9.0 shouldn't have a problem.

Said Chris Schlaeger, director of distribution development at SuSE Germany: "Since the release of SUSE LINUX 8.1 the minimum supported CPU is a Pentium. Unfortunately Via produced some CPUs which they claim to be Pentium compatible but don't support the Comp-Exchange-8 (cx8) instruction as all genuine Intel Pentium do. For SUSE LINUX 9.0 we modified our kernel to no longer use the CX8 instruction, so 9.0 should work fine even on those VIA "Pentium compatible" CPUs".

Essentially, what this means is that some Via CPUs are detected by some operating systems as 486 class microprocessors. One user told the INQ: "At least Sun give a meaningful message when Solaris refuses to install. Suse just crashes and locks the machine".

We contacted Via early yesterday morning about our earlier Sun Solaris story, and the company said it would have something to say about the problem. We'll update this story when we receive that. µ

See Also
Sun Solaris 9 seems to diss Via CPUs