64-bit BIOS Update?

[NathanAdhitya]

Most of the programs today is actually 64-bit, with 32-bit getting less- and - less used, and for the fact that 32 bit has became quite rare now.

Yes, I had to install linux, due to windows being very "laggy" in my "crazy" enviroment.
But, anyways, I needed to install a 64-bit only Linux, which for some funky reason, cannot be done.

From my research, it's due to the 32-bit bios drivers, while the CPU is actually 64-bit.

Is there a 64-Bit BIOS for the HP Mini 210-4015tu? I'm really frustrated about how the BIOS is installed 32-bit while the actual CPU itself is 64-bit (http://ark.intel.com/products/58917/Intel-Atom-Processor-N2800-1M-Cache-1_86-GHz)

[IT_WinSec · Accepted solution]

Hello @NathanAdhitya

Welcome to the HP Support forum. Thank you for posting.

It's good to see fellow Tux user 🙂

I did some online research about your issue and I can confirm that while the processor may support x64 under certain curcumstances, your PC can actually run 32 bit code only, therefore 32-bit OS only.

All Atom processors implement the x86 (IA-32) instruction set; however, support for the Intel 64 instruction set was not added until the desktop Diamondville and desktop and mobile Pineview cores. The Atom N2xx and Z5xx series Atom models cannot run x86-64 code.[25] The Centerton server processors will support the Intel 64 instruction set
Intel states the Atom supports 64-bit operation only "with a processor, chipset, BIOS" that all support Intel 64. Those Atom systems not supporting all of these cannot enable Intel 64.[26] As a result, the ability of an Atom-based system to run 64-bit versions of operating systems such as Ubuntu or Debian GNU/Linux may vary from one motherboard to another
Even among Atom-based systems which have Intel 64 enabled, not all are able to run 64-bit versions of Microsoft Windows

Source > https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Atom#32-bit_and_64-bit_hardware_support

Based on the HP website, your PC does support Linux (Ubuntu varieties) well but everything BIOS, drivers are 32-bit only. x64 support is not present from BIOS/motherboard

Hope this works for your. Provide your feedback/reply and don't hesitate to post again

[NathanAdhitya]

Thanks for the respond, I was amazed on how you might find that, funnily, "Intel Ark never really tells the truth these days about Atom processors"

[IT_WinSec]

You are most welcome. My pleasure 🙂