Enable Virtualization on the C2D T5500

[LavidDichterman]

I have a Core 2 Duo T5500 and it seems as if this chip doesn't have Intel's Virtualization technology enabled. I can't imagine that Intel would create an entirely different silicon fab line just for the T5500 while the T5600 which also has 2MB L2 cache has virtualization hardware support. Certainly there must be a way to enable the virtualization, right? Maybe a microcode upgrade or something?

Here's the output of cat /proc/cpuinfo:

processor : 0
vendor_id : GenuineIntel
cpu family : 6
model : 15
model name : Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU T5500 @ 1.66GHz
stepping : 6
cpu MHz : 1667.000
cache size : 2048 KB
physical id : 0
siblings : 1
core id : 0
cpu cores : 1
fdiv_bug : no
hlt_bug : no
f00f_bug : no
coma_bug : no
fpu : yes
fpu_exception : yes
cpuid level : 10
wp : yes
flags : fpu vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 clflush dts acpi mmx fxsr sse sse2 ss ht tm pbe nx lm constant_tsc pni monitor ds_cpl est tm2 ssse3 cx16 xtpr lahf_lm
bogomips : 3337.59

processor : 1
vendor_id : GenuineIntel
cpu family : 6
model : 15
model name : Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU T5500 @ 1.66GHz
stepping : 6
cpu MHz : 1667.000
cache size : 2048 KB
physical id : 1
siblings : 1
core id : 0
cpu cores : 1
fdiv_bug : no
hlt_bug : no
f00f_bug : no
coma_bug : no
fpu : yes
fpu_exception : yes
cpuid level : 10
wp : yes
flags : fpu vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 clflush dts acpi mmx fxsr sse sse2 ss ht tm pbe nx lm constant_tsc pni monitor ds_cpl est tm2 ssse3 cx16 xtpr lahf_lm
bogomips : 3333.81


One thing that really strikes me as odd is the cache size listed on each processor. If what I'm seeing is correct, then I actually have 4MB of cache as opposed to the standard 2MB that Intel has on its spec sheets.

 

[stevty2889]

The Cache is shared, so each core has access to the full 2mb of cache, it doesn't mean you have 4mb. If your CPU doesn't have virtualization, you aren't going to be able to enable it. It was fused off during the assembly, there is no way for you to enable it.

 

[LavidDichterman]

Ah, yes, it is a shared L2. Good call. But as for the virtualization, I was hoping someone had developed something along the lines of the multiplier trick for the old athlon XPs (yes, I know that was AMD and this is Intel). Hopefully something develops, although, by the time that happens, I'll be ready to swap out the processor on this lappy.

If anyone knows otherwise, be sure to let me know ;-)