Compatibility with 32-bit EFI bootloader and Intel Atom.

[amut00]

In the last month or so, Microsoft pretty much declared war against Chromebooks, so today there are 3 199$ laptops avaliable. Due to their super low price I'm thinking about buying one and installing Ubunto on it.
I know I't won't be a problem with HP Stream 11 and Acer Aspire E 11 ES1, but I do wonder about ASUS X205TA.
The thing that worries me is the processor, Intel Bay Trail-T Z3735F 1.33GHz (Turbo up to 1.83GHz). Due to the fact that the system requirments says Ubuntu needs at least "Atom 1.6 GHz", and the processor is 1.33/ 1.83 I don't know.
The Second thing is that I read somewhere that "Intel® Bay Trail-T Quad Core Z3735 1.33 GHz Processor requires a 32-bit EFI bootloader. No version of Linux currently supports EFI for their 32-bit spins.", I'm still new at this, I don't know what it means.

So, Will Ubuntu / Xubuntu / Lubuntu work on this processor?
Thank you!

[oldfred]

If you try you will be out there at the bleeding edge.

Linux 3.15 Kernel Gains EFI Mixed Mode Support
http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?pag...tem&px=MTY0OTI
New 32 bit UEFI class 3 (no CSM) Only with recompile UEFI/grub/Ubuntu
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2189855
Packard Bell ENME69BMP InsydeH2O or Gateway LT41P04u
32-bit UEFI Support Proposed For Ubuntu Linux
http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?pag...tem&px=MTU1NjE


Don't ship 32-bit UEFI firmware on x86
http://mjg59.dreamwidth.org/26734.html
Some new 64 bit low cost systems with 32 bit UEFI
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2189855

Now older:

New Intel Atom - Nov 2013 x86 secure boot can be turned off, but only 32 bit UEFI which no one else has.
Intel Atom SoC systems that ship with Windows 8/8.1 32-bit provide 32-bit UEFI-only firmware with no BIOS compatibility option (no CSM). In UEFI terms these systems are called Class 3 systems (this term is not specific to 32-bit), ie. UEFI-only with no BIOS CSM.
Windows with Atom
http://www.extremetech.com/computing...nnot-run-linux


Bay Trail -The ASUS "Bay Trail" T100 Is Not Linux Friendly
http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?pag...tem&px=MTQ5NzE
But someone has it partially working:
http://liliputing.com/2013/10/bootin...book-t100.html
Asus T100 Compile own grub 32 bit
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2191557
Linux 3.15 Kernel Gains EFI Mixed Mode Support

[amut00]

Thank you for the answer!
Unfortunately my English is not very well so I didn't understand if it will work or not...
"bleeding edge" means it will work?

[oldfred]

It means you are one of the first to test or experiment with it.
One post did show a user who recompiled grub to get it to work.
Some development then took place after that, but you still may need to be more than a new user to be able to get it to work.

[amut00]

Yes. Thank you very much!

[oldfred]

They discuss 32 bit UEFI in the middle of this.
They say it is not implemented at all?

Developer's discussion of de-empahsis of 32 bit Ubuntu - Nov 2014
http://summit.ubuntu.com/uos-1411/me...32-bit-images/