Suddenly not able to run Steam on Linux

[nicknboots]

Literally yesterday I was able to run Steam and games (Space Engineers) with no problems.

Today, I started Steam, Steam performed a normal update, and then I received the following error box:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Error

Sorry, this computer's CPU is too old to run Steam.

Steam requires at least an Intel Pentium 4 or AMD Opteron, with the following features:

-x86-64 (AMD64) instruction set (lm in /proc/cpuinfo flags)
-CMPXCHG16B instruction support (cx16 in /proc/cpuinfo flags)
-SSE3 instruction support (pni in /proce/cpuinfo flags)
OK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pressing OK then closed the steam client.

The system that received this error contains of the following:
Linux Mint 19.1 Tessa 64-bit
Kernel Linux 4.15.0-96-generic x86_64
MATE 1.20.1
Intel DP35DP Motherboard
BIOS Version: DPP3510J.86A.0572.2009.0715.2346 (latest and last BIOS Version)
Intel Q9650 @ 3.00 GHz x 4
Gigabyte Geforce GTX 1050 3GB GDDR5
Acer 1680x1050
8 GB 4x2GB DDR2-800

So, in checking against the error message, my CPU is current enough (released in 2008 vs. 2000 for Pentium 4).
And checking /proc/cpuinfo flags:
lm exists
cx8 exists
pni exists

But cx16 does not exist, so no CMPXCHG16B support (cx16) is indicated in /proc/cpuinfo

The Q9650 chip does support CMPXCHG16B as per:
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9650 specifications[www.cpu-world.com]

And my exploration of the BIOS setup did not find any configurable options to enable or disable this feature, and the BIOS is up to date.

In my exploration of the problem I found a notice in github stating that CMPXCHG16B in some form has been required since 2015-2016 when Google dropped 32 bit support:
https://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/issues/7046

But, this machine has worked splendidly on both native and ProtonDB supported games for the past year, so it is not too old to actually run the games that I am interested in playing, and worked just fine with the Steam client until today.

In the past month I have not updated Linux Mint, so there should not have been any changes on the OS side.

As a debugging step, I did update all the packages that had software or security updates available, rebooted, and the Steam client error above remained.


So my questions are:
1) Did the checking for CMPXCHG16B get more restrictive in the latest Steam update?
2) Is there a way to get the cx16 support from the CPU to appear in /proc/cpuinfo flags, assuming that this would satisfy the Steam client?
3) Is there some other way past this issue, or has this machine reached end of life for this application?

Thank you,
N

[Bad 💀 Motha]

So what's the problem, you have your answer already.

LGA775 is too old, period.

Basically needs to be something like this as a minimum:

AMD FX4 series or better
Intel 2nd Gen Core or better

[xSOSxHawkens]

Im not sure how he got his answer. I dont have one for him but it seems pretty clear he meets minimim requirements.

Pentium 4 is socket 478. And last I had my 478 build booted it launched steam in windows.

There are many s775 users on steam.

S775 isnt the issue here, and if it is its a steam issue and not his. They are the ones claiming it should run on a pentium 4 not this guy.

Sadly op I cant help you for linux. But as you said it worked yesterday, you meet listed minimums and thus it *should* be working...

I do know there are a couple linux users here maybe one can offer more insight.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

I thought they changed it quite a while ago, where Steam requires a cpu with sse 4.x

[xSOSxHawkens]

Hmm, hadnt heard that. I would be pretty suprised though, as that knocks out a *ton* of lower end rigs on Core2 and Phenom/Athlon builds. I know a few games have gone that route but I would be realy suprised to see steam go that route so soon.

I tried looking up minimums, but its near impossible. They dont list it publicly in the about section or the support section that I could find, and any googling leads you to minimums to Index, minimums for HL:A, or minimums for a game on steam called minimum...

I posted on the steam discussions board, maybe we can get a straight responce, as I am now super curious.

[xSOSxHawkens]

So from the steam discussion page per "Cathulhu" we have the following...

Originally posted by steam:

CPU
The Steam Web Browser requires a CPU that supports the SSE2 instruction set. Intel added support for SSE2 instructions in the Pentium 4 (c.2001), and AMD added these instructions in c. 2003 Opteron and Athlon 64 processors.

If your CPU or computer lacks the SSE2 system requirement, you will need to view Steam-related web content in your default web browser.

We recommend upgrading your computer with a CPU that has SSE2 support if you would like to use the Steam Client web browser.

Linux
32-bit Linux distributions are also no longer supported. Please install a 64-bit Linux distribution to make use of the Steam browser.

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=4090-RTKZ-4347&l=

So yeh...

Still no solution for the OP, but we def know his system *should* work...

I guess the questions I would ask:

1) Is the linux install somehow causing it by misreading CPU flags?
2) If we can find that the OS is not at fault is the steam client then at fault for not detecting it?
3) Is it an Intel issue, they claim the CPU has the flag (cx16) but if neither steam or the OS see it whats the cause?

But it *should* work :/

[M̴ ̸A̶ ̵D̸ ̸J̴ ̵I̶ ̶K]

I have exactly the same problem. Yesterday I was able to launch Steam but today I get the same message.
The processor I have on the machine is Intel® Xeon(R) CPU E5450 @ 3.00GHz × 4

I don't really know what to do. It's the only thread on the internet with the same problem.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Doesn't seem a new issue, especially for Linux Mint 19

https://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?t=272079

Sorry about the SSE 4.X comment, I was thinking games... Steam still works fine on LGA-775, Socket 939, FM2, AM2, AM3 stuff

[Sokol]

I have a Solus system. Suddenly the same problem arose. It arose after updating the system and updating STEAM. My cpu Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q9650 @ 3.00GHz.(((

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Read through the link I shared

[M̴ ̸A̶ ̵D̸ ̸J̴ ̵I̶ ̶K]

Originally posted by Sokol:

I have a Solus system. Suddenly the same problem arose. It arose after updating the system and updating STEAM. My cpu Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q9650 @ 3.00GHz.(((

So now we know it's Valve's fault. I tried starting Steam from several Linux distributions on the same machine and got the same result. Probably they made some mistake while packaging the latest update of Steam so that now a variety of processors don't work with Steam on Linux.

The two main questions are - when will it be fixed and will it be fixed at all?

As of now, the only option is switching to Windows.

FFS, Valve!


PS - Do you know where can this issue be reported?

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Why not have 2 drives and dual boot your Linux and Win10. I mean it's fine to like Linux but why not have Win10 on a drive ready to go also.

Issues related to Steam Client directly, van be seen, discussed and reported here: https://steamcommunity.com/groups/SteamClientBeta

[M̴ ̸A̶ ̵D̸ ̸J̴ ̵I̶ ̶K]

Originally posted by Bad 💀 Motha:

Read through the link I shared

The link you've shared is about a different problem.

[M̴ ̸A̶ ̵D̸ ̸J̴ ̵I̶ ̶K]

Originally posted by Bad 💀 Motha:

Why not have 2 drives and dual boot your Linux and Win10. I mean it's fine to like Linux but why not have Win10 on a drive ready to go also.

Cause poeple don't need Windows and why should they go through the hassles of installing two systems instead of just installing one system and not bother?
And if Valve keeps ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ up like that maybe people will need to install Windows alongside Linux just in case something like this happens.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Originally posted by awesome_finch:

Originally posted by Bad 💀 Motha:

Read through the link I shared

The link you've shared is about a different problem.

But did you try the what they tried? The steam client from the Linux app manager, or whatever it's called in your distro.

Specifically this:
https://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?t=272079
Post #3 ~ Rene refers to the flatpak from the Linux software manager as a.work around.

But please look through all that. For example many Linux distros no longer have any 32bit libraries, which Steam Client requires, but that can be manually added back...

sudo apt-get install libnvidia-gl-390:i386

[M̴ ̸A̶ ̵D̸ ̸J̴ ̵I̶ ̶K]

Originally posted by Bad 💀 Motha:

Originally posted by awesome_finch:

The link you've shared is about a different problem.

But did you try the what they tried?...

Ok, tried installing Flatpak on my distro but there are some issues with it. I think it's easier to install Windows at this point. No money from me to Valve until they fix that issue