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       <para>2007-08-31</para>
       <itemizedlist>
+        <listitem>
+          <para>[jhuntwork] - Update explanatory text for GCC's --with-arch parameter.</para>
+        </listitem>
         <listitem>
           <para>[jhuntwork] - Add --disable-bootstrap flags to GCC pass 2 and chapter 6 GCC,

chapter05/gcc-pass1.xml

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         <term><parameter>--with-arch=i486</parameter></term>
         <listitem>
+          <para>On x86 machines Glibc needs to be built for a minimum architecture
+          of <quote>i486</quote>. Setting this for the GCC build ensures that the
+          entire system is built consistently.</para>
+          <para>On x86 machines Glibc-&glibc-version; needs to be built for a
+          minimum architecture of <quote>i486</quote>. In fact, Glibc developers suggest
+          setting the compiler flag <parameter>-march=i486</parameter> when compiling it.
+          However, by using the above parameter for the GCC build, we can set a default
+          value for <parameter>-march</parameter> at the compiler level, ensuring that
+          the entire system is built consistently, i.e., for the same cpu-type.
+          Of course, values greater or more specific than <quote>i486</quote> could be
+          used. See <command>man gcc</command> for other acceptable cpu-types.
+          Keep in mind that using an incompatible cpu-type for the machine will result
+          in breakage. The advantage of <quote>i486</quote> is that it is a generic
+          option and will work for all modern x86 machines.</para>
         </listitem>
       </varlistentry>

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