I found this page on Intel's website where you can have 4 manuals regarding the IA-32 (Pentium 4, Xenon) shipped to you free of charge (not even a shipping cost). The 3 volume set is on backorder but I got the Processor Optimization manual in the mail today. This is a really nice deal if you ask me. All the opcodes for MMX, SSE, and SSE2, are explained and there are even examples of how to use them. Like I said the 3 volume set is on backorder but I believe putting all 4 books together will give you all the other opcodes as well.
HERE (http://developer.intel.com/design/pentium4/manuals/index2.htm) is the link.
I just thought I would share this with everyone :D
Orbity
HERE (http://www.amd.com/us-en/Corporate/VirtualPressRoom/0,,51_104_857_875^4622,00.html) is one from AMD regarding their x86-64 architecture. From their site:
The three volume Instruction Set Reference documents the entire x86-64 instruction set.
Volume 3-1: Instruction Set Reference--General Purpose and System Programming Instructions
Covers legacy and 64-bit integer instructions and x86-64 system programming instructions.
Volume 3-2: Instruction Set Reference--128-bit Media Instructions
Provides details about the operation and usage of the 128-bit XMM instructions, originally introduced as SSE and SSE2instructions used extensively in scientific applications and media.
Volume 3-3: Instruction Set Reference--64-bit Media and x87 Floating-point Instructions
Provides details on all 64-bit MMX and 3DNow! instructions as well as legacy x87 instructions.
Orbity
matticus_99
05-15-2002, 03:57 PM
Thanks for the links orbity. Always good to get free information.
Waxycat
05-16-2002, 08:44 AM
They're like books or what? They actually send them in the mail completely free of charge? That's great but why would they do that?
Pookie
05-16-2002, 09:04 AM
I gather they are trying to make their 'specialty' areas of the instruction sets more known to programmers so that future programs use their enhancements.
One bonus of this would be benchmark testing where their chip will look more better then the opposition with the same program, as it will be optimized for one chip but not the other.
SSE2 is what Intel would dearly love all programs to use alot more of, as programs which actually do use this do run faster then on the AMD chips. Though not many programs take advantage of this yet, plus I don't think any C++ compiler even knows of it's existance. :)
matticus_99
05-16-2002, 09:05 AM
Why ask Why?, if they want to send them to you for free then take em. When you buy your next computer they will be adequately compensated. :)
Originally posted by Waxycat
They're like books or what? They actually send them in the mail completely free of charge? That's great but why would they do that?
More like soft cover manuals. They document all the opcodes involved in MMX, SSE, and SSE2 as well as their 64 bit registers and now with SSE2 a couple of 128 bit registers. It is really some good information, but far from an easy read. This is more for reference really than anything else.
I am still just starting to scratch the surface of assembly language in windows and the 3 volume set I spoke of earlier will make an excellent companion as it is supposed to document all the available opcodes on the P4 and P3 chips as well as the registers. I say supposed to to because as I mentioned above the set is on back order but the optimization reference has arrived.
I find it pretty difficult to read things and comprehend them when I only have a PDF file so these manuals that I can take anywhere are perfect for me.
Completely free of charge, Yes! Not even a shipping cost. Good deal if you ask me. :D
HTH,
Orbity