MMX (Intel Pentium)

Referred to as "Matrix Math eXtensions" or "Multi-Media eXtensions". 10-20% performance boost to business programs Will enhance video-conferencing, software based video (MPEG), 3D graphics and video editing. Larger internal cache than the current Pentium-Pro. Support for faster hard drives, improved power management, and synchronous DRAM. O'Neill,R. (97 Jan)

What the MMX provides;

• Single Instruction, Multiple Data (SIMD) technique
• 57 new instructions
• Eight 64-bit wide MMX technology registers
• Four new data types

• Adds a multiply-and accumulate instruction - vital to signal processing, complex analysis, 3D rendering, conformal mapping (the "warp" algorithm), and vector and matrix maths.
• Makes it possible to perform arithmetic on several integers at once (Single Instruction, Multiple Data or SIMD), which can speed up some calculations by a factor of eight.
• Can perform arithmetic operations using saturation. When an operation - addition, say - produces a result either too big or too small to be represented by the number of bits allocated, the result "maxes out" at the largest (smallest) number that can be represented (analogous to "pinning the needle on an analogue meter). This is useful for computer graphics, digital audio, numerical analysis, heat transfer, fluid dynamics, and calculations involving system optimisation (eg. Simplex algorithm).
• Implements a parallel data selection instruction that allows the programmer to mix data from two sources under the control of a third. This instruction is useful for layered graphics (for example, a desktop with overlapping windows and icons) and for removing hidden lines from images.

Every one of the instructions will be emulated in software on existing machines.

Keenan,R. (97 Feb)

[Rev: 3/8/98] 2/9/97 © 1997-98 V/2-Com (Verhaart), P O Box 8415, Havelock North, New Zealand.