Extended Instruction Set: Difference between revisions
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'''Extended Instruction Set''' was the name given to a number of optional additions, to different models from different manufacturers, to their [[Central Processing Unit|CPUs]]; those added [[instruction]]s to the basic set provided by the CPU of the 'base' model of any line. | '''Extended Instruction Set''' was the name given to a number of optional additions, to different models from different manufacturers, to their [[Central Processing Unit|CPUs]]; those added [[instruction]]s to the basic set provided by the CPU of the 'base' model of any line. The term could apply to either the formal specification of the added instructions, or the piece of physical [[hardware]] which implemented them. | ||
(This concept obviously only made sense when CPUs were physically large constructs, made up of many discrete components, such as [[transistor]]s or SSI [[integrated circuit|chips]]. Only the very earliest [[microprocessor]]s had such options, often [[floating point]] arithmetic units.) | (This concept obviously only made sense when CPUs were physically large constructs, made up of many discrete components, such as [[transistor]]s or SSI [[integrated circuit|chips]]. Now that CPUs are extremely complex monolithic constructs, the concept no longer makes any sense. Only the very earliest [[microprocessor]]s had such options, often [[floating point]] arithmetic units.) | ||
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Latest revision as of 18:52, 13 September 2026
Extended Instruction Set was the name given to a number of optional additions, to different models from different manufacturers, to their CPUs; those added instructions to the basic set provided by the CPU of the 'base' model of any line. The term could apply to either the formal specification of the added instructions, or the piece of physical hardware which implemented them.
(This concept obviously only made sense when CPUs were physically large constructs, made up of many discrete components, such as transistors or SSI chips. Now that CPUs are extremely complex monolithic constructs, the concept no longer makes any sense. Only the very earliest microprocessors had such options, often floating point arithmetic units.)
