*BSD News Article 86933


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From: Steve Gailey <steveg@metrosol.demon.co.uk>
Newsgroups: comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc
Subject: Re: Intel MMX compatibility?
Date: Fri, 17 Jan 1997 09:56:57 +0000
Organization: Metronome Solutions Ltd.
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John Lucas wrote:
> 
> I am about to order 2 new P5-200 machines to run FreeBSD. Is there any
> experience out there in using the new MMX technology CPUs with FreeBSD?
> 
> If I don't hear otherwise I will order CPUs without MMX to be on the
> safe side, but I would like to take advantage of the larger on-chip
> cache on the new CPU.
As I understand it, the new MMX technology is just some new instructions
in the CPU specifically useful to graphics. This technology, providing
it doesn't introduce new bugs into the die shouldn't break anything.

The new instructions are only of use if your software knows how to use
them. I would get the MMX versions, you may wan't it in the future.

Steve