CPU Instructions Q.

[Atheist]

1. How many different assembler instructions are available on a G4 CPU?

2. An instruction that goes into the CPU is upto 32 bits wide, but, because there's less than (I'm gonna guess) 256 instructions, does that mean that, in a file, it's 1 byte per instruction, storage wise?

3. When an instruction is pulled into ram, does it use up 4 bytes of ram? i.e. it gets converted to a 4 byte (long word), providing it was 1 byte on disk?

4. If 3 is true, when xp goes to 64 bits (and/or RISC), it will be all over for their (not)os? Considering xp uses 1.3+ Gigs of HD space already.

AmigaOne! Programming is work AND entertainment.

[Atheist]

At altivec instructions, I counted 113

while http://cad.iaingibson.co.uk/g4_instruction.htm
 says Altivec, alone, has 162 instructions.

So 162 + x = y instructions.

At http://cad.iaingibson.co.uk/g4_features.htm
/*
The G4s Velocity Engine
The secret behind the G4’s revolutionary performance is its aptly named Velocity Engine (or it’s AltiVec Technology). This technology is the heart of a supercomputer, but has now been miniaturized onto a sliver of silicon and added to a personal computer processor. The Velocity Engine can process data in 128-bit chunks, instead of the smaller 32-bit or 64-bit chunks used in traditional processors (it’s the 128-bit vector processing technology used in scientific supercomputers — except that Apple, Motorola and IBM have added 162 new instructions to speed up computations). In addition, it can perform four (and in some cases eight) 32-bit floating-point calculations in a single clock cycle — this is two to four times faster than traditional processors take to do the same operations.

Velocity Engine (AltiVec) technology operations are performed on multiple data elements by a single instruction. This is often referred to as SIMD (single instructions, multiple data) parallel processing.
*/

AmigaOne! So strong that it's scary?

[Atheist]

Hello itix, and MiniBobF,

Would that mean that when we go to 64 bit CPU's, every instruction stored in an executable command takes up 8 bytes of ram and 8 bytes of disk space?

As I said in my first post, msxp, is gonna go down IN FLAMES!!! They're at 1 -1.5 gigs of HD space now, then combine that with RISC, where you need more commands!!

AmigaOne! "You have no chance to survive make your time!!  HA HA HA HA!!!!!"

[Atheist]

Hello N7VQM,

Well, it appears to be a grey area, accordinng to here and here. The author doesn't call it RISC or CISC, because there's a new boy in town, by the name of E.P.I.C.

So billy will have to make a choice, throw the baby out with the bath water, or program for backwards compatability, either way, it will be a HUGE set back. Code BLOAT or almost total incompability with old apps.

I think we are at a nexus of computing, where Amiga Inc.'s fortunes could literally change overnight.

Imagine if they could pull off another Commodore 64, except this time, the 64 stands for 64 BIT!!!! :-D

That's why my signature at OS.Amiga.com/Forums is "AOS 4.0 will create a new type of computing!"

AmigaOne! Less is more!

[Atheist]

Hi Karlos,

So, do you think a 64 bit CPU would need 8 bytes of ram per stored instuction, and/or 8 bytes on a disk?

AmigaOne! Where do you want to go today?  :-D  :-D