Advanced Micro Devices Inc (AMD)

[dacaw]

MCGrath's Stanford talk was very clear that an enhanced fp unit was for the k8. He did not say there would be an extra execution unit - that is my speculation - but it makes sense.

As you say the fp units are specialized. While having 4 identical all powerful fp execution units may be ideal it may not be practical. Better engineering may be 2xfpadds and 2xfpmuls.