Replies to post #26574 on Advanced Micro Devices Inc (AMD)

[jhalada]

Haddock,

Hmmm... Good point. I did not read the fine print. Protected mode x86 only means 286 mode, or support for Windows 3.x apps (like the installers). This is what Microsoft could have implemented. Now that Intel is on board and it will be the standard, it may possibly come in future releases.

No real and virtual 8086 - I guess that means no support for DOS programs.

Intel does not seem to be supporting these either. It says explicitly in the document that virtual 8086 is not suported. I am not 100% sure it implies that real mode is not suported either, but I doubt it is. (Intel document 30083401.pdf - I don't have the link handy).

Joe

[Jules2]

Posted by: Haddock
In reply to: jhalada who wrote msg# 26552 Date:2/18/2004 3:24:01 AM
Post #of 26580


Nope. No hardware support.

See http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/DevelopWithAMD/0,,30_2252_739_7044,00.html the system programming manual page page 13.




AMD Architecture
Programers Manual


2.1.2 Legacy Mode The AMD64 architecture supports a pure x86 legacy mode,
which preserves binary compatibility not only with existing 16-
bit and 32-bit applications but also with existing 16-bit and 32-
bit operating systems. Legacy mode supports real mode,
protected mode, and virtual-8086 mode. A reset always places
the processor in legacy mode (real mode), and the processor
continues to run in legacy mode until system software activates
long mode. New features added by the AMD64 architecture that
are supported in legacy mode are summarized in this chapter.


Joe, just more FUD by folks who are over hear trying to shake AMD investors.
You have to understand, they are living in fear!!!

Regards
Jules

[HailMary]

Nope. No hardware support.

Read page 14 - long mode:

Long mode consists of two submodes: 64-bit mode and compatibility mode...Compatibility mode provides binary compatibility with existing 16-bit and 32-bit applications when running on 64-bit system software.