Gordon
02-25-1999, 04:02 AM
Just a thought, w/the official release of the P3 just around the corner, and the fact that Intel is pushing the KNI intructions for use on graphic intensive software such as games, could a KNI emulator for the P2 and Celeron cpu's be possible? While there is no way that it could be as fast as a P3 w/the builtin KNI instructions, it could allow the use of the P2 and Celeron cpu's, on future KNI supported software, which utilize those features. Maybe even w/added 3D Now features.
I remember the days when the math coprocessor was a separate chip, a true math coprocessor emulator was available. I still have the software. While not as fast as a system w/a math coprocessor, it was faster than one w/o one, and by a large margin.
There was a rumored MMX emulator put out by Intel available for software writers, to be used on the then Classic Pentiums (P1) before the P1's w/MMX were released. This was to allow for on time release of supported software w/the P1 w/MMX release. Problem was, MMX never was really supportable in software and offered no real advantage from what I have read. With the KNI instructions, on the other hand, from early P3 tests I have read about, appears to have a true performance advantage. A KNI emulator could allow, theoretically, for a performance inclease between the P2, Celeron and the P3.
I remember the days when the math coprocessor was a separate chip, a true math coprocessor emulator was available. I still have the software. While not as fast as a system w/a math coprocessor, it was faster than one w/o one, and by a large margin.
There was a rumored MMX emulator put out by Intel available for software writers, to be used on the then Classic Pentiums (P1) before the P1's w/MMX were released. This was to allow for on time release of supported software w/the P1 w/MMX release. Problem was, MMX never was really supportable in software and offered no real advantage from what I have read. With the KNI instructions, on the other hand, from early P3 tests I have read about, appears to have a true performance advantage. A KNI emulator could allow, theoretically, for a performance inclease between the P2, Celeron and the P3.