Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!hplabs!hpcc05!aspen!huck
From: huck@aspen.IAG.HP.COM (Jerry Huck)
Newsgroups: comp.arch
Subject: Re: RISC integer multiply/divide (was Re: Snake)
Message-ID: <1360008@aspen.IAG.HP.COM>
Date: 2 Apr 91 00:15:42 GMT
References: <6920@auspex.auspex.com>
Organization: HP Information Architecture Group - Cupertino, CA
Lines: 19




From: In comp.arch, guy@auspex.auspex.com (Guy Harris) writes:
>    I saw something that indicated that integer multiply and divide
>    instructions have been added to HP-PA, and that the chips in the new
>    machine, I think, implement them.

Integer multiply on operands in the floating-point register file have
been added (this was pretty simple to support).  No direct integer
divide.  The instruction set has several strategies to deal with
integer multiplication and division.  All the data to date does not
support the inclusion of integer divide instructions as being cost
effective for the markets and workloads HP sells to.  At this point,
the silicon/design effort/testing is better spent elsewhere.  Other
workloads may suggest other conclusions.

Jerry Huck
Hewlett Packard