AMD AMD-K6-2/450 Design Guide - Page 73
Testing For Extended Functions, Determining the Processor Signature
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23913A/0-November 2000 Preliminary Information Embedded AMD-K6™ Processors BIOS Design Guide AMD's definition for subsequent CPUID functions and the registers returned for those functions. Once the software identifies the processor's vendor, it knows the definition for all the functions supplied by the CPUID instruction. By using these functions, the software obtains the processor information needed to properly tune its functionality to the capabilities of the processor. Testing For Extended Functions Software must test for extended functions with function 8000_0000h. The EAX register returns the largest extended function input value defined for the CPUID instruction on the processor. If this value is at least 8000_0001h, extended functions are supported. With one exception, the AMD extended feature flags include all the information provided in the standard feature flags as well as indicators for the additional AMD processor-specific feature enhancements. The duplication of standard feature bits within the extended feature bits can minimize the number of function calls required by software. The exception is bit 11, which indicates that the SYSENTER and SYSEXIT instructions are supported in the standard features and that the SYSCALL and SYSRET instructions are supported in the extended features. Determining the Processor Signature Standard function 1 (EAX=1) of the CPUID instruction returns the standard processor signature and feature bits. The standard processor signature is returned in the EAX register and provides information regarding the specific revision (stepping) and model of the processor and the instruction family level supported by the processor. The revision level can be used to determine if the processor supports specific features. However, it is not recommended that the revision level be used in this manner unless this information is not available through the standard or extended feature bits. Embedded AMD Processor Recognition 61