Re: [AD] malloc

[aj <aj@xxxxxxxxxx>]

> You wouldn't (nor shouldn't, directly). The compiler would. And since memory 
> and video bitmap types are abstracted, if you access a bitmap you'll have no 
> idea if the pointer the system gives you is aligned or not.
>  

then a   bool IsAlignedPtr();     may be needed, before any SSE code.

SSE instructions can still be used inside a
if ( IsAlignedPtr() )
  SSE code
else
  i386 code

for each line.
SSE code can be used, even without using the  -mSSE
AFAIK     -mSSE  tells the compiler to generate its own SSE were 
appropriate, thats not going to prevent specific use of SSE.



> > nor will i386 instructions, so should we not bother with MMX either, as
> > i386 is good enough.
> >    
>
> I never said don't bother with SSE. I just said MMX isn't going anywhere, and 
> that it might not be a totally technical reason that Intel is pushing SSE and 
> downplaying MMX.

I think there is some technical reasons;  the guides from AMD and Intel 
say you cant mix SSE and MMX instructions, without having to use fence 
post, (a flushing instruction), which is basically anti-streaming.  For 
these reasons i think Intel want to kill MMX, so there is sound 
technical reasons for it; however as you have pointed out, finacially 
for Intel... they will be carrying around those legacy MMX instructions 
for years to come.