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x86hardwareintelcpu-architectureinteger-division

The integer division algorithm of Intel's x86 processors


Which integer division algorithm does Intel implement in their x86 processors?


Solution

  • Intel has a paper, Improvements in the Intel® Core™2 Processor Family Architecture and Microarchitecture, in which they discuss a number of different division algorithms. The first paragraph:

    The new Radix-16 floating-point divider with variable latency Radix-16 integer divide capability replaces the Merom Radix-4 floating point divide and Radix-2 square root and integer divide hardware. The preceding algorithm dated back to the Pentium® divide implementation.

    So it looks like the Intel processors had the same integer divide (Radix-2) since the early Pentium days.

    A Google search on radix 16 integer divide gives some very good information.