Intel IA-32 Manuale Utente

Vol. 3A 17-17

16-bit IA-32 math coprocessors do report a denormal-operand exception in this situation. This
difference does not affect existing software.

On the 32-bit x87 FPUs, loading a denormal value that is in single- or double-real format causes
the value to be converted to extended-real format. Loading a denormal value on the 16-bit IA-32
math coprocessors causes the value to be converted to an unnormal. If the next instruction is
FXTRACT or FXAM, the 32-bit x87 FPUs will give a different result than the 16-bit IA-32
math coprocessors. This change was made for IEEE Standard 754 compatibility.

On the 32-bit x87 FPUs, loading an SNaN that is in single- or double-real format causes the FPU
to generate an invalid-operation exception. The 16-bit IA-32 math coprocessors do not raise an
exception when loading a signaling NaN. The invalid-operation exception handler for 16-bit
math coprocessor software needs to be updated to handle this condition when porting software
to 32-bit FPUs. This change was made for IEEE Standard 754 compatibility.

On the 32-bit x87 FPUs, if the operand is 0 for the FXTRACT instruction, the divide-by-zero
exception is reported and –

∞ is delivered to register ST(1). If the operand is +∞, no exception

is reported. If the operand is 0 on the 16-bit IA-32 math coprocessors, 0 is delivered to register
ST(1) and no exception is reported. If the operand is +

∞, the invalid-operation exception is

reported. These differences have no impact on existing software. Software usually bypasses 0
and 

∞. This change is due to the IEEE Standard 754 recommendation to fully support the “logb”

function.

On 32-bit x87 FPUs, rounding control is in effect for the load constant instructions. Rounding
control is not in effect for the 16-bit IA-32 math coprocessors. Results for the FLDPI, FLDLN2,
FLDLG2, and FLDL2E instructions are the same as for the 16-bit IA-32 math coprocessors
when rounding control is set to round to nearest or round to +

∞. They are the same for the

FLDL2T instruction when rounding control is set to round to nearest, round to –

∞, or round to

zero. Results are different from the 16-bit IA-32 math coprocessors in the least significant bit of
the mantissa if rounding control is set to round to –

∞ or round to 0 for the FLDPI, FLDLN2,

FLDLG2, and FLDL2E instructions; they are different for the FLDL2T instruction if round to
+

∞ is specified. These changes were implemented for compatibility with IEEE Standard 754 for

Floating-Point Arithmetic recommendations.

With the 32-bit x87 FPUs, the FSETPM instruction is treated as NOP (no operation). This
instruction informs the Intel 287 math coprocessor that the processor is in protected mode. This
change has no impact on existing software. The 32-bit x87 FPUs handle all addressing and
exception-pointer information, whether in protected mode or not.