The Battle of Multimedia Technologies: SSE vs 3DNow!

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. MMX and Pentium III's SSE
3. Benefits of SIMD Instructions
4. SSE and its Advancements
5. Introduction of 3DNow! by AMD
6. Comparison between SSE and 3DNow!
7. Support and Usage of SSE and 3DNow!
8. Impact of SSE and 3DNow! on Gaming
9. Evolution and Retirement of 3DNow!
10. Conclusion

Introduction

In the world of computer processors, MMX and SSE are two technologies that have played a significant role in enhancing the performance of multimedia applications. However, another technology called 3DNow! developed by AMD emerged as an alternative to SSE. This article aims to explore the differences between SSE and 3DNow!, their impact on various applications, and the eventual retirement of 3DNow! Let's dive in and understand the evolution of these technologies.

MMX and Pentium III's SSE

At the end of the 1990s, Intel introduced an update to the Pentium II MMX processor known as Streaming SIMD Extensions (SSE) in the Pentium III model. SSE utilized Single Instruction, Multiple Data (SIMD) techniques, enabling the processor to handle multiple data points simultaneously. This increased the speed of applications that made use of this technology. SSE included new instructions for graphics and sound processing, allowing for floating point calculations and improving multimedia capabilities.

Benefits of SIMD Instructions

SIMD instructions, such as SSE and 3DNow!, have the advantage of processing multiple data points simultaneously. This is particularly beneficial in applications where the same operation needs to be performed on different data points, such as image processing. By handling multiple pixels simultaneously, SIMD instructions significantly improve processing efficiency and reduce the time required for complex tasks.

SSE and its Advancements

SSE consisted of 70 new instructions, including multimedia enhancements, integer and cacheability control instructions. It supported floating point operations and data prefetching, which further improved its performance in 3D rendering and other multimedia applications. SSE gained support from various software platforms and graphics card drivers, making it a preferred choice in professional settings.

Introduction of 3DNow! by AMD

As an alternative to Intel's SSE, AMD introduced their own set of instructions called 3DNow! The initial version of 3DNow! was launched in the K6-2 processor in May 1998, targeted specifically at the 3D gaming market. AMD's 3DNow! incorporated SIMD techniques to operate on arrays of data, similar to SSE. It offered single precision floating point operations and allowed up to four floating point operations per cycle.

Comparison between SSE and 3DNow!

SSE and 3DNow! had similar objectives in improving multimedia performance but differed in their implementation. While SSE focused on a broader range of multimedia enhancements, 3DNow! aimed at providing specific capabilities for the 3D gaming market. Both technologies were supported by various software platforms and graphics card drivers, but software compatibility varied between the two.

Support and Usage of SSE and 3DNow!

SSE and 3DNow! gained support from operating systems like Windows 98, graphics libraries like DirectX 6 and OpenGL, and graphic accelerator drivers from leading manufacturers. However, certain programs, such as Adobe Photoshop, favored SSE over 3DNow!, leading to the latter's limited popularity in professional settings.

Impact of SSE and 3DNow! on Gaming

Gaming was one of the key areas where SSE and 3DNow! made a significant impact. Games like Sub Culture directly supported 3DNow!, allowing for faster rendering of distant images, detailed textures at greater distances, and smoother fluidity and geometries. The install base of 3DNow! grew to over 9 million by 1999, with expectations of reaching over 30 million by the end of the century.

Evolution and Retirement of 3DNow!

While Intel continued to advance SSE technology with SSE2 and subsequent versions, AMD introduced an enhanced version of 3DNow! in their Athlon processors. However, as SSE gained more dominance and compatibility across software platforms, AMD ultimately decided to retire the 3DNow! instruction set in 2010. Only PREFETCH and PREFETCHW instructions were retained, rendering any code relying on 3DNow! redundant.

Conclusion

In conclusion, SSE and 3DNow! were two competing technologies that aimed to enhance multimedia performance in the late 1990s and early 2000s. While SSE gained broader support and compatibility, 3DNow! made a significant impact in the gaming industry. However, with advancements in SSE and the changing landscape of processors, AMD retired the 3DNow! instruction set. SSE emerged as the victor in this battle of multimedia technologies.

Highlights

• SSE (Streaming SIMD Extensions) and 3DNow! were two competing technologies aimed at improving multimedia performance in the late 1990s.
• SSE, introduced by Intel, included 70 new instructions and improved multimedia capabilities through SIMD techniques.
• 3DNow!, developed by AMD, targeted the 3D gaming market and offered similar capabilities to SSE but with software compatibility limitations.
• SSE gained more support from software platforms, whereas 3DNow! found popularity in gaming applications.
• 3DNow! was eventually retired by AMD in 2010, with SSE becoming the dominant multimedia technology.

FAQ

Q: Which processors supported SSE and 3DNow!? A: SSE was supported by Intel processors, starting from the Pentium III, while 3DNow! was supported by AMD processors, starting from the K6-2.

Q: Did software compatibility differ between SSE and 3DNow!? A: Yes, software compatibility varied between SSE and 3DNow!. While SSE gained broader support, some programs, like Adobe Photoshop, favored SSE over 3DNow!.

Q: What impact did SSE and 3DNow! have on gaming? A: SSE and 3DNow! significantly improved gaming performance. Games like Sub Culture directly supported 3DNow!, leading to enhanced graphics and smoother gameplay.

Q: Why was 3DNow! eventually retired? A: With the dominance of SSE and advancements in processor technology, AMD decided to retire the 3DNow! instruction set in 2010, rendering any code reliant on it redundant.