Windows is preparing for Intel's biggest x86 change in years, but only Xeon chips will use it at first
Windows enthusiast Xeno recently uncovered what could be one of the most interesting changes coming to future Windows releases. Microsoft's OS may soon offer an option to enable Advanced Performance Extensions (APX) support on compatible hardware, the self-described "Windows Insider since day one" said. In turn, APX could deliver a... Read Entire Article
Intel's upcoming x86-64 advancements, known as Advanced Performance Extensions (APX), are set to debut in Windows operating systems after three years of development. Microsoft Windows Insider Xeno discovered the potential feature in build 29695, indicating it may arrive in the major Rubidium update anticipated for 2027 as part of Windows 11 27H2. The new instruction set architecture is primarily targeted at Xeon processors initially, promising a significant performance enhancement for software optimized for x86-64.
APX will introduce 32 general-purpose registers, doubling the current count from 16 to 32, enabling compilers to optimize code by keeping more values readily accessible. This could result in a 10% reduction in loads and more than a 20% decrease in stores compared to traditional x86-64 code. While the practical impact on Windows' normal operation remains unproven, APX could generate faster machine code and reduce dynamic power consumption.
Developers can incorporate APX into their applications by recompiling the code, simplifying the transition to the new extensions. The official introduction of APX-compatible processors from Intel is expected in the near future, signaling the beginning of a new era in x86 instruction set architecture advancements.
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