Origins of __X86_64 macro used in header files of GCC and Intel compilers and TBB library

[SergeyKostrov]

We recently had a very interesting discussion on Intel C++ compiler forum related to __x86_64 macro used in some header files of GCC and Intel compilers and TBB library. This is the thread for all the rest software developers who could be interested in that subject and I will provide more technical details.

[SergeyKostrov]

The discussion taken place at: Forum: Intel C++ compiler Forum Topic: 32-bit intel? Web-link: http://software.intel.com/en-us/forums/topic/404643 TimP ( Intel ) provided a very valuable web-reference and it finally cleared all fuzziness around __x86_64 macro. Here it is: http://www.amd.com/us/press-releases/Pages/Press_Release_751.aspx And here is a short quote: ... AMD will achieve this by extending x86 to include a 64-bit mode that has both a 64-bit address space...

[TimP]

http://users.ece.gatech.edu/~hamblen/489X/AMD/24592.pdf

appears to be the earliest programming specification easily found on line now. 

I can't find the specification which was issued by SuSE (changes of ownership have occurred since then).  Some of those people remain active.

[SergeyKostrov]

>>...http://users.ece.gatech.edu/~hamblen/489X/AMD/24592.pdf Thanks and actually this is: AMD 64-Bit Technology AMD x86-64 Architecture Programmer’s Manual Volume 1: Application Programming Release Date: September 2002

[SergeyKostrov]

Here are web-links to download a complete set of manuals about AMD x86-64 Technology: Volume 1 http://users.ece.gatech.edu/~hamblen/489X/AMD/24592.pdf Volume 2 http://users.ece.gatech.edu/~hamblen/489X/AMD/24593.pdf Volume 3 http://users.ece.gatech.edu/~hamblen/489X/AMD/24594.pdf

[SergeyKostrov]

There are lots of technical details available on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/x86-64