SUNNYVALE, Calif. - Advanced Micro Devices Inc. here today announced it will offer a free simulation tool that will enable developers and OEMs to prepare for its long-awaited entry into the 64-bit microprocessor world.
The AMD SimNow! Simulator gives developers and OEMs the ability to debug their software code prior to the release of the company's 64-bit processor line. Code-named Hammer, AMD's 64-bit processor will be announced by the end of 2001.
"AMD designed and built the AMD SimNow! simulator to provide developers of x86-64 technology with tools for debugging their code and applications prior to the release of the 'Hammer' family of x86-64 technology enabled processors," said Richard Heye, vice president and general manager of AMD's Texas Microprocessor Division.
The AMD SimNow! simulator includes a model of a theoretical microprocessor. This microprocessor is based on the AMD's Athlon processor, but it has been enhanced with the addition of x86-64 architecture support.
The simulator also consists of a PC system, including the CPU, memory, Northbridge and Southbridge chip set, display, IDE drives, floppy, keyboard, and mouse support. The simulator runs under GNU/Linux. Features of the simulator include the ability to single-step, peek at registers and memory, test with 64-bit mode, and debug kernel bugs without having access to 64-bit processors.
The AMD SimNow! simulator is available free of charge at the following Web site: www.x86-64.org.
