The Time Stamp Counter (TSC) is a 64-bit register present on all x86 processors since the Pentium. It counts the number of cycles since reset. The instruction RDTSC returns the TSC in EDX:EAX. In x86-64 mode, RDTSC also clears the higher 32 bits of RAX. Its opcode is 0F 31. Pentium competitors such as the Cyrix 6x86 did not always have a TSC and may consider RDTSC an illegal instruction. Cyrix included a Time Stamp Counter in their MII.
Read more about Time Stamp Counter: Use, Implementation in Various Processors, Operating System Support, Other Architectures
Famous quotes containing the words time, stamp and/or counter:
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and perhaps some outer horror
some hideousness to stamp beauty,
a mark no changing it now
on our hearts.”
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