Software Optimization Guide for AMD64 Processors

25112 Rev. 3.06 September 2005

6.9Far Control-Transfer Instructions

Optimization

Use far control-transfer instructions only when necessary. (Far control-transfer instructions include the far forms of JMP, CALL, and RET, as well as the INT, INTO, and IRET instructions.)

Application

This optimization applies to:

32-bit software

64-bit software

Rationale

The processor’s branch-prediction unit, which is used for both conditional and unconditional branches, does not predict far branches.

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Branch Optimizations

Chapter 6

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Image 158
AMD 250 manual Far Control-Transfer Instructions, 142