VOGONS


First post, by Matt The Cat

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Hey. I am trying to build or buy a system based on the oldest x64 CPU that supports CMPXCHG16B instruction. However the answer isn't entirely clear. I see different claims, and furthermore I am really wondering if I can trust what CPU-World lists or not.

https://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/Pentium_4/TYPE … 20Prescott.html
All listed 2005 Socket 775 Prescott Pentium 4s claim to support CMPXCHG16B if you check their cpu world page.
This is the biggest contradiction from other things I see. But I would be curious to know if it is true? If so, this would be the oldest CMPXCHG16B CPU line.

https://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/Pentium_4/TYPE … dar%20Mill.html
As for the Cedar Mill Pentium 4s, they are all from 2006, socket 775 and list that they support CMPXCHG16B. I have heard mentions that this would support CMPXCHG16B, but of course some search results contradict it.

As for AMD, it appears CMPXCHG16B is found earliest on Socket AM2 in 2006. Including base Athlon 64, the X2, and the FX. Based on listed age, there would be no reason to go with the single core since the earliest listed for either the single core or X2 is May 16th 2006.
So strictly looking at the Athlon 64 X2 Socket AM2 from 2006:
https://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/K8/TYPE-Athlon%2064%20X2.html
They all report CMPXCHG16B
Some sources say that CMPXCHG16B wasn't introduced until the k10 architecture though, or not until 2007 for example.

I am wondering how seriously can I take it and how accurate is this cpu-world listed information?

Can I take its word that these CPUs all support CMPXCHG16B?

(P.S. I also couldn't create an account on cpuworld cause it flagged me as a bot when I tried, and guests can't share links in their posts there)

Reply 1 of 14, by red-ray

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As I recall CMPXCHG16B is supported by all Intel CPUs that support x64 and the first Intel CPUs to do this are Intel Pentium 4 5x1 (Prescott).

Looking at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_I ... _(90_nm)_2 then the earliest is 12-Jun-2025.

I have just checked a SIV save file and an Intel Pentium 4 541 (Prescott) reports it has CMPXCHG16B .

file.php?id=245611

I also recall that my Gigabyte 8IPE775P does not support Windows x64 so you need to take care in selecting the motherboard.

Reply 2 of 14, by agent_x007

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It's quite easy to figure out :
CMPXCHG16B (or CompareExchange128) - is one of 3 hardware required CPU instructions for Windows 10 64-bit support.
If CPU works with Win10 x64, it must support it.

Unofficial Win10 x64 requirements :
Any Intel CPU made in 65nm node (anything made around 2006 and newer), or AMD CPU with DDR2 memory support (and newer).
^This is due to older 64-bit capable CPUs lacking one or both of the other two required instructions (PrefetchW and LAHF + SAHF)

For older ones (and as mentioned in previous message) :
Find oldest 64-bit capable Prescott (June 2005), and that should be your CPU (Note : It will not work with Win10 x64, since it's 90nm).
AMD only added this instruction in K8 rev. F (a.k.a. AM2).

Last edited by agent_x007 on 2026-07-13, 09:38. Edited 2 times in total.

Reply 3 of 14, by a2kkv

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According to my CPUID dump database, the CMPXCHG16B instruction appeared in the Intel Prescott E0 revision (CPUID 0F41 and later) and AMD Dual-Core Opteron (Santa Rosa JH-F2, CPUID 00040F12 and later, August 2006) / AMD Athlon 64 X2 (Windsor JH-F2, CPUID 00040F32).

ASTRA - Advanced Sysinfo Tool for DOS
ASTRA32 - Advanced System Information Tool for Windows

Reply 4 of 14, by red-ray

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As Matt The Cat only asked about CMPXCHG16B I did not take into account the post Windows 7 requirements. I recall I could not run W10 on my Intel Pentium Extreme 840 (Smithfield) 3.20GHz [A0] @ SL8FK

Further looking at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_I ... _(90_nm)_2 then my Smithfield was released on 18-Apr-2005 which is earlier.

Reply 5 of 14, by Matt The Cat

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agent_x007 wrote on Today, 09:22:
It's quite easy to figure out : CMPXCHG16B (or CompareExchange128) - is one of 3 hardware required CPU instructions for Windows […]
Show full quote

It's quite easy to figure out :
CMPXCHG16B (or CompareExchange128) - is one of 3 hardware required CPU instructions for Windows 10 64-bit support.
If CPU works with Win10 x64, it must support it.

Unofficial Win10 x64 requirements :
Any Intel CPU made in 65nm node (anything made around 2006 and newer), or AMD CPU with DDR2 memory support (and newer).
^This is due to older 64-bit capable CPUs lacking one or both of the other two required instructions (PrefetchW and LAHF + SAHF)

For older ones (and as mentioned in previous message) :
Find oldest 64-bit capable Prescott (June 2005), and that should be your CPU (Note : It will not work with Win10 x64, since it's 90nm).
AMD only added this instruction in K8 rev. F (a.k.a. AM2).

https://theretroweb.com/motherboards/s/dell-p … workstation-370

https://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/Pentium_4/TYPE … dar%20Mill.html

So for windows 10 x64 I would have to go with Cedar Mill Pentium 4?
Would that work on the motherboard if I do the bios updates?

However it doesn't list PrefetchW and LAHF + SAHF on the CPU World page.

Reply 6 of 14, by Matt The Cat

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red-ray wrote on Today, 07:35:
As I recall CMPXCHG16B is supported by all Intel CPUs that support x64 and the first Intel CPUs to do this are Intel Pentium 4 5 […]
Show full quote

As I recall CMPXCHG16B is supported by all Intel CPUs that support x64 and the first Intel CPUs to do this are Intel Pentium 4 5x1 (Prescott).

Looking at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_I ... _(90_nm)_2 then the earliest is 12-Jun-2025.

I have just checked a SIV save file and an Intel Pentium 4 541 (Prescott) reports it has CMPXCHG16B .

file.php?id=245611

I also recall that my Gigabyte 8IPE775P does not support Windows x64 so you need to take care in selecting the motherboard.

Ahh. I only didn't see the 5x1 CPUs on CPU world when narrowing down by year in the prescotts cause they actually didn't have a year label!

The 5x1 Prescott could be what I am looking for?
Windows 10 x64 support would be cool, but it wasn't the original target.

Rather, I have found on my Athlon 64 clawhammer system with Windows 7 x64, 64 bit unity games get an illegal instruction stop cause of CMPXCHG16B missing. Of course there is the concern that x64dbg may then move onto another illegal instruction even if CMPXCHG16B is available. I mean Unity never listed CMPXCHG16B as needed for the x64 unity games, but testing shows its true tested as far back as a 5.1.1 game, so perhaps it would then also need PrefetchW, LAHF und SAHF?
Probably that is something I can also check with x64dbg without actually waiting for it to stop on it...

As I mentioned before though, since it is socket 775, that theoretically let's me go up to the Pentium 4 Cedar Mill if the bios updates would allow it to work.

Reply 7 of 14, by Trashbytes

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Matt The Cat wrote on Today, 12:13:
https://theretroweb.com/motherboards/s/dell-p … workstation-370 […]
Show full quote
agent_x007 wrote on Today, 09:22:
It's quite easy to figure out : CMPXCHG16B (or CompareExchange128) - is one of 3 hardware required CPU instructions for Windows […]
Show full quote

It's quite easy to figure out :
CMPXCHG16B (or CompareExchange128) - is one of 3 hardware required CPU instructions for Windows 10 64-bit support.
If CPU works with Win10 x64, it must support it.

Unofficial Win10 x64 requirements :
Any Intel CPU made in 65nm node (anything made around 2006 and newer), or AMD CPU with DDR2 memory support (and newer).
^This is due to older 64-bit capable CPUs lacking one or both of the other two required instructions (PrefetchW and LAHF + SAHF)

For older ones (and as mentioned in previous message) :
Find oldest 64-bit capable Prescott (June 2005), and that should be your CPU (Note : It will not work with Win10 x64, since it's 90nm).
AMD only added this instruction in K8 rev. F (a.k.a. AM2).

https://theretroweb.com/motherboards/s/dell-p … workstation-370

https://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/Pentium_4/TYPE … dar%20Mill.html

So for windows 10 x64 I would have to go with Cedar Mill Pentium 4?
Would that work on the motherboard if I do the bios updates?

However it doesn't list PrefetchW and LAHF + SAHF on the CPU World page.

I've seen a stripped down Win11 booting and running on a Cedar Mill, do note itll be exceptionally slow, even Win10 will chug like crazy. (You will need a stripped down version of Win10)

Neither 10 or 11 will be happy running though, the video I saw did show it had a lot of issues since both operating systems are expecting more modern CPUs and while the OS will run many other programs will also have issues with the older CPU.

But if you manage your expectations then I say go for it, good luck finding working Win10/11 drivers that support the older hardware.

If you don't need Win10 then I would stick to Win7 as that OS will be far happier and more stable on the older hardware.

Reply 8 of 14, by Matt The Cat

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Trashbytes wrote on Today, 12:33:
I've seen a stripped down Win11 booting and running on a Cedar Mill, do note itll be exceptionally slow, even Win10 will chug li […]
Show full quote
Matt The Cat wrote on Today, 12:13:
https://theretroweb.com/motherboards/s/dell-p … workstation-370 […]
Show full quote
agent_x007 wrote on Today, 09:22:
It's quite easy to figure out : CMPXCHG16B (or CompareExchange128) - is one of 3 hardware required CPU instructions for Windows […]
Show full quote

It's quite easy to figure out :
CMPXCHG16B (or CompareExchange128) - is one of 3 hardware required CPU instructions for Windows 10 64-bit support.
If CPU works with Win10 x64, it must support it.

Unofficial Win10 x64 requirements :
Any Intel CPU made in 65nm node (anything made around 2006 and newer), or AMD CPU with DDR2 memory support (and newer).
^This is due to older 64-bit capable CPUs lacking one or both of the other two required instructions (PrefetchW and LAHF + SAHF)

For older ones (and as mentioned in previous message) :
Find oldest 64-bit capable Prescott (June 2005), and that should be your CPU (Note : It will not work with Win10 x64, since it's 90nm).
AMD only added this instruction in K8 rev. F (a.k.a. AM2).

https://theretroweb.com/motherboards/s/dell-p … workstation-370

https://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/Pentium_4/TYPE … dar%20Mill.html

So for windows 10 x64 I would have to go with Cedar Mill Pentium 4?
Would that work on the motherboard if I do the bios updates?

However it doesn't list PrefetchW and LAHF + SAHF on the CPU World page.

I've seen a stripped down Win11 booting and running on a Cedar Mill, do note itll be exceptionally slow, even Win10 will chug like crazy. (You will need a stripped down version of Win10)

Neither 10 or 11 will be happy running though, the video I saw did show it had a lot of issues since both operating systems are expecting more modern CPUs and while the OS will run many other programs will also have issues with the older CPU.

But if you manage your expectations then I say go for it, good luck finding working Win10/11 drivers that support the older hardware.

If you don't need Win10 then I would stick to Win7 as that OS will be far happier and more stable on the older hardware.

I am more concerned now if the VRM requirements of the 925x board will handle a cedar mill or if I will have to go with a prescott?
Or perhaps a Pentium D...

The A08 BIOS from July 27, 2006 says it adds support for newer processors.
https://www.dell.com/support/product-details/ … ion-370/drivers

I am interested at this point, what is the oldest socket 775 cpu that can boot Windows 10 x64...? (And I would lean toward dual core if it was released at the same time)

Reply 9 of 14, by Matt The Cat

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red-ray wrote on Today, 07:35:
As I recall CMPXCHG16B is supported by all Intel CPUs that support x64 and the first Intel CPUs to do this are Intel Pentium 4 5 […]
Show full quote

As I recall CMPXCHG16B is supported by all Intel CPUs that support x64 and the first Intel CPUs to do this are Intel Pentium 4 5x1 (Prescott).

Looking at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_I ... _(90_nm)_2 then the earliest is 12-Jun-2025.

I have just checked a SIV save file and an Intel Pentium 4 541 (Prescott) reports it has CMPXCHG16B .

file.php?id=245611

I also recall that my Gigabyte 8IPE775P does not support Windows x64 so you need to take care in selecting the motherboard.

I was talking to someone else online about this and they said that "they support those instructions, but they're disabled when the cpu is in 64-bit mode for whatever reason. This bug was fixed on the 6x1 chips..." and this was in reference to running Windows 10 or 11 x64. But is it true that until the Cedar Mill P4s, CMPXCHG16B didn't work in 64 bit mode?

Reply 10 of 14, by Roman555

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Matt The Cat wrote on Today, 15:06:

I am more concerned now if the VRM requirements of the 925x board will handle a cedar mill or if I will have to go with a prescott?
Or perhaps a Pentium D...

A 925x board won't handle any Pentium D. No way. I tried to run such system very hard but than I was told that Pentium D needs SMP support in chipset but i925x (and i915) is lack it.
I supposed that if i925x can handle Conroe than it can Pentium D too - that is obviously wrong.

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Reply 11 of 14, by jakethompson1

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This was relevant during Windows 8->8.1 because some 64-bit CPUs were retroactively bumped to being 32-bit for lack of several instructions including cmpxchg16b.
I know you know that already, but the Wikipedia page for 8.1 has a few interesting references. This one https://www.pcworld.com/article/448350/new-wi … -windows-8.html suggests some Intel processors without it at first, but then says the "motherboard" (they mean BIOS) doesn't support the instruction.

The issue was frustrating because 8.1 was treated like a service pack, meaning plain 8 had a super short shelf life. 8 users on affected processors would either have to downgrade to 8.1 32 bit or upgrade (sic) to 7 64 bit and get an extra five years of support.

Reply 12 of 14, by Matt The Cat

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jakethompson1 wrote on Today, 19:47:

This was relevant during Windows 8->8.1 because some 64-bit CPUs were retroactively bumped to being 32-bit for lack of several instructions including cmpxchg16b.
I know you know that already, but the Wikipedia page for 8.1 has a few interesting references. This one https://www.pcworld.com/article/448350/new-wi … -windows-8.html suggests some Intel processors without it at first, but then says the "motherboard" (they mean BIOS) doesn't support the instruction.

The issue was frustrating because 8.1 was treated like a service pack, meaning plain 8 had a super short shelf life. 8 users on affected processors would either have to downgrade to 8.1 32 bit or upgrade (sic) to 7 64 bit and get an extra five years of support.

So Dual core is out of the question since 925x lacks SMP. But then Pentium 4 prescott with EM64T or Pentium 4 Cedar Mill? Are they, and what are they lacking if so to run 8.1 and newer?

Reply 13 of 14, by Matt The Cat

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Roman555 wrote on Today, 19:43:
Matt The Cat wrote on Today, 15:06:

I am more concerned now if the VRM requirements of the 925x board will handle a cedar mill or if I will have to go with a prescott?
Or perhaps a Pentium D...

A 925x board won't handle any Pentium D. No way. I tried to run such system very hard but than I was told that Pentium D needs SMP support in chipset but i925x (and i915) is lack it.
I supposed that if i925x can handle Conroe than it can Pentium D too - that is obviously wrong.

No SMP, fair enough. but that still has me wonder would the 65nm cedar mill pentium 4 have motherboard incompatibility with the Dell precision 370 workstation with the i924x? Is the VRM the only concern given that it has a BIOS update from 2006? And you mentioned conroe, are you saying it can or can't run those? Cause that would include core 2 duo if I am not mistaken.

Reply 14 of 14, by Matt The Cat

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Matt The Cat wrote on Today, 21:25:
jakethompson1 wrote on Today, 19:47:

This was relevant during Windows 8->8.1 because some 64-bit CPUs were retroactively bumped to being 32-bit for lack of several instructions including cmpxchg16b.
I know you know that already, but the Wikipedia page for 8.1 has a few interesting references. This one https://www.pcworld.com/article/448350/new-wi … -windows-8.html suggests some Intel processors without it at first, but then says the "motherboard" (they mean BIOS) doesn't support the instruction.

The issue was frustrating because 8.1 was treated like a service pack, meaning plain 8 had a super short shelf life. 8 users on affected processors would either have to downgrade to 8.1 32 bit or upgrade (sic) to 7 64 bit and get an extra five years of support.

So Dual core Pentium is out of the question since 925x lacks SMP. But then Pentium 4 prescott with EM64T or Pentium 4 Cedar Mill? Are they, and what are they lacking if so to run 8.1 and newer?