Intel ATOM PROCESSOR N 500 - SPECIFICATION UPDATE REVISION 001 Specification page 19

Table of Contents

Advertisement

Errata
BH13
With TF (Trap Flag) Asserted, FP Instruction That Triggers an
Unmasked FP Exception May Take Single Step Trap before Retirement
of Instruction
Problem:
If an FP instruction generates an unmasked exception with the EFLAGS.TF=1, it is
possible for external events to occur, including a transition to a lower power state.
When resuming from the lower power state, it may be possible to take the single step
trap before the execution of the original FP instruction completes.
Implication: A Single Step trap is taken when not expected.
Workaround: None.
Status:
For the steppings affected, see the Summary Tables of Changes.
BH14
An Enabled Debug Breakpoint or Single Step Trap May Be Taken after
MOV SS/POP SS Instruction if it is Followed by an Instruction That
Signals a Floating Point Exception
Problem:
A MOV SS/POP SS instruction should inhibit all interrupts including debug breakpoints
until after execution of the following instruction. This is intended to allow the
sequential execution of MOV SS/POP SS and MOV [r/e]SP, [r/e]BP instructions without
having an invalid stack during interrupt handling. However, an enabled debug
breakpoint or single step trap may be taken after MOV SS/POP SS if this instruction is
followed by an instruction that signals a floating point exception rather than a MOV
[r/e]SP, [r/e]BP instruction. This results in a debug exception being signaled on an
unexpected instruction boundary since the MOV SS/POP SS and the following
instruction should be executed atomically.
Implication: This can result in incorrect signaling of a debug exception and possibly a mismatched
Stack Segment and Stack Pointer. If MOV SS/POP SS is not followed by a MOV
[r/e]SP, [r/e]BP, there may be a mismatched Stack Segment and Stack Pointer on
any exception. Intel has not observed this erratum with any commercially available
software, or system.
Workaround: As recommended in the IA32 Intel® Architecture Software Developer's Manual, the
use of MOV SS/POP SS in conjunction with MOV [r/e]SP, [r/e]BP will avoid the failure
since the MOV [r/e]SP, [r/e]BP will not generate a floating point exception. Developers
of debug tools should be aware of the potential incorrect debug event signaling
created by this erratum.
Status:
For the steppings affected, see the Summary Tables of Changes.
Specification Update
19

Advertisement

Table of Contents
loading

Table of Contents