
Developer’s Manual
January, 2004
21
Intel XScale® Core
Developer’s Manual
Programming Model
Programming Model
2
This chapter describes the programming model of the Intel XScale
®
core, namely the
implementation options and extensions to the ARM Version 5TE architecture.
2.1
ARM Architecture Compatibility
The Intel XScale
®
core implements the integer instruction set architecture specified in ARM
V5TE. T refers to the Thumb instruction set and E refers to the DSP-Enhanced instruction set.
ARM V5TE introduces a few more architecture features over ARM V4, specifically the addition of
tiny pages (1 Kbyte), a new instruction (CLZ) that counts the leading zeroes in a data value,
enhanced ARM-Thumb transfer instructions and a modification of the system control coprocessor,
CP15.
2.2
ARM Architecture Implementation Options
2.2.1
Big Endian versus Little Endian
The Intel XScale
®
core supports both big and little endian data representation. The B-bit of the
Control Register (Coprocessor 15, register 1, bit 7) selects big and little endian mode. To run in big
endian mode, the B bit must be set before attempting any sub-word accesses to memory, or
undefined results will occur. Note that this bit takes effect even if the MMU is disabled.
2.2.2
26-Bit Architecture
The Intel XScale
®
core does not support 26-bit architecture.
2.2.3
Thumb
The Intel XScale
®
core supports the Thumb instruction set.