NPX(4)

NAME
npx - Numeric Processing Extension coprocessor and emulator

SYNOPSIS
options MATH_EMULATE
npx0 at isa? port "IO_NPX0" irq 13

DESCRIPTION
The npx driver enables the use of the system's Numeric Processing Extension coprocessor, if one is present. Numeric processing extensions are present in systems with 486DX CPUs and in systems with 387 or 487SX coprocessors. The npx driver is required for proper system functioning regardless of whether or not a NPX is present.

If there is no NPX present in the system, the "MATH_EMULATE" option must be defined in the kernel configuration file. It will provide support for the instructions normally executed by the NPX. If there is no NPX in the system and the kernel is not built with math emulation, the system will not boot.

CAVEATS
The emulator is much slower than the NPX coprocessor. This will result in poor floating-point math performance if the emulator must be used.

BUGS
There are lots of them, especially on cheap motherboards. In particular, some motherboards do not have the interrupt lines from the NPX to the CPU wired properly. If this is the case, the emulator must be used if consistent system operation is desired.

Emulation of the transcendental functions instructions is incorrect. Emulation of other instructions is suspect.