X86?

[i_dragonx_i]

Hi,
I was looking at downloading IE7 to try it out. I'm currently running an Athlon XP 3200+ and have recently noticed some things I was hoping someone could clear up for me.
What CPUs support/are x86? Is mine? What is it? I read on some sites that's its been around for some time as a standard made by Intel... still a mess in my head.
2nd) Data Execution Prevention. It seems my processor doesn't support this. Why? What upgrade would I need to do to add support to my system?
Thanks!

AJKA

 

[Raikiri]

Got google?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X86

 

[trojan698]

What CPUs support/are x86? Is mine?

Yes.

 

[Angilion]

1) CPUs are made to process a particular set of instructions. x86 is the one for PCs. It was made Intel, back in 1981(IIRC), when they made a CPU for IBM's new little computer for a single user that IBM called a Personal Computer. AthlonXP is an x86 CPU, as is every other PC CPU.

2) To add hardware support for that, you'd need to upgrade your CPU to one that supports NX (AMD) or XD (Intel), which would require a new motherboard, maybe new memory (depending on your choice of CPU and motherboard), maybe a new PSU (new connection standards on new motherboards, possibly higher power requirements) and maybe a new graphics card too (most new motherboards use PCI Express and you probably have an AGP graphics card). Not worth it. As for the why your CPU doesn't support it, that's because AMD either hadn't thought of it or didn't consider it worth adding (AMD added it to their CPUs first, Intel followed suit when the feature got some attention).

 

[manveruppd]

Yeah, DEP isn't a big deal. I think all the newer CPUs support it, but imho it's just a marketting gimmick