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8087 Numeric Data Processor
8087 numeric data processor is also known as Math co-processor, Numeric processor extension and Floating point unit. It was the first math coprocessor designed by Intel to pair with 8086/8088 resulting in easier and faster calculation.
Once the instructions are identified by the 8086/8088 processor, then
it is allotted to the 8087 co-processor for further execution.
The data types supported by 8087 are −
- Binary Integers
- Packed decimal numbers
- Real numbers
- Temporary real format
The most prominent features of 8087 numeric data processor are as follows −
- It supports data of type integer, float, and real types ranging from 2-10 bytes.
- The processing speed is so high that it can calculate multiplication of two 64-bits real numbers in ~27 µs and can also calculate square-root in ~35 µs.
- It follows IEEE floating point standards.
8087 Architecture
8087 Architecture is divided into two groups, i.e., Control Unit (CU) and Numeric Extension Unit (NEU).
- The control unit handles all the communication between the processor and the memory such as it receives and decodes instructions, reads and writes memory operands, maintains parallel queue, etc. All the coprocessor instructions are ESC instructions, i.e., they start with ‘F’, the coprocessor only executes the ESC instructions while other instructions are executed by the microprocessor.
- The numeric extension unit handles all the numeric processor instructions like arithmetic, logical, transcendental, and data transfer instructions. It has 8 register stack, which holds the operands for instructions and their results.
The architecture of 8087 coprocessor is as follows −
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