CMPXCHG8B/CMPXCHG16B—Compare and Exchange Bytes

Opcode/Instruction Op/En 64-Bit Mode Compat/Leg Mode Description

0F C7 /1 m64

CMPXCHG8B m64

 M Valid Valid* Compare EDX:EAX with m64. If equal, set ZF and load ECX:EBX into m64. Else, clear ZF and load m64 into EDX:EAX.

REX.W + 0F C7 /1 m128

CMPXCHG16B m128

 M Valid N.E. Compare RDX:RAX with m128. If equal, set ZF and load RCX:RBX into m128. Else, clear ZF and load m128 into RDX:RAX.

NOTES: *See IA-32 Architecture Compatibility section below.

Instruction Operand Encoding

Op/En Operand 1 Operand 2 Operand 3 Operand 4
M ModRM:r/m (r, w) NA NA NA

Description

Compares the 64-bit value in EDX:EAX (or 128-bit value in RDX:RAX if operand size is 128 bits) with the operand (destination operand). If the values are equal, the 64-bit value in ECX:EBX (or 128-bit value in RCX:RBX) is stored in the destination operand. Otherwise, the value in the destination operand is loaded into EDX:EAX (or RDX:RAX). The destination operand is an 8-byte memory location (or 16-byte memory location if operand size is 128 bits). For the EDX:EAX and ECX:EBX register pairs, EDX and ECX contain the high-order 32 bits and EAX and EBX contain the low-order 32 bits of a 64-bit value. For the RDX:RAX and RCX:RBX register pairs, RDX and RCX contain the high-order 64 bits and RAX and RBX contain the low-order 64bits of a 128-bit value.

This instruction can be used with a LOCK prefix to allow the instruction to be executed atomically. To simplify the interface to the processor’s bus, the destination operand receives a write cycle without regard to the result of the comparison. The destination operand is written back if the comparison fails; otherwise, the source operand is written into the destination. (The processor never produces a locked read without also producing a locked write.)

In 64-bit mode, default operation size is 64 bits. Use of the REX.W prefix promotes operation to 128 bits. Note that CMPXCHG16B requires that the destination (memory) operand be 16-byte aligned. See the summary chart at the beginning of this section for encoding data and limits. For information on the CPUID flag that indicates CMPXCHG16B, see page 3-175.

IA-32 Architecture Compatibility

This instruction encoding is not supported on Intel processors earlier than the Pentium processors.

Operation

IF (64-Bit Mode and OperandSize = 64)
    THEN
         TEMP128 ← DEST
         IF (RDX:RAX = TEMP128)
              THEN
                    ZF ← 1;
                    DEST ← RCX:RBX;
              ELSE
                    ZF ← 0;
                    RDX:RAX ← TEMP128;
                    DEST ← TEMP128;
                    FI;
         FI
    ELSE
         TEMP64 ← DEST;
         IF (EDX:EAX = TEMP64)
              THEN
                    ZF ← 1;
                    DEST ← ECX:EBX;
              ELSE
                    ZF ← 0;
                    EDX:EAX ← TEMP64;
                    DEST ← TEMP64;
                    FI;
         FI;
FI;

Flags Affected

The ZF flag is set if the destination operand and EDX:EAX are equal; otherwise it is cleared. The CF, PF, AF, SF, and OF flags are unaffected.

Protected Mode Exceptions

#UD If the destination is not a memory operand.
#GP(0)

If the destination is located in a non-writable segment.

If a memory operand effective address is outside the CS, DS, ES, FS, or GS segment limit.

If the DS, ES, FS, or GS register contains a NULL segment selector.

#SS(0) If a memory operand effective address is outside the SS segment limit.
#PF(fault-code) If a page fault occurs.
#AC(0) If alignment checking is enabled and an unaligned memory reference is made while the current privilege level is 3.

Real-Address Mode Exceptions

#UD If the destination operand is not a memory location.
#GP If a memory operand effective address is outside the CS, DS, ES, FS, or GS segment limit.
#SS If a memory operand effective address is outside the SS segment limit.

Virtual-8086 Mode Exceptions

#UD If the destination operand is not a memory location.
#GP(0) If a memory operand effective address is outside the CS, DS, ES, FS, or GS segment limit.
#SS(0) If a memory operand effective address is outside the SS segment limit.
#PF(fault-code) If a page fault occurs.
#AC(0) If alignment checking is enabled and an unaligned memory reference is made.

Compatibility Mode Exceptions

Same exceptions as in protected mode.

64-Bit Mode Exceptions

#SS(0) If a memory address referencing the SS segment is in a non-canonical form.
#GP(0)

If the memory address is in a non-canonical form.

If memory operand for CMPXCHG16B is not aligned on a 16-byte boundary.

If CPUID.01H:ECX.CMPXCHG16B[bit 13] = 0.

#UD If the destination operand is not a memory location.
#PF(fault-code) If a page fault occurs.
#AC(0) If alignment checking is enabled and an unaligned memory reference is made while the current privilege level is 3.