Method and apparatus for generating and logically combining less than

Abstract

A processor includes at least an execution unit that executes an instruction by performing an operation indicated by the instruction utilizing one or more operands and condition code logic that determines less than, greater than, and equal to condition code bits associated with the instruction concurrently with execution of the instruction by the execution unit. In one embodiment, the condition code logic includes a single computation stage that receives as inputs individual bit values of bit positions within first and second operands and logically combines the individual bit values. The single computation stage outputs, for each bit position, propagate, generate, and kill signals that collectively indicate values for the less than, greater than, and equal to condition code bits. One or more merging stages coupled to the computation stage then merge the propagate, generate, and kill signals into output signals that set the condition code bits.