# `vmaxfp` — Vector Maximum Floating Point > **Category:** [VMX (Altivec)](../categories/vmx.md) · **Form:** [VX](../forms/VX.md) · **Opcode:** `0x1000040a` ## Assembler Mnemonics | Mnemonic | XML entry | Flags | Description | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | `vmaxfp` | `vmaxfp` | — | Vector Maximum Floating Point | | `vmaxfp128` | `vmaxfp128` | — | Vector128 Maximum Floating Point | ## Syntax ```asm vmaxfp [VD], [VA], [VB] vmaxfp128 [VD], [VA], [VB] ``` ## Encoding ### `vmaxfp` — form `VX` - **Opcode word:** `0x1000040a` - **Primary opcode (bits 0–5):** `4` - **Extended opcode:** `1034` - **Synchronising:** no | Bits | Field | Meaning | | --- | --- | --- | | 0–5 | `OPCD` | primary opcode (4) | | 6–10 | `VRT/VD` | destination vector register | | 11–15 | `VRA/VA` | source A vector register | | 16–20 | `VRB/VB` | source B vector register | | 21–31 | `XO` | extended opcode (11 bits) | ### `vmaxfp128` — form `VX128` - **Opcode word:** `0x18000280` - **Primary opcode (bits 0–5):** `6` - **Extended opcode:** `640` - **Synchronising:** no | Bits | Field | Meaning | | --- | --- | --- | | 0–5 | `OPCD` | primary opcode (4 or 5) | | 6–10 | `VD128l` | destination low 5 bits | | 11–15 | `VA128l` | source A low 5 bits | | 16–20 | `VB128l` | source B low 5 bits | | 21 | `VA128H` | source A high bit | | 22 | `—` | reserved | | 23–25 | `VC` | optional VC / XO sub-field | | 26 | `VA128h` | source A middle bit | | 27 | `—` | reserved | | 28–29 | `VD128h` | destination high 2 bits | | 30–31 | `VB128h` | source B high 2 bits | ## Operands | Field | Role | Description | | --- | --- | --- | | `VA` | vmaxfp: read; vmaxfp128: read | Source A vector register. | | `VB` | vmaxfp: read; vmaxfp128: read | Source B vector register. | | `VD` | vmaxfp: write; vmaxfp128: write | Destination vector register. | ## Register Effects ### `vmaxfp` - **Reads (always):** `VA`, `VB` - **Reads (conditional):** _none_ - **Writes (always):** `VD` - **Writes (conditional):** _none_ ### `vmaxfp128` - **Reads (always):** `VA`, `VB` - **Reads (conditional):** _none_ - **Writes (always):** `VD` - **Writes (conditional):** _none_ ## Status-Register Effects _No condition-register or status-register effects._ ## Operation (pseudocode) ``` ; Pseudocode derives directly from the xenia-rs interpreter ; arm (see Implementation References). Operation semantics: ; - Read source operands from the fields listed under Operands. ; - Apply the arithmetic / logical / memory action described ; in the Description field above. ; - Write results to the destination register(s); update any ; status bits enumerated under Status-Register Effects. ; Consult the IBM AIX reference link under IBM Reference for ; canonical PPC-style pseudocode where xenia's expression is ; terse. ``` ## C Translation Example ```c /* C translation: the xenia-rs interpreter arm below in */ /* Implementation References is the authoritative semantic */ /* snapshot. Translate it line-by-line: */ /* - ctx.gpr[N] -> r[N] (or f[]/v[] for FPRs/VRs) */ /* - mem.read_u*/write_u* -> mem_read_u*_be / mem_write_u*_be */ /* - ctx.update_cr_signed(fld, v) -> update_cr_signed(fld, v) */ /* - ctx.xer_ca / xer_ov / xer_so -> xer.CA / xer.OV / xer.SO */ /* The Register Effects and Status-Register Effects tables above */ /* enumerate every side effect a faithful translation must emit. */ ``` ## Implementation References **`vmaxfp`** - xenia-canary XML: [`tools/ppc-instructions.xml` — search for `mnem="vmaxfp"`](../../xenia-canary/tools/ppc-instructions.xml) - xenia-canary emit: [`src/xenia/cpu/ppc/ppc_emit_altivec.cc:831`](../../xenia-canary/src/xenia/cpu/ppc/ppc_emit_altivec.cc#L831) - xenia-rs opcode: [`crates/xenia-cpu/src/opcode.rs:101`](../../xenia-rs/crates/xenia-cpu/src/opcode.rs#L101) - xenia-rs decoder: [`crates/xenia-cpu/src/decoder.rs:522`](../../xenia-rs/crates/xenia-cpu/src/decoder.rs#L522) - xenia-rs interpreter: [`crates/xenia-cpu/src/interpreter.rs:2121-2128`](../../xenia-rs/crates/xenia-cpu/src/interpreter.rs#L2121-L2128)
xenia-rs interpreter body (frozen snapshot) ```rust PpcOpcode::vmaxfp => { let a = ctx.vr[instr.ra()].as_f32x4(); let b = ctx.vr[instr.rb()].as_f32x4(); let mut r = [0f32; 4]; for i in 0..4 { r[i] = vmx::max_nan(a[i], b[i]); } ctx.vr[instr.rd()] = xenia_types::Vec128::from_f32x4_array(r); ctx.pc += 4; } ```
**`vmaxfp128`** - xenia-canary XML: [`tools/ppc-instructions.xml` — search for `mnem="vmaxfp128"`](../../xenia-canary/tools/ppc-instructions.xml) - xenia-canary emit: [`src/xenia/cpu/ppc/ppc_emit_altivec.cc:834`](../../xenia-canary/src/xenia/cpu/ppc/ppc_emit_altivec.cc#L834) - xenia-rs opcode: [`crates/xenia-cpu/src/opcode.rs:101`](../../xenia-rs/crates/xenia-cpu/src/opcode.rs#L101) - xenia-rs decoder: [`crates/xenia-cpu/src/decoder.rs:696`](../../xenia-rs/crates/xenia-cpu/src/decoder.rs#L696) - xenia-rs interpreter: [`crates/xenia-cpu/src/interpreter.rs:2129-2136`](../../xenia-rs/crates/xenia-cpu/src/interpreter.rs#L2129-L2136)
xenia-rs interpreter body (frozen snapshot) ```rust PpcOpcode::vmaxfp128 => { let a = ctx.vr[instr.va128()].as_f32x4(); let b = ctx.vr[instr.vb128()].as_f32x4(); let mut r = [0f32; 4]; for i in 0..4 { r[i] = vmx::max_nan(a[i], b[i]); } ctx.vr[instr.vd128()] = xenia_types::Vec128::from_f32x4_array(r); ctx.pc += 4; } ```
## Special Cases & Edge Conditions - **Per-lane IEEE max.** Four word lanes; `VD[i] = (VA[i] > VB[i]) ? VA[i] : VB[i]`. - **NaN propagation surprise.** Xenia uses `if a > b { a } else { b }`, so any NaN comparison evaluates false and the result is `VB`. The IBM manual specifies "the larger of `VA[i]` and `VB[i]`, with NaN handling such that any NaN input yields a NaN result" — this is *not* what xenia does. Hardware's `vmaxfp(NaN, x) = NaN` while xenia returns `x`. **Worth checking against `vmx.rs` for any future correctness fixes.** - **Sign of zero.** `vmaxfp(+0, -0)` returns `-0` in xenia (since `+0 > -0` is false → returns `b = -0`). The hardware likely returns the sign-positive zero — also worth verifying. - **`VSCR[NJ]` denormals.** With `NJ = 1` (Xenon default), denormal inputs are flushed to `±0` before comparison. - **No `VSCR[SAT]` change, no XER change, no exceptions.** - **Big-endian word lanes.** Lane 0 is the most-significant word. - **Aliasing legal.** `vmaxfp v3, v3, v4` is the standard "clamp from below by `v4`" idiom. - **VMX128 sibling (`vmaxfp128`).** Identical comparator semantics with the extended encoding. ## Related Instructions - [`vminfp`](vminfp.md) — the per-lane minimum. - [`vcmpgtfp`](vcmpgtfp.md), [`vcmpgefp`](vcmpgefp.md) — separate compare-and-mask path. - [`vsel`](vsel.md) — combine masks with arbitrary alternatives. - [`vmaddfp`](vmaddfp.md) — fused multiply-add when the max is part of a polynomial. - [`vmaxsw`](vmaxsw.md) — integer-word max if the lanes are signed integers. ## IBM Reference - [AIX 7.3 — `vmaxfp` (Vector Maximum Floating Point)](https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/aix/7.3.0?topic=set-vmaxfp-vector-maximum-floating-point-instruction) - [IBM AltiVec Technology Programmer's Interface Manual, Chapter 5 — Floating-Point Min/Max](https://www.nxp.com/docs/en/reference-manual/ALTIVECPIM.pdf)