Search FAQ / What are AVX Instructions and how can I tell if my system is compatible with them?

What are AVX Instructions and how can I tell if my system is compatible with them?

Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX, also known as Sandy Bridge New Extensions) are extensions to the x86 instruction set architecture for microprocessors from Intel and AMD proposed by Intel in March 2008 and first supported by Intel with the Sandy Bridge processor shipping in Q1 2011 and later on by AMD in Q3 2011.

To put it as simple as possible, AVX provides new features, new instructions and a new coding scheme to allow for better performance.

There are a couple ways to determine if your processor includes AVX instructions on each platform. Try the steps below for our suggestion on accomplishing this.


PC - Windows

  1. On Windows, right click "This PC" and go to Properties
  2. Inside here you will see your processor listed
  3. Look up the specifications of this processor on the manufacturer website. Sometimes it is easiest to Google your processor model followed by "Specifications".
Apple - macOS

  1. Go to the upper left hand corner of your screen and click the Apple logo.
  2. Select "About this Mac" to find your model and year system.
  3. Look up your Mac model's specifications on the Apple website to find your processor model. Google is a usful tool to find this information too. Try searching "Macbook Pro Late 2013 Specifications" for example.
  4. Look up the specifications of this processor on the manufacturer website. Sometimes it is easiest to Google your processor model followed by "Specifications".

 

Below is a short list of CPUs with AVX. If you do not see your system here, you may need to look online for it's specifications with the above instructions.

Intel

  • Sandy Bridge processor, Q1 2011
  • Sandy Bridge E processor, Q4 2011
  • Ivy Bridge processor, Q1 2012
  • Ivy Bridge E processor, Q3 2013
  • Haswell processor, Q2 2013
  • Haswell E processor, Q3 2014
  • Broadwell processor, Q4 2014
  • Broadwell E processor, Q2 2016
  • Skylake processor, Q3 2015
  • Kaby Lake processor, Q3 2016(ULV mobile)/Q1 2017(desktop/mobile)
  • Skylake-X processor, Q2 2017
  • Coffee Lake processor, Q4 2017
  • Cannon Lake (microarchitecture) processor, Q2 2018
  • Cascade Lake processor, Q4 2018
  • Ice Lake processor, expected in 2019

Note: Not all CPUs from the listed families support AVX. Generally, CPUs with the commercial denomination "Core i3/i5/i7" support them, whereas "Pentium" and "Celeron" CPUs don't.

AMD:

  • Jaguar-based processors and newer
  • Puma-based processors and newer
  • "Heavy Equipment" processors
  • Bulldozer-based processors, Q4 2011
  • Piledriver-based processors, Q4 2012
  • Steamroller-based processors, Q1 2014
  • Excavator-based processors and newer, 2015
  • Zen-based processors, Q1 2017
  • Zen+-based processors, Q2 2018
  • Zen 2-based processors, Q3 2019
If you need extra help after reading this FAQ, reach out to our Technical Support Team.

 
FAQ ID: 1254

 

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