SSE/SSE2 Supporting cpus

Based on the most recent Steam Hardware Survey the 98.52% of computers having Steam support SSE2, while SSE3 and SSE4 are supported by 95.54% of computers. Not all PC players have Steam, but I think it is quite a useful metric for this kind of questions. In this case, you can probably safely assume everybody have a CPU with SSE2 nowadays.

Moreover, if someone has an OpenGL 2.0 gpu, then he probably also has a SSE2 cpu. The first SSE2 cpu is dated 2000 (the Pentium 4), while the OpenGL 2.0 specification was published in 2004.

It's not overly difficult to check for the CPU features of the current machine. Do this just once at startup, and then decide if you even want to support any "under-specced" systems. Alternatively, you surely already have a rough estimate about which type of CPU is required to run your game, and you could base your engine features upon this specification.

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Original post by apatriarca Moreover, if someone has an OpenGL 2.0 gpu, then he probably also has a SSE2 cpu. The first SSE2 cpu is dated 2000 (the Pentium 4), while the OpenGL 2.0 specification was published in 2004.

Even moreso, I think that SSE3 is dated 2004, so I think it's safe to assume even SSE3 unless you're aiming at really old computers.

But it would be a good form to check regardless. Makes the code seem a bit more professional.

This practise can avoid "bad press" in a case some knucklehead decides to run your product with an older computer and the thing goes back to OS accompanied by "DUNK!" from the speakers, instead of presenting a messagebox blaming user for running ridiculously obsolete hardware.

Surprising how accusing people can be with unexplained crashes.

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Original post by Pooya65 can i use SSE(or SSE2) safely in GD which doesn't having problems with cpus (or modern cpus)?

All 64bit CPU's support SSE2. If you are building a 64bit app, no need to worry. You only need to check the cpuid for 32bit apps...

is it a nice idea to check it in the setup time and put(install) correct dll for that system?

sorry for my bad English