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Start of APIC timer

Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2009 7:32 am
by limp
Hi all,

I have configured the APIC timer in period-mode. In Intel's manuals is stated that:

"In one-shot mode, the timer is started by programming its initial-count register. The initial count value is then copied into the current-count register and count-down begins."

Although is not stated clearly, I assume that this is the case for period-mode as well. The difference, as the manual says, is that in periodic-mode the counter is reloaded and starts again.

So, when the initial-count register is programmed, the count-down begins. I am wondering if there is another way to start up the timer.

For instance, if I first program the initial-count register but have the interrupt masked (i.e. not allowing its reception), will the timer start counting when I un-mask it or I will need to reprogram the initial-count register?

Thanks in advance.

Re: Start of APIC timer

Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2010 10:01 am
by Mohanty
Please show your code, then only it will easy to answer.............

Re: Start of APIC timer

Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2010 2:57 pm
by Combuster
Masking an interrupt means ignoring whatever it has to say. It doesn't change anything on the other side. Its not like something stops existing when you can't see it.

That said, it would have been a good example of something you could have found out on your own by just trying (and probably faster too).