[rtl] The HLT instruction

[Nathan Harris <nathan@geodetic.com>]

Does RTLinux and/or Linux use the HLT instruction during the OS idle
loop?  Other RT OS's like QNX now use this instruction to _greatly_
reduce power consumption.  I don't know why other OS's don't use this
instruction since it has been around since the 486 (maybe even before).
For those who are not familiar with the HLT instruction, it puts an
Intel CPU in a sleep mode.  Any interrupt (usually the task timer) will
wake up the CPU (_very_ quickly).

I know this is a bit off topic.

-Nathan
mailto:nathan@geodetic.com
http://www.geodetic.com/nathan

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