MMX

Short for Multimedia Extensions, a set of 57 multimedia instructions built into Intel microprocessors and other x86-compatible microprocessors. MMX-enabled microprocessors can handle many common multimedia operations, such as digital signal processing (DSP), that are normally handled by a separate sound or video card. However, only software especially written to call MMX instructions — so-called MMX-enabled software — can take advantage of the MMX instruction set.