The loop L1: movb (r2)+,(r1)+ bneq L1 is indeed improved by unrolling: L1: movb (r2)+,(r1)+ beql L2 movb (r2)+,(r1)+ bneq L1 L2: Each unrolling replaces a conditional branch taken by a conditional branch NOT taken, which is a gain in speed Robert Firth Tartan Labs Inc -------