Method of operating enhanced alu test hardware

A method of operating a loop counter routine in a central processing unit of a digital computer, including the steps of:

• (a) providing a data input, representative of a first desired quantity, to a first input of an arithmetic logic unit,
• (b) providing a data input representing a second desired quantity to a second input of said arithmetic logic unit,
• (c) performing a subtract operation using said arithmetic logic unit during a first clock period,
• (d) performing an equivalence test on said first and second arithmetic logic unit inputs external to said arithmetic logic unit during said first clock period,
• (e) terminating said loop counter routine if the result of said equivalence test indicates that first and second arithmetic logic unit inputs are equal and returning the results of said arithmetic logic unit subtract operation to said first input of said arithmetic logic unit if the result of said equivalence test indicates that said first and second arithmetic logic unit inputs are not equal,
• (f) Repeating steps (b) through (e) until the result of said equivalence test indicates that said first and second arithmetic logic unit inputs are equal.