Search circuitry responsive to a single instruction for undertaking a step of a search of a data array for an extreme value therein, a method of searching a data array to identify an extreme value therein and a location thereof and a single-instruction, multiple-data (SIMD) processing unit incorporating the search circuitry or the method. In one embodiment, the search circuitry includes: a comparison element configured to compare two values in the data array, (2) multiplexers coupled to the comparison element and configured to select a more extreme value of the two values and a location in the data array of the more extreme value and (3) an incrementer configured to increment a counter associated with the search.