Intel Fortran Compiler features

[maciej]

Hello,

I would like to ask if there is any Intel Fortran Compiler feature that takes advantage of any unique Intel processors technology that other brands processors might not support?

I was wondering if to make most of that compiler I should only consider that hardware which is equipped with Intel processors.

[mecej4]

Yes. Type

ifort /?

and look at the descriptions of the /Qx.., /Qax.., /tune:xxx and /architecture:xxx options.

With regard to the second question: not necessarily. The Intel compilers produce code that runs quite well on other manufacturers' x86 and x64 processors. Therefore, the ability to tune for a specific CPU is just one of the attributes to consider in selecting new hardware.

Are you going to use the new hardware almost exclusively for running software that you compile? How much are you going to spend on memory, video and network? Are you concerned about "greenness", ie., as measured in MIPS/watt ? Is software portability important?