Compiler Requirements for Intel Phi Coprocessors

[Robert_W_1]

Can opensource fortran compilers and mpi libraries be used to compile parallel code to run on 2 coprocessors or are we required to purchase the Intel suite in order to compile and run on the coprocessors?

[Frances_R_Intel]

In /usr/linux-k1om-4.7/bin, you will find copies of gcc and gfortran among other things that will generate executables that run natively on the coprocessor. I know there are people who have compiled mpich for the coprocessor, so you should be able to build and use that.

[James_C_Intel2]

There is no requirement that you purchase the Intel compiler suite, however we believe that the code generated by the Intel compiler for the Xeon Phi is significantly better than that generated by the open-source compilers (which have no good suopport for vectorization). Of course it's your money, but you may be "losing the ship for a ha'porth of tar", or "losing the battle for want of a nail in a horseshoe" if you economise here.

Obviously you should get an evaluation copy of the Intel compilers and compare the performance on your code before you decide what to do.