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IBM Releases Compiler for Power4 and G5

Posted by pudge on from the not-left-handed dept.

davids-world.com writes "IBM offers its optimized XLC compiler not just for Intel CPUs, but also for its own G5 processor (article in German at Heise). Unlike gcc, it is optimized for the G5 and achieves a major boost in speed, as first results show. I guess we will have to compare the new benchmark data (once available) with the data we get with the optimized Intel compiler for Xeon. The compiler is available for download now."

3 of 471 comments (clear)

  1. Here we go again: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Lest anyone forget, Apple beat Intel in real world benchmarks... so the PC fanboys cried that SPEC benchmarks are the real measurement to gague speed... (probably because the comparisons were much closer when conducted this way). When SPEC benchmarks were displayed, these same fanboys cried that Intel's compiler wasn't used (instead the same compiler between platforms). Apple replied that its fairer to normalize the compiler between platforms and that while Intel could have achieved higher results when their compiler was used, Apple could do the same. So, here is that compiler. When/if the G5 outperforms Intel's best, what will the fanboys rally cry be next?

    1. Re:Here we go again: by stratjakt · · Score: 5, Insightful

      When/if the G5 outperforms Intel's best, what will the fanboys rally cry be next?

      I nominate "who gives a shit?"

      Anyone who buys a PC because of lame ass benchmarks has no use for said PC, other than to yammer endlessly. If you work with macs, get a mac, if you work with PCs, get a PC, they're two completely different worlds.

      I'm sick of X is 30% better at [specific instruction] than Y arguments. It's like "xbox is 33% faster than ps2" or "mac is 21% faster than dell!". Who gives a flying fuck anymore? Xbox has the worlds shittiest lineup of games, and Macs dont run a *lot* of software essential to people.

      They're just devices, a means to an end. Quit telling me how your boot polisher is better than my doorstop. Its irrelevant.

      --
      I don't need no instructions to know how to rock!!!!
  2. Re:So much for open source at IBM by nomadic · · Score: 5, Insightful

    And is there a particular reason why IBM couldn't apply their work towards gcc? So much for the whole open-source, contribute-to-the-community philosophy.

    Maybe they just didn't feel like it. Maybe they just preferred working with their own code. IBM's contributed, a lot, it doesn't mean that they're now servants of the open source community.