Gentoo Speed Increases (was Re: [linux] Fun with Ubuntu)

[Andrew P. Becherer]

	I have heard that one way to really squeeze some performance out of 
gentoo is to install the intel compiler (if you are using an intel 
part). The install process is fairly straightforward, you do have to 
get a license from intel. The license is free for non-commercial use. 
After emerging the compiler and putting your license file in the proper 
location you add a USE flag for the intel compiler. Not all 
applications will benefit from the intel compiler. I understand that 
media encoders and decoders among other applications will benefit from 
use of the intel compiler.
	I am not taking advantage of it currently as I only have one intel 
part in my inventory and it does light duty as a firewall/router. I 
have it on good authority from the president of the Tacoma LUG that the 
intel compiler can result in dramatic speed increases with certain 
applications, YMMV. Not to say I don't love GCC, my Motorola G4 would 
be a paperweight without it.

Setup instructions are here:
http://gentoo-wiki.com/HOWTO_Setup_ICC

On Mar 7, 2005, at 6:03 PM, Doug McLean wrote:

> This is a good point.  It may simply not be worth the extra effort to 
> squeeze out, say %5.  But I always hear about how 64-bit processors 
> are revolutionary compared to 32-bit ones, and wanted to see this.  
> The Athlon64 I have really is alot faster than my old computer, even 
> with 32-bit windows.  I haven't had quite such luck with Linux though. 
>  It always seems to still be a bit slow, though I haven't spent the 
> time to find out why.  :p
>
> Phillip Garland wrote:
>> How much improvement does compiling for a specific CPU get you vs. 
>> the standard compilation for the architecture? I seem to recall 
>> hearing 20-30% for pentium vs. i386, but I don't think I've seen 
>> numbers for more recent CPUs. I doubt most desktop and server usage 
>> is cpu-limited enough for cpu-specific compilation to be worth it for 
>> most people.
>> ~Phillip

Andrew Becherer

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