Compiling using Intel Fortran/C++ with an AMD processor?

Korlash

Hey guys, any scientists in the house?

I have to buy a netbook this week for my scientific computing grad course, and I think I have found something very nice, the acer aspire one 722-0465 (the one with the C-60 processor): http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/product/acer-acer-one-11-6-amd-c-60-laptop-ao722-0465-black-ao722-0465/10180974.aspx?path=32cca35851c6c0b9cd3e22771cc6c453en02

That netbook seems to have a lot of power for its size. I'm not sure I'm a big fan of the 5.5 hours of battery life, but I don't think that will ever be a problem. I was mostly looking for something lightweight, since I have desktop computers I can use and ssh into if necessary. The main use of this netbook, after my computing classes, will be touching up powerpoint talks while on the plane or the hotel before a conference, and maybe submitting instructions to a computer cluster. I might do a little bit of light work and test some programs with it as well.

So I'm almost ready to go for this deal, but I'm wondering if I will have any trouble compiling programs using intel's compilers for linux (the first thing I'm doing with this netbook is installing ubuntu on it). Does anyone have any personal experience in using intel's compilers with amd processors? A quick search seems to indicate intel fortran will work with amd processors on 64 bit applications, but the support page is not very helpful for someone not well versed in the technical details. I wrote about intel fortran, but I might also need to use intel's c++ compiler.

Worst case scenario, I can ssh into my office computer and run programs remotely, but I'd rather avoid this unless I have to run programs that demand more resources than this netbook has.

So, AMD C-60 processor and intel fortran/c++, do they make a good mix?

Bowen

You should be fine, AMD and Intel all emulate the same chipset instructions. It should generate an ISO c++ binary regardless of the chipset, and I think the intel one specifically can take advantage of things like SSE+ and MMX but that's really above and beyond what you need probably.

Korlash

Hmm, what if I use some open source scientific software that makes use of SSE+ and MMX? Would I be able to compile and run the program properly?

Bowen

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X86-64

It appears so. There may be minor nuances though.

Vargar

A quick skim notes that as of 2010 that the intel compiler tool chain doesn't properly support non intel processors. They have been told that they need to fix this issue but I don't know if it has happened.
Source: http://www.osnews.com/story/22683/Intel_Forced_to_Remove_quot_Cripple_AMD_quot_Function_from_Compiler_
Source2: http://developer.amd.com/pages/4292005119.aspx


Edit:
If you really really need SSE and MMX support and don't want to risk anything buy Intel.

Bowen

Yeah the architecture is supposedly there but it's not surprising the compiler is fundamentally broken for non-proprietary chipsets.

The price difference in laptops is probably what, $100 between the intel and AMD versions? I'd just go for the intel one honestly.