Intel Corp (INTC)

[chipguy]

Elmer, for SPECint2000, how is HP getting 1322 for a Madison 1.5 GHz, while SGI is only getting 1077?

Maybe it's the compiler; HP is using their own aCC compiler (new version 11.23 vs. 11.22 used for McKinley), while SGI is using Intel's Linux compiler.

Tenchu

The compiler is part of it but a bigger factor is the system
design. The Altix 3000 is a highly expandable HPC system. This
expandability and application orientation means the architecture
and memory system is designed for high sustained bandwidth, not
low latency. OTOH the HP systems uses a limited expandability
chipset (1-4P) optimized for low latency and high bandwidth.

BTW, there was a similar difference in SPECint scores between
HP and SGI systems with McKinley.