Joe, Re: I think you are mixing 2 subjects: SpecInt optimization and general optimization to perform well on current hardware.
Microsoft has no reason to invest in SpecInt optimizations, but I expect a competent C++ compiler and .NET Opteron engine. Microsoft wants to sell software, and has interest in Microsoft software performing well against the competition. Microsoft software is compiled using Microsoft compilers.
Microsoft will release an x86-64 compiler at some point, but I wouldn't hold my breath. They are notoriously slow at working in architecture optimizations into their compiler. As for their x86-64 support, they will do the minimum, plus any low hanging fruit that happens to fit within their schedule. If you are expecting anything close to the level of optimizations that Intel puts into their compiler, you will be very disappointed.
By the way, my previous post had absolutely nothing to do with SPECint.
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