"Intel's compiler cripples code on AMD and VIA chips".

I'm not sure how much this affects normal home users, but it explains why my first ever attempts at compiling HPC code a couple of years ago are better than someone with loads of experience on another site with new hardware's attempts. We use Intel Harpertowns & Clovertowns, they use Opterons...

I'm interested to know what projects would want a commercial compiler. I can understand Operating System developers or kernel level developers perhaps wanting them, but for everything else, isn't there GCC?
I mist admit, I've not idea when it comes to compilers, they are one of those really interesting yet mind boggling things I want to look at sometime...

Try using the Intel compiler suite. It is a lot more than just a gcc equivalent.

Naughty naughty Intel.

Not really surprising though is it?

Cheeky bastards

They can compile stuff that other compilers can't and will often create quicker executables. Although sometimes they can be a pain, here's some fun I had last year trying to get some Bioinformatics software running in parallel!

Sneaky beggers!