Using VC++ 6.0, setting this option doesn't seem to do anything significant. Specically, I can still run the app on a 486. I've drilled into assembly and can't find anywhere that Pentium opcodes are being used. My guess would be timing and as I don't have any references to that I can't really be sure.

I would appreciate a short snippet with and without the option being set and a listing with machine, assembly and source.

Thanks

you would be better off using icc for processor-specific optimizations. even without processor-specific optimizations, icc generates better optimized code than vc++ 8; and it blows gcc away. http://www.intel.com/cd/software/pro...eng/276615.htm

Thank's. Better than M$, why am I not surprised. I like the idea too that I can use it with my existing IDE.

I hope you're not surprised that intel's compiler has better optimizations because they _make_ the processors, and not because you just don't like microsoft.

That being said, Intel is quite liberal with their documentation so there is no reason M$ couldn't have an equal or better compiler.

There's a good reason. They're M$. This generation's IBM. If they could program like they market, you'd be right. But all they really have going for them is great marketing and a stranglehold on the industry.