arch

Tells the compiler to generate code specialized for the processor that executes your program.

IDE Equivalent

Windows: Code Generation > Enable Enhanced Instruction Set

Linux: None

Mac OS X: None

Architectures

IA-32, Intel® 64 architectures

Syntax

Linux and Mac OS X:

None

Windows:

/arch:code

Arguments

code

Indicates the instructions to be generated for the set of processors in each description. Many of the following descriptions refer to Intel® Streaming SIMD Extensions (Intel® SSE) and Supplemental Streaming SIMD Extensions (Intel® SSSE). Possible values are:

CORE-AVX2	May generate Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions 2 (Intel® AVX2), Intel® AVX, SSE4.2, SSE4.1, SSSE3, SSE3, SSE2, and SSE instructions.
CORE-AVX-I	May generate Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (Intel® AVX), including instructions in Intel® Core 2™ processors in process technology smaller than 32nm, SSE4.2, SSE4.1, SSSE3, SSE3, SSE2, and SSE instructions.
AVX	May generate Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (Intel® AVX), SSE4.2, SSE4.1, SSSE3, SSE3, SSE2, and SSE instructions.
SSE4.2	May generate Intel® SSE4.2, SSE4.1, SSSE3, SSE3, SSE2, and SSE instructions.
SSE4.1	May generate Intel® SSE4.1, SSSE3, SSE3, SSE2, and SSE instructions.
SSSE3	May generate Intel® SSSE3, SSE3, SSE2, and SSE instructions.
SSE3	May generate Intel® SSE3, SSE2, and SSE instructions.
SSE2	May generate Intel® SSE2 and SSE instructions.
SSE	This option has been deprecated; it is now the same as specifying IA32.
IA32	Generates x86/x87 generic code that is compatible with IA-32 architecture. Disables any default extended instruction settings, and any previously set extended instruction settings. It also disables all processor-specific optimizations and instructions. This value is only available on IA-32 architecture.

Default

SSE2	The compiler may generate Intel® SSE2 and SSE instructions.

Description

This option tells the compiler to generate code specialized for the processor that executes your program.

Code generated with these options should execute on any compatible, non-Intel processor with support for the corresponding instruction set.

Options /arch and /Qx are mutually exclusive. If both are specified, the compiler uses the last one specified and generates a warning.

Alternate Options

Linux and Mac OS X: -m

Windows: None