xHost, QxHost

Tells the compiler to generate instructions for the highest instruction set available on the compilation host processor.

IDE Equivalent

Windows: Code Generation > Intel Processor-Specific Optimization

Linux: Code Generation > Intel Processor-Specific Optimization

Mac OS X: Code Generation > Intel Processor-Specific Optimization

Architectures

IA-32, Intel® 64 architectures

Syntax

Linux and Mac OS X:

-xHost

Windows:

/QxHost

Arguments

None

Default

Windows* systems: None
Linux* systems: None
Mac OS* X systems using IA-32 architecture: -xSSE3
Mac OS* X systems using Intel® 64 architecture: -xSSSE3

On Windows systems, if neither /Qx nor /arch is specified, the default is /arch:SSE2.

On Linux systems, if neither -x nor -m is specified, the default is -msse2.

Description

This option tells the compiler to generate instructions for the highest instruction set available on the compilation host processor.

The instructions generated by this compiler option differ depending on the compilation host processor.

The following table describes the effects of specifying the -xHost (Linux* and Mac OS* X) or /QxHost (Windows*) option and it tells whether the resulting executable will run on processors different from the host processor.

Descriptions in the table refer to Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (Intel® AVX), Intel® Streaming SIMD Extensions (Intel® SSE), and Intel® Supplemental Streaming SIMD Extensions (Intel® SSSE).

Instruction Set of Host Processor	Effects When the -xHost or /QxHost Compiler Option is Specified
Intel® AVX2	When compiling on Intel® Processors: Corresponds to option -xCORE-AVX2 (Linux* and Mac OS* X) or /QxCORE-AVX2 (Windows*). The generated executable will not run on non-Intel processors and it will not run on Intel® processors that do not support Intel® AVX2 instructions. When compiling on non-Intel Processors: Corresponds to option -march=core-avx2 (Linux and Mac OS X) or /arch:CORE-AVX2 (Windows). The generated executable will run on Intel® processors and non-Intel processors that support at least Intel® AVX2 instructions. You may see a run-time error if the run-time processor does not support Intel® AVX2 instructions.
Intel® AVX	When compiling on Intel® Processors: Corresponds to option -xAVX (Linux* and Mac OS* X) or /QxAVX (Windows*). The generated executable will not run on non-Intel processors and it will not run on Intel® processors that do not support Intel® AVX instructions. When compiling on non-Intel Processors: Corresponds to option -mavx (Linux and Mac OS X) or /arch:AVX (Windows). The generated executable will run on Intel® processors and non-Intel processors that support at least Intel® AVX instructions. You may see a run-time error if the run-time processor does not support Intel® AVX instructions.
Intel® SSE4.2	When compiling on Intel® Processors: Corresponds to option -xSSE4.2 (Linux* and Mac OS* X) or /QxSSE4.2 (Windows*). The generated executable will not run on non-Intel processors and it will not run on Intel® processors that do not support Intel® SSE4.2 instructions. When compiling on non-Intel Processors: Corresponds to option -msse4.2 (Linux and Mac OS X) or /arch:SSE4.2 (Windows). The generated executable will run on Intel® processors and non-Intel processors that support at least Intel® SSE4.2 instructions. You may see a run-time error if the run-time processor does not support Intel® SSE4.2 instructions.
Intel® SSE4.1	When compiling on Intel® Processors: Corresponds to option -xSSE4.1 (Linux* and Mac OS* X) or /QxSSE4.1 (Windows*). The generated executable will not run on non-Intel processors and it will not run on Intel® processors that do not support Intel® SSE4.1 instructions. When compiling on non-Intel Processors: Corresponds to option -msse4.1 (Linux and Mac OS X) or /arch:SSE4.1 (Windows). The generated executable will run on Intel® processors and non-Intel processors that support at least Intel® SSE4.1 instructions. You may see a run-time error if the run-time processor does not support Intel® SSE4.1 instructions.
Intel® SSSE3	When compiling on Intel® Processors: Corresponds to option -xSSSE3 (Linux* and Mac OS* X) or /QxSSSE3 (Windows*). The generated executable will not run on non-Intel processors and it will not run on Intel® processors that do not support Intel® SSSE3 instructions. When compiling on non-Intel Processors: Corresponds to option -mssse3 (Linux and Mac OS X) or /arch:SSSE3 (Windows). The generated executable will run on Intel® processors and non-Intel processors that support at least Intel® SSSE3 instructions. You may see a run-time error if the run-time processor does not support Intel® SSSE3 instructions.
Intel® SSE3	When compiling on Intel® Processors: Corresponds to option -xSSE3 (Linux* and Mac OS* X) or /QxSSE3 (Windows*). The generated executable will not run on non-Intel processors and it will not run on Intel® processors that do not support Intel® SSE3 instructions. When compiling on non-Intel Processors: Corresponds to option -msse3 (Linux and Mac OS X) or /arch:SSE3 (Windows). The generated executable will run on Intel® processors and non-Intel processors that support at least Intel® SSE3 instructions. You may see a warning run-time error if the run-time processor does not support Intel® SSE3 instructions.
Intel® SSE2	When compiling on Intel® Processors or non-Intel Processors: Corresponds to option -msse2 (Linux* and Mac OS* X) or /arch:SSE2 (Windows*). The generated executable will run on Intel® processors and non-Intel processors that support at least Intel® SSE2 instructions. You may see a run-time error if the run-time processor does not support Intel® SSE2 instructions.

For more information on other settings for option -x (Linux* and Mac OS* X) and /Qx (Windows*), see that option description.

Optimization Notice
Intel’s compilers may or may not optimize to the same degree for non-Intel microprocessors for optimizations that are not unique to Intel microprocessors. These optimizations include SSE2, SSE3, and SSSE3 instruction sets and other optimizations. Intel does not guarantee the availability, functionality, or effectiveness of any optimization on microprocessors not manufactured by Intel. Microprocessor-dependent optimizations in this product are intended for use with Intel microprocessors. Certain optimizations not specific to Intel microarchitecture are reserved for Intel microprocessors. Please refer to the applicable product User and Reference Guides for more information regarding the specific instruction sets covered by this notice. Notice revision #20110804

Optimization Notice

Intel’s compilers may or may not optimize to the same degree for non-Intel microprocessors for optimizations that are not unique to Intel microprocessors. These optimizations include SSE2, SSE3, and SSSE3 instruction sets and other optimizations. Intel does not guarantee the availability, functionality, or effectiveness of any optimization on microprocessors not manufactured by Intel. Microprocessor-dependent optimizations in this product are intended for use with Intel microprocessors. Certain optimizations not specific to Intel microarchitecture are reserved for Intel microprocessors. Please refer to the applicable product User and Reference Guides for more information regarding the specific instruction sets covered by this notice.

Notice revision #20110804

Alternate Options