James D. Howard
Senior Staff Software Engineer, Intel

What does Intel do to give me performance advantages that truly count? What do I need to do to get them? These, your most frequently asked questions, are answered. Right here. Right now.

Many software developers and IT Managers have asked and today are compelled to ask: Will the new capabilities of a next generation processor make an appreciable difference to our end-users? Does new processor power and capability translate into performance that will count?

In this two-part series, I will answer that question in two ways: by telling the largely untold story about the lengths to which Intel goes to deliver significant performance capability to software developers of all stripes and by introducing best-known methods, tools and techniques to enhance application performance.

In this first article, I'll briefly survey Intel's R& D efforts and the various ways and means you can easily achieve substantial performance gains.

The second article will speak to the steps you must take to achieve optimal performance.

In subsequent column articles, each methodology, tool and technique will be discussed in much more detail.