The Intel Math Kernel Library provides a set of levels 1, 2, and 3 of the Basic Linear Algebra Subroutines (BLAS) and fast Fourier transform functions. The BLAS functions have been optimized for the Pentium^® Pro and Pentium II processors. First, all BLAS functions have been optimized at the source level. Then, the critical functions have been optimized further using assembly code. In BLAS level 3, the matrix operations have been blocked to optimally use the processor's cache memory.

The most important routines in the BLAS (and in the Math Kernel Library) for equation solving are the level 3 BLAS. Solving systems of equations can dominate a program. Using blocked algorithms such as those in LAPACK allows the use of the level 3 BLAS. These routines have been further optimized through multithreading to use as many processors as the user's system has, often for linear improvments in performance with the number of processors used.

The major features and benefits the Intel Math Kernel Library offers are as follows:

Feature	Benefit
Highly optimized library	Efficient creation and performance of the application programs and optimal product performance and reduced time to market
Interface to popular scientific compilers	Library vendors and other ISVs easily interface to library
Set of widely used functions	Meets wide range of technical computing kernel needs
Standard calls to the routine library	Significantly enhanced portability
Parallelism built into the library	Very demanding performance requirements met with multiprocessing

Content

The Math Kernel Library includes the following sets of operations:

Linear Algebra:	BLAS Level 1, Vector-Vector Operations, I[S,D,C,Z]AMIN
	BLAS Level 2, Vector-Matrix Operations
	BLAS Level 3, Matrix-Matrix Operations
Signal Processing:	Single and double precision FFTs--FORTRAN complex data storage
	Single and double precision FFTs--C interface with vectors of real and imaginary data
	2D versions of these routines
Linear Algebra Test Functions:	Set of BLAS Level 1, 2, 3 [S,D,C,Z] tests
Signal Processing Test Functions:	Set of FFT tests
Timing Functions:	Set of BLAS Level 1, 2, 3 [S,D,C,Z] and FFT timing tests