Overview

The Intel® Math Kernel Library includes Fortran routines and functions optimized for Intel® processor-based computers running operating systems that support multiprocessing. In addition to the Fortran interface, Intel MKL includes a C-language interface for the Discrete Fourier transform functions, as well as for the Vector Mathematical Library and Vector Statistical Library functions. For hardware and software requirements to use Intel MKL, see Intel® MKL Release Notes.

The Intel® Math Kernel Library includes the following groups of routines:

Basic Linear Algebra Subprograms (BLAS):

- vector operations

- matrix-vector operations

- matrix-matrix operations
Sparse BLAS Level 1, 2, and 3 (basic operations on sparse vectors and matrices)
LAPACK routines for solving systems of linear equations
LAPACK routines for solving least squares problems, eigenvalue and singular value problems, and Sylvester's equations
Auxiliary and utility LAPACK routines
ScaLAPACK computational, driver and auxiliary routines (only in Intel MKL for Linux* and Windows* operating systems)
PBLAS routines for distributed vector, matrix-vector, and matrix-matrix operation
Direct and Iterative Sparse Solver routines
Vector Mathematical Library (VML) functions for computing core mathematical functions on vector arguments (with Fortran and C interfaces)
Vector Statistical Library (VSL) functions for generating vectors of pseudorandom numbers with different types of statistical distributions and for performing convolution and correlation computations
General Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) Functions, providing fast computation of Discrete Fourier Transform via the FFT algorithms and having Fortran and C interfaces
Cluster FFT functions (only in Intel MKL for Linux* and Windows* operating systems)
Tools for solving partial differential equations - trigonometric transform routines and Poisson solver
Optimization Solver routines for solving nonlinear least squares problems through the Trust-Region (TR) algorithms and computing Jacobi matrix by central differences
Basic Linear Algebra Communication Subprograms (BLACS) that are used to support a linear algebra oriented message passing interface
GMP arithmetic functions

For specific issues on using the library, also see the Intel® MKL Release Notes.

Optimization Notice
The Intel® Math Kernel Library (Intel® MKL) contains functions that are more highly optimized for Intel microprocessors than for other microprocessors. While the functions in Intel® MKL offer optimizations for both Intel and Intel-compatible microprocessors, depending on your code and other factors, you will likely get extra performance on Intel microprocessors. While the paragraph above describes the basic optimization approach for Intel® MKL as a whole, the library may or may not be optimized to the same degree for non-Intel microprocessors for optimizations that are not unique to Intel microprocessors. These optimizations include Intel® Streaming SIMD Extensions 2 (Intel® SSE2), Intel® Streaming SIMD Extensions 3 (Intel® SSE3), and Supplemental Streaming SIMD Extensions 3 (Intel® 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. Intel recommends that you evaluate other library products to determine which best meets your requirements.

Optimization Notice

The Intel® Math Kernel Library (Intel® MKL) contains functions that are more highly optimized for Intel microprocessors than for other microprocessors. While the functions in Intel® MKL offer optimizations for both Intel and Intel-compatible microprocessors, depending on your code and other factors, you will likely get extra performance on Intel microprocessors.

While the paragraph above describes the basic optimization approach for Intel® MKL as a whole, the library may or may not be optimized to the same degree for non-Intel microprocessors for optimizations that are not unique to Intel microprocessors. These optimizations include Intel® Streaming SIMD Extensions 2 (Intel® SSE2), Intel® Streaming SIMD Extensions 3 (Intel® SSE3), and Supplemental Streaming SIMD Extensions 3 (Intel® 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.

Intel recommends that you evaluate other library products to determine which best meets your requirements.