[Numpy-discussion] mkl usage

[Neal Becker]

Francesc Alted wrote:

> On Feb 23, 2012, at 2:19 PM, Neal Becker wrote:
> 
>> Pauli Virtanen wrote:
>> 
>>> 23.02.2012 20:44, Francesc Alted kirjoitti:
>>>> On Feb 23, 2012, at 1:33 PM, Neal Becker wrote:
>>>> 
>>>>> Is mkl only used for linear algebra?  Will it speed up e.g., elementwise
>>>>> transendental functions?
>>>> 
>>>> Yes, MKL comes with VML that has this type of optimizations:
>>> 
>>> And also no, in the sense that Numpy and Scipy don't use VML.
>>> 
>> 
>> My question is:
>> 
>> "Should I purchase MKL?"
>> 
>> To what extent will it speed up my existing python code, without my having to
>> exert (much) effort?
>> 
>> So that would be numpy/scipy.
> 
> Pauli already answered you.  If you are restricted to use numpy/scipy and your
> aim is to accelerate the evaluation of transcendental functions, then there is
> no point in purchasing MKL.  If you can open your spectrum and use numexpr,
> then I think you should ponder about it.
> 
> -- Francesc Alted

Thanks.  One more thing, on theano I'm guessing MKL is required to be installed 
onto each host that would use it at runtime?  So I'd need a licensed copy for 
each host that will execute the code?  I'm guessing that because theano needs to 
compile code at runtime.