Intel Faces Allegations of Exaggerating CPU Performance in Benchmarks

Benchmarks are important for quantitative evaluation and decision making. Recently, SPEC invalidated over 2600 results testing Intel Xeon processors. SPEC accused Intel of optimizing the compiler specifically for its benchmark, inflating the results by up to 9%. These results are invalidated for reports. Newer versions of the compilers do not use allegedly performance-enhancing APIs. Xeon processors and the SPEC 2017 test are meant for industrial and educational applications, not the consumer market. Accusations of interference in companies’ self-reported benchmarks are common.