[net.micro.pc] Microsoft FORTRAN 3.10

BRACKENRIDGE%USC-ISIB@sri-unix.UUCP (07/09/83)

From:  Billy <BRACKENRIDGE@USC-ISIB>

Microsoft has at last shipped us MS-FORTRAN 3.10. I haven't given the
compiler extensive tests yet, but have some initial results to report.
I ran the standard Whetstone test using the Microsoft FORTRAN compiler
with an 8087.  The test duplicated exactly the times reported for the
INTEL 8086 development system with the 8087.

Whetstone Fortran Benchmark
(I=10, optimization off, CPU seconds)

DEC       1.1 sec   DECsystem 2060 (TOPS-20,F66)
PR1ME     1.4 sec   PR1ME 750 (PRIMOS,F66)
PR1ME     1.5 sec   PR1ME 750 (PRIMOS,F77)
DEC       2.1 sec   VAX 11/780 (Unix,F77)
Apollo    6.2 sec   10 MHz MC68000 w/hardware float. point (AEGIS 4.0,F77)
Apollo   13.1 sec   10 MHz MC68000 w/software float. point (AEGIS 4.0,F77)
Intel    16.0 sec   8086/8087 (286WD Micro Development System,Intel FORTRAN)
IBM      16.0 sec   4.77 MHz 8088/8087 PC (MS-DOS 2.00, Microsoft F77/3.10)
Z80     124.0 sec   4 MHz Z80 with Microsoft Fortran
IBM     268.9 sec   4.77 MHz 8088 PC ($NODEBUG) (MS-DOS,Microsoft F77/1.0)
Intel   390.0 sec   8086 alone (286WD Micro Development System,Intel FORTRAN)

As far as I know this FORTRAN is not available from IBM.  We ordered
ours directly from Microsoft, but independant software stores which
carry Microsoft products should have the compiler by now.  Microsoft
charges $350 but discount houses have it for $290.