Experience with moment-method software of vector processors

Vector processors are currently the most powerful class of generally-available computers. By using `pipelining´ techniques, they are optimised for SIMD (single-instruction, multiple-data) operations, especially matrix manipulation. They are thus especially suited to the running of moment-method software, since this involves the manipulation of large matrices. Two such computers were used, the CDC Cyber 205 at Manchester University, capable of up to 400 Mflops, and the Cray X-MP/48 at the Atlas Centre, capable of up to 900 Mflops. In the work reported, use of non-standard code was avoided and hence vectorisation was undertaken by the compilers, following some re-arrangement of the source code in response to prompts from the appropriate utility software