title: How to enable __fp16 type on gcc for x86_64
body: <p>The <code>__fp16</code> floating point data-type is a well known extension to the C standard used notably on ARM processors. I would like to run the IEEE version of them on my x86_64 processor. While I know they typically do not have that, I would be fine with emulating them with "unsigned short" storage (they have the same alignment requirement and storage space), and (hardware) float arithmetic.</p>
  
  <p>Is there a way to request that in gcc?</p>
  
  <p>I assume the rounding might be slightly "incorrect", but that is ok to me.</p>
  
  <p>If this were to work in C++ too that would be ideal.</p>