[AIBob]

PHP as CGI:
This means they call the compiled exe using the sdtin, stdout, and such, they do not use the library/SAPI that php makes. On windows this would mean they are executing the exe file and not linking through the dll files. I think it is slower, but it is still fine, other than safe mode, there should be almost no differences except some of the server variables may not be passed through to php, depending on which type of server they are using.