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From: frank@sagan.UUCP (Frank Whaley)
Newsgroups: net.micro.amiga,net.micro.atari,net.micro.mac
Subject: Re: Another Challenge
Message-ID: <168@sagan.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 28-Oct-85 15:56:14 EST
Article-I.D.: sagan.168
Posted: Mon Oct 28 15:56:14 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 1-Nov-85 00:15:06 EST
References: <2259@iddic.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: MicroPro Int'l Corp., San Rafael, CA
Lines: 49
Xref: linus net.micro.amiga:4408 net.micro.atari:1463 net.micro.mac:3173
Summary: IBMPC results

In article <2259@iddic.UUCP>, richr@iddic.UUCP (Rich Rodgers) writes:
> > Some Facts:
> > The Amiga reads a 32K file in   4.39 seconds
> > The Amiga writes a 32K file in  6.20 seconds
> > The Amiga draws                 142,020 pixels/second
> > 
> > A Challenge
> >      Do the following tests on your favorite computer, and POST the results.
> >      May the best computer win!!!
> No one has yet offered any response to my challenge! We are particularly
> interested in seeing how the Atari does on this benchmark, given the
> preponderance of subjective claims foating around.

Not all benchmarks are created equal...

Perhaps not everyone responds to a challenge in the same way -- I tried the
given algorithm (Lattice C and my own library) on my IBMPC and found that
my IBMPC:
	writes a 32K file in	14.28 seconds
	reads a 32K file in	13.45 seconds
	/*  all times given for standard floppy disk  */

However, if I twiddle my disk buffers around, my IBMPC:
	writes a 32K file in	14.28 seconds
	reads a 32K file in	 2.96 seconds

This led me to rewrite the algorithm to take advantage of the many layers
of disk buffering I use:

	write(fd, p, 0x8000);	/*  the hard way...  */
	read(fd, p, 0x8000);

With the new algorithm, I find that my IBMPC:
	writes a 32K file in	2.41 seconds
	reads a 32K file in	1.43 seconds

My point is simple -- most benchmark programs have little relation to
"real world" problems.  I would never use fwrite()/fread() nor 512 byte
blocks if I wanted to write or read a file in a hurry.  (:-)
-- 
frank
... Frank Whaley, MicroPro Product Development
{dual,hplabs,glacier,lll-crg}!well!micropro!sagan!frank

	"The heights by great men reached and kept,
	 were not attained by sudden flight.
	 But they, while their companions slept,
	 were toiling upward in the night."
			-Longfellow