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Subject: Re: By the way...

Author: Eugene Nalimov

Date: 13:47:06 06/26/03

Go up one level in this thread


On June 26, 2003 at 16:11:42, Robert Hyatt wrote:

>On June 25, 2003 at 13:20:46, Tom Kerrigan wrote:
>
>>On June 25, 2003 at 04:52:12, Dann Corbit wrote:
>>
>>>On June 25, 2003 at 03:55:03, Andreas Guettinger wrote:
>>>
>>>>Apple Hardware VP Defends Benchmarks:
>>>>
>>>>http://apple.slashdot.org/apple/03/06/24/2154256.shtml?tid=126&tid=181
>>>
>>>I'll be darned.  An oinking weasel.
>>
>>It obviously doesn't pass the smell test when Apple's scores disagree with the
>>officially submitted SPEC scores so dramatically, even if the VP does try to
>>justify their testing methodology.
>>
>>The guy mentions that the PPC scores could have been higher if they had used a
>>different compiler? Uhhh, why didn't they do that and avoid this whole mess?
>>
>>-Tom
>
>
>His testing methodology was not _that_ bad.  He _did_ use the same compiler for
>both processors, which is certainly reasonable.
>
>Whether he used that specific compiler because it made the g5 look better is
>another issue, although it is doubtful that the gcc guys have got any great
>g5 customizations built in yet.
>
>One _could_ make a case for testing either way.  (a) using the same compiler;
>(b) using the _best_ compiler for each respective machine.

By "the same compiler" you mean "the same front end?"

Thanks,
Eugene

>The classic problem with (b) is that humans are influencing the outcome in a
>big way, because you not only measure raw hardware performance, you measure how
>good the optimizing gurus are at their craft.  Either way is open to lots of
>criticism, unfortunately.
>
>SPEC is still going to be the best comparison since each vendor is free to
>use the fastest compiler and settings he can find, so long as the result
>produces correct and validated answers.  The "gurus" still count, of course,
>but absolute is absolute.



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