by Trey Morton Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace and The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald are considered classic novels. Each chronicles the hopes, fears, ambitions and foibles emblematic of its times. But it takes Wallace 1,100 pages and 577,000 words to tell his story, while Fitzgerald tells his in only 180 pages and 47,000 words. There’s little argument that both … [Read more...] about Workstation performance benchmarking: Does it take Infinite Jest to get the job done?
SPEC
25+ years of the SPECviewperf graphics benchmark
By Bob Cramblitt More than 25 years ago, the SPEC Graphics and Workstation Performance Group (SPEC/GWPG) developed the Viewperf benchmark and published its first reported results. Viewperf (now SPECviewperf) was unique among synthetic benchmarks for its use of real-world datasets (called viewsets), tests and weighting developed in cooperation with independent software … [Read more...] about 25+ years of the SPECviewperf graphics benchmark
Inside the new SPECworkstation 3 benchmark
The renamed performance evaluation software features new and updated workloads throughout the suite; it is free of charge to users. By Bob Cramblitt SPECworkstation 3, an all-new version of the benchmark formerly known as SPECwpc, was released on October 31. It is developed and maintained by the SPEC Workstation Performance Characterization (SPECwpc) group, which includes … [Read more...] about Inside the new SPECworkstation 3 benchmark
Using application-based benchmark results for professional workstation performance evaluation
SPECapc benchmark results are available online. By Bob Cramblitt Performance evaluation is complex. There's no silver bullet or one-size-fits-all. Performance is predicated on many factors that change from application to application, model to model, computing path to computing path, display mode to display mode. Nowhere is performance complexity more prevalent than in … [Read more...] about Using application-based benchmark results for professional workstation performance evaluation
Authenticity is the key to good workstation performance benchmarks
Benchmarks should include a variety of tests to characterize performance across a wide spectrum of applications and use cases. By Bob Cramblitt Ask enough people what makes a good professional workstation benchmark and the answers might cut a wide swath, but you should find some common ground. While not exhaustive, the list below is built to last: It's based on 30 years … [Read more...] about Authenticity is the key to good workstation performance benchmarks
Weighing the options for benchmarking workstation performance
Do you measure to get better workstation performance or choose ignorance as bliss? Special to GraphicSpeak by Bob Cramblitt When it comes to measuring workstation performance, clichès spring to mind: Faster is better. You get what you pay for. Mileage may vary. There is a kernel of truth in all of these sayings or they wouldn't be clichès. But if it's so simple, why … [Read more...] about Weighing the options for benchmarking workstation performance
SPECapc releases new benchmark for Siemens NX
A complete redesign offers new models, latest graphics display modes and a fresh GUI. The non-profit group SPEC has released a new benchmark for Siemens NX, the high-end 3D CAD program popular in heavy industry and automotive. The new software from SPEC's Application Performance Characterization (SPECapc) offers performance evaluation for computers running Siemens NX 9.0 … [Read more...] about SPECapc releases new benchmark for Siemens NX
SPEC group updates workstation benchmark
SPECwpc V2.0 takes new solid-state storage and multi-core workstations into account. The SPEC Workstation Performance Characterization Group (SPECwpc) has released SPECwpc 2.0, a major upgrade to its benchmark software. SPEC says the update “improves scalability measurement” for workstations with large numbers of processing cores and “fully integrates solid-state storage into … [Read more...] about SPEC group updates workstation benchmark
SPECapc releases SolidWorks 2015 benchmark
Three new models are included in this year’s benchmark, along with new procedures to test workstation performance. The leader in benchmark software for application performance has released new benchmark software for evaluating workstations for use with Dassault Systemes SolidWorks 2015. SPECapc for SolidWorks 2015 consists of nine graphics and two CPU tests. The graphics … [Read more...] about SPECapc releases SolidWorks 2015 benchmark
SPEC extends workstation benchmark to virtualization
More than 30 potential workload scenarios are tested, including CPU, graphics, and memory bandwidth. The SPEC Workstation Performance Characterization Group (SPECwpc) has released an updated benchmark that extends performance measurement from physical to virtualized workstation configurations. The new SPECwpc V1.2 benchmark measures all key aspects of workstation … [Read more...] about SPEC extends workstation benchmark to virtualization