Yet more Timing[10000!] ...
- To: mathgroup at yoda.physics.unc.edu
- Subject: Yet more Timing[10000!] ...
- From: Paul E Howland <PEHOWLAND%CCF.dnet at hermes.dra.hmg.gb>
- Date: Fri, 01 Jul 1994 15:09:22 GMT
Well, I've tried this Timing[10000!] test which appears to be all the rage at
the moment and don't understand what Mathematica thinks it's doing.
On $Version "Windows 387 2.2 (May 13, 1993)" running on a Compaq Despro 4/33i
when I enter
Timing[10000!]
I get the result
{0. Second, 2846...bla bla bla...0000}
some 99 seconds later.
When I do the same test on $Version "DEC OSF/1 Alpha 2.2 (March 17, 1994)"
running on a DEC 3000 Model 400 the results are even more bizarre. The first
time I enter
Timing[10000!]
I get the result
{3.55 Second, 2846...0000}
about 15-20 seconds later, and then if I enter the command again, I get
{0. Second, 2486...0000}
about 15-20 seconds later.
What is this Timing command playing at? It appears more like a random number
generator, or is it just because I'm asking it to do this on a Friday
afternoon?
Can we realy trust the test "Timing[10000!]" as a measure of Mathematica's
performance across different platforms?!
Paul E Howland
Long Range Radar Sensors Section tel. + 44 684 895767
CSS2 Division, Room BY209 fax. + 44 684 896315
Defence Research Agency email: PEHOWLAND at DRA.HMG.GB
Malvern, Worcs, WR14 3PS, UK.
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