Groups | Search | Server Info | Keyboard shortcuts | Login | Register [http] [https] [nntp] [nntps]

Groups > comp.lang.c > #15415

Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly

From Dann Corbit <dcorbit@connx.com>
Newsgroups comp.lang.c
Subject Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly
Date 2012-01-04 12:59 -0800
Organization Aioe.org NNTP Server
Message-ID <MPG.296e5d607b01cfc498968f@aioe.org> (permalink)
References (3 earlier) <jd81e9$qs5$1@speranza.aioe.org> <jdal5r$3n3$1@dont-email.me> <jdalt3$u2b$1@speranza.aioe.org> <je2427$otd$1@dont-email.me> <je28te$g14$1@speranza.aioe.org>

Show all headers | View raw

In article <je28te$g14$1@speranza.aioe.org>, jacob@spamsink.net says...
{snippity-snip}
If you examine (for instance) the MPIR project:
http://mpir.org/
it immediately becomes clear that there is a time and a place for 
assembly programming even with modern compilers.

Of course, by far the best way to perform optimization is to improve the 
algorithm.  That having been said, and supposing that the algorithm 
cannot be improved and supposing further that a profile has shown some 
clump of code to be the hot spot, then assembly language improvements 
are a peachy-keen idea.  They can easily give a linear speedup of up to 
a factor of 4.

IMO-YMMV

Downsides to assembly improvements:
Improvements for chip X may not have the same benefit on chip Y.
Assembly ages badly.  I have written thousands of lines with things 
like:

MOV AH, 10
INT 21H

I doubt if any machine being used to read this message could even run 
that code, since it is 16 bit and uses an old bios call.

I run 64 bit programs almost exclusively on my machines now (notable 
exceptions being applications that are not available in 64 bits), so 32 
bit assembly is slowing my machine down, and not speeding it up.  Every 
assembly variant is more code to maintain.  If I support 30 different 
CPUs, then I may have 30 times the code volume for some particular hunk 
of an algorithm, and all 30 pathways will have to be tested on every 
pass of the regression testing.

So it's not all roses and sunshine.

But if you absolutely, positively have to get there sooner, sometimes 
assembly language is the only answer.

Back to comp.lang.c | Previous | Next — Previous in thread | Next in thread | Find similar | Unroll thread

Thread

Performance of hand-optimised assembly Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2011-12-23 18:43 +0000
  Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly "BartC" <bc@freeuk.com> - 2011-12-23 19:40 +0000
    Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2011-12-23 21:26 +0000
      Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly "BartC" <bc@freeuk.com> - 2011-12-23 22:02 +0000
        Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2011-12-24 02:52 +0000
          Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly 88888 Dihedral <dihedral88888@googlemail.com> - 2011-12-23 20:32 -0800
            Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly "BartC" <bc@freeuk.com> - 2011-12-24 13:09 +0000
              Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly James Harris <james.harris.1@googlemail.com> - 2011-12-24 05:49 -0800
                Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly "BartC" <bc@freeuk.com> - 2011-12-24 15:30 +0000
                Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly James Harris <james.harris.1@googlemail.com> - 2011-12-24 08:15 -0800
                Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly "BartC" <bc@freeuk.com> - 2011-12-24 17:10 +0000
                Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2011-12-24 23:25 +0000
                Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly jgk@panix.com (Joe keane) - 2012-01-04 03:24 +0000
                Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2012-01-04 09:59 +0100
                Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly jgk@panix.com (Joe keane) - 2012-01-04 20:57 +0000
                Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly "BartC" <bc@freeuk.com> - 2012-01-04 23:04 +0000
                Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly Noob <root@127.0.0.1> - 2012-01-05 13:32 +0100
              Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly Philip Lantz <prl@canterey.us> - 2011-12-24 15:29 -0800
          Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly "BartC" <bc@freeuk.com> - 2011-12-24 12:42 +0000
            Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly Jens Gustedt <jens.gustedt@loria.fr> - 2011-12-24 16:58 +0100
          Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly "BartC" <bc@freeuk.com> - 2011-12-24 13:55 +0000
            Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-12-24 19:24 +0000
              Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly Geoff <geoff@invalid.invalid> - 2011-12-24 13:44 -0800
            Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly Phil Carmody <thefatphil_demunged@yahoo.co.uk> - 2011-12-29 02:53 +0200
              Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly Rui Maciel <rui.maciel@gmail.com> - 2011-12-29 02:11 +0000
  Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly jgk@panix.com (Joe keane) - 2011-12-24 01:36 +0000
  Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly "io_x" <a@b.c.invalid> - 2011-12-24 06:44 +0100
    Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly "io_x" <a@b.c.invalid> - 2011-12-24 09:52 +0100
    Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly "io_x" <a@b.c.invalid> - 2011-12-26 08:05 +0100
      Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly 88888 Dihedral <dihedral88888@googlemail.com> - 2011-12-26 11:52 -0800
        Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly "io_x" <a@b.c.invalid> - 2011-12-27 07:28 +0100
  Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly Willem <willem@toad.stack.nl> - 2011-12-24 12:48 +0000
    Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly 88888 Dihedral <dihedral88888@googlemail.com> - 2011-12-24 04:56 -0800
    Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2011-12-24 23:39 +0000
  Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly James Harris <james.harris.1@googlemail.com> - 2011-12-24 06:01 -0800
    Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly "BartC" <bc@freeuk.com> - 2011-12-24 14:55 +0000
      Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly James Harris <james.harris.1@googlemail.com> - 2011-12-28 03:46 -0800
        Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly 88888 Dihedral <dihedral88888@googlemail.com> - 2011-12-28 04:52 -0800
    Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2011-12-25 00:07 +0000
      Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly James Harris <james.harris.1@googlemail.com> - 2011-12-28 03:21 -0800
        Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly "BartC" <bc@freeuk.com> - 2011-12-28 13:19 +0000
          Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2011-12-28 16:01 +0000
            Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly "BartC" <bc@freeuk.com> - 2011-12-28 17:45 +0000
              Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly 88888 Dihedral <dihedral88888@googlemail.com> - 2011-12-28 18:56 -0800
            Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly Phil Carmody <thefatphil_demunged@yahoo.co.uk> - 2011-12-29 03:32 +0200
            Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2012-01-25 17:03 -0800
              Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2012-01-26 22:08 +0000
                Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2012-01-31 22:20 -0800
        Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly James Kuyper <jameskuyper@verizon.net> - 2011-12-28 08:24 -0500
        Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2011-12-28 14:27 +0000
          Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2012-01-25 16:50 -0800
            Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2012-01-26 21:59 +0000
        Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly James Harris <james.harris.1@googlemail.com> - 2011-12-28 11:12 -0800
        Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly Phil Carmody <thefatphil_demunged@yahoo.co.uk> - 2011-12-29 03:12 +0200
          Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-12-29 10:02 +0100
            Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2011-12-29 12:06 +0000
            Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2012-01-25 17:07 -0800
              Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly Phil Carmody <thefatphil_demunged@yahoo.co.uk> - 2012-02-13 01:18 +0200
                Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2012-03-08 10:54 -0800
          Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-12-29 10:02 +0100
          Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly "BartC" <bc@freeuk.com> - 2011-12-29 12:06 +0000
            Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-12-29 11:44 -0800
            Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2012-01-25 17:23 -0800
          Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly James Harris <james.harris.1@googlemail.com> - 2011-12-29 08:37 -0800
            Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly Phil Carmody <thefatphil_demunged@yahoo.co.uk> - 2012-01-05 22:19 +0200
  Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly James Dow Allen <gmail@jamesdowallen.nospam> - 2011-12-24 16:21 +0000
    Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly Weland <weland@otaku.freeshell.org> - 2011-12-25 10:54 +0000
  Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly "christian.bau" <christian.bau@cbau.wanadoo.co.uk> - 2011-12-24 14:52 -0800
  Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-12-25 20:12 +0100
    Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly 88888 Dihedral <dihedral88888@googlemail.com> - 2011-12-25 11:36 -0800
      Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-12-25 21:35 +0100
        Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly Stephen Sprunk <stephen@sprunk.org> - 2011-12-26 14:24 -0600
          Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-12-26 21:36 +0100
            Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly Stephen Sprunk <stephen@sprunk.org> - 2012-01-04 11:59 -0600
              Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2012-01-04 20:22 +0100
                Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly Dann Corbit <dcorbit@connx.com> - 2012-01-04 12:59 -0800
                Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly James Harris <james.harris.1@googlemail.com> - 2012-01-04 15:32 -0800
                Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly Stephen Sprunk <stephen@sprunk.org> - 2012-01-05 23:47 -0600
                Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2012-01-04 22:47 +0000
                Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2012-01-05 00:47 +0100
                Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2012-01-05 00:22 +0000
                Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly 88888 Dihedral <dihedral88888@googlemail.com> - 2012-01-04 23:44 -0800
                Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly "BartC" <bc@freeuk.com> - 2012-01-05 12:16 +0000
                Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly "BartC" <bc@freeuk.com> - 2012-01-05 12:49 +0000
                Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly jgk@panix.com (Joe keane) - 2012-01-05 21:26 +0000
                Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly "io_x" <a@b.c.invalid> - 2012-01-07 10:32 +0100
                Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2012-01-05 00:58 +0100
                Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly 88888 Dihedral <dihedral88888@googlemail.com> - 2012-01-05 13:39 -0800
                Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly 88888 Dihedral <dihedral88888@googlemail.com> - 2012-01-07 02:15 -0800
                Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly 88888 Dihedral <dihedral88888@googlemail.com> - 2012-01-10 01:07 -0800
                Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly jgk@panix.com (Joe keane) - 2012-01-07 00:49 +0000
                Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2012-01-07 08:54 +0100
                Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2012-01-07 10:11 +0100
                Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly "io_x" <a@b.c.invalid> - 2012-01-07 10:51 +0100
                Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly jgk@panix.com (Joe keane) - 2012-01-07 20:09 +0000
        Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly Stephen Sprunk <stephen@sprunk.org> - 2012-01-06 23:39 -0600
          Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2012-01-07 10:33 +0100
            Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly Stephen Sprunk <stephen@sprunk.org> - 2012-01-07 07:36 -0600
              Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2012-01-07 21:03 +0000
                Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly Stephen Sprunk <stephen@sprunk.org> - 2012-01-07 16:42 -0600
    Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly "BartC" <bc@freeuk.com> - 2011-12-25 20:23 +0000
      Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-12-25 21:50 +0100
        Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly "BartC" <bc@freeuk.com> - 2011-12-25 22:10 +0000
      Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly 88888 Dihedral <dihedral88888@googlemail.com> - 2011-12-25 13:11 -0800
        Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly "BartC" <bc@freeuk.com> - 2011-12-25 22:07 +0000
          Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly 88888 Dihedral <dihedral88888@googlemail.com> - 2011-12-25 16:39 -0800
  Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly "io_x" <a@b.c.invalid> - 2011-12-26 05:55 +0100
    Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly "io_x" <a@b.c.invalid> - 2012-02-17 17:58 +0100
  Re: Performance of hand-optimised assembly "Wolfgang.Draxinger" <Wolfgang.Draxinger@physik.uni-muenchen.de> - 2012-01-10 18:00 +0100

csiph-web