Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!clyde.concordia.ca!uunet!convex!convex.COM
From: ddt@convex.COM (David Taylor)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.super
Subject: Re: SPEC benchmarks for supercomputer
Message-ID: <103722@convex.convex.com>
Date: 6 Jul 90 16:43:18 GMT
Sender: news@convex.com
Distribution: comp
Organization: Convex Computer Corporation; Richardson, TX
Lines: 25

Did that event cover the SPECthruput or just the SPECmark?  The SPECthruput is
the latest addition to the SPEC benchmark suite, and is tailored specifically
for multi-headed, larger machines.  The test is as follows:

  If N is the number of CPUS you have in your system, then you run 2 copies
of the same benchmark on each head, i.e. if N=4, you run 8 copies of a single
benchmark simultaneously on the system.  You record the time it takes from
the beginning of the first program to the end of the last program.
  You repeat this process for each of the 10 benchmarks, take the geometric
mean of the runtimes, and generate the SPECthruput by taking the ratio of
the VAX 11/780's geometric mean over the system under test's (SUT) geometric
mean.  However, looking at the results of the individual benchmarks really
says much more about the system because the benchmarks do cover a fairly
large range of applications.

So far, they've published results for the SPECthruput mainly on faster
minis and workstations, not many mainframes or (any?) supers.  But, I don't
see why it couldn't work out.  

	=-ddt->
--

     David D. Taylor, Esq, Performance Measurement Intern, Convex. (whew!)
         (214) 497-4860, ddt@convex.com or ddt@vondrake.cc.utexas.edu
                    Remember, flatulation is only natural.