[comp.benchmarks] Benchmark performance ratios

guru@ut-emx.uucp (chen liehgong) (11/18/90)

I have a few queries regarding benchmark performance ratios.

1. If the benchmark consists of a set of programs (eg. the 
livermore loops) is the overall performance ratio of the architecture
under test (as compared to a standard one) calculated as the 
harmonic mean of the performance ratios (say speed-ups) obtained 
for each program (or livermore loop)? If so, Why is the harmonic mean
used instead of the arithmetic or geometric means?

2. If different kinds of benchmarks (eg. integer performance, floating-
point performance or livermore loops, whetstones and dhrystones) are 
used, how is the overall performance ratio (speed-up) calculated? i.e.,
Which mean (AM, GM or HM) should be used?

3. If the performance ratio is changed (say from speed-up to percentage
decrease in execution time - in clock cycles) do the answers to 1 and 2
above, remain the same?

4. What are some of the performance ratios that are used in
comparing two architectures? I can think of only two, viz., speed-up
and percentage decrease in execution time.

-guru@emx.utexas.edu