shawn857
asked on
Using FastMM4... should I enable MMX option?
Dear experts, I've been using FastMM4 in my projects for some time now and it does make a significant difference in program speed. I haven't really played with the options very much but I see there is a MMX setting that will reportedly increase performance even more. Currently I have this off (see attached screenshot). Do you think it's worthwhile turning it on.... with no downside risk?
Thanks
Shawn
P.S: I use Delphi 7
FastMM4.JPG
Thanks
Shawn
P.S: I use Delphi 7
FastMM4.JPG
SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
Sometimes helps if you do some code optimization.
ASKER
Yes I have done some Sinisa... I just wondering if that FastMM4 option would be any further help.
Thanks
Shawn
Thanks
Shawn
Actually, I use FastMM in some projects and with default options I get significant speed-up (mostly in string manipulation). But I do some optimizations and pass PChar into procedures (pointer to string), then minimize string manipulation (s := s + 'something' lots of time) with re-arranging algorithm ...
ASKER
Thanks Sinisa... yes good advice, I actually also do that as much as possible also.
Kimputer, you mention free the Visual Studio Express... is that Delphi/Pascal? EXE's created in that environment indeed run faster?
Thanks
Shawn
Kimputer, you mention free the Visual Studio Express... is that Delphi/Pascal? EXE's created in that environment indeed run faster?
Thanks
Shawn
Microsoft's Visual Studio Express is not Delphi/Pascal. It's either Visual Basic, C++ or C#. Since it's based on newer code, it should be indeed faster.
If you really want to stick with Pascal though, there's some free products: http://www.lazarus-ide.org/index.php?page=downloads
Again, newer product, so theoratically it should perform better with newer hardware.
Obviously, if you run something as simple as one recursive math problem, no complicated code is involved, then maybe speed doesn't matter at all between older and newer compilers.
If you really want to stick with Pascal though, there's some free products: http://www.lazarus-ide.org/index.php?page=downloads
Again, newer product, so theoratically it should perform better with newer hardware.
Obviously, if you run something as simple as one recursive math problem, no complicated code is involved, then maybe speed doesn't matter at all between older and newer compilers.
ASKER
Thank you guys!
Cheers
Shawn
Cheers
Shawn
ASKER
"MMX is currently only used in the variable size move routines, so if UseCustomVariableSizeMoveR
So that made me have a look at the UseCustomVariableSizeMoveR
"Disable this option when using the Fastcode move ("FastMove") library."
And I *do* in fact use the FastCode/FastMove in my app - so I thought turning this off should help. Anyway, I tried 3 different configurations and timing tests:
(1) My original settings which were EnableMMX OFF and UseCustomVariableSizeMoveR
(2) Then I tried EnableMMX ON (with ForceMMX OFF), and UseCustomVariableSizeMoveR
(3) Then finally I set EnableMMX OFF and also UseCustomVariableSizeMoveR
Seems I was best off with my original settings. Maybe I'll just leave well enough alone!
Shawn