benchmark

Benchmark tests are comparative tests used to examine the computing performance ofcentral processing units( CPU), electronic components and devices, and software under application and limit conditions with the aid of an evaluation program. It is a benchmark for comparing the performance of different data processing systems.

In order not to limit comparability to the comparison of purely technical performance data, benchmark procedures are used to measure and evaluate the turnaround time of several jobs, especially in simultaneous processing. The Standard Performance Evaluation Corporation( SPEC) has developed corresponding benchmarks for the comparability of computing performance and is constantly adapting them to the current development of central processing units and computers.

In addition to the SPEC benchmarks, there are also the Whetstone test and Dhrystone test, which are performed during an application, and the benchmarks of the Embedded Microprocessor Benchmark Consortium( EEMBC). The Whetstone benchmark measures the arithmetic computing power of coprocessors. It is about how often the coprocessor can execute small arithmetic operations within a unit of time. Dhrystone and Whetstone benchmarks are no longer frequently referenced due to their misleading measurement results and interpretations.

Besides these, there is also the Core test for determining the hard drives ' speed and the Landmark test.