--------------------------------------------------------- DSPSpeed, ProStationAudio's official benchmark tool http://www.audiolabs.it/dspspeed (copyright 2001 AudioLabs, freely distributable) http://www.audiolabs.it --------------------------------------------------------- Overview This benchmark tool is aimed at accurately measuring the performaces of an host enviroment capable of running the ProStationAudio realtime application for AmigaOS. The host enviroment is defined as an hardware/software combination capable of running an operating system 100% compatible with AmigaOS3.x (native or emulated) and 68K applications (native or emulated). Examples of valid host enviroments are: native Amiga 68K hardware with AmigaOS, Amiga emulators on x86 hardware, PowerPc boards for Amiga with MorphOS (*), stand-alone PowerPc systems running MorphOS like Bplan's Pegasos (*), more. The original Amiga chipset (real or emulated) is not needed (ProStationAudio doesn't need it). Benchmark results are presented as normalized values, where higher figures mean better speed. (*) ProStationAudio includes optional PowerPc code that MorphOS can run natively. PowerPc code is NOT present in this tool so actual performaces on MorphOS are higher than measured by this benchmark. You can reliably compare results among any host enviroments excluding those providing PowerPc hardware. With PowerPc hardware, results reflect only the worst-case conditions, with any other host's results reflecting sustained, stable, conditions. --------------------------------------------------------- Performances indexes: Measured performaces indexes are normalized to 100, where 100 means the actual speed on a real 68060 CPU (equivalent to 100%). Higher values mean better performaces. This tool proposes the following indexes: - PSA_I: measures the speed of the ProStatioAudio main application and all the plugins not using a floatig point coprocessor. - PSA_F: measures the speed of floatig point plugins (the AEQx suite of parametric EQ's and AutoFilter, as of Dec 2001). Definitely, the PSA_I index is the most representative by far. --------------------------------------------------------- Representativity: Idexes are accurately representative of performaces possible with ProStatioAudio. The tool uses actual time-critical code used by ProStatioAudio hundreds of thousands of times per second. If the benchmrk is executed in correct conditions it grants ProStatioAudio performs accordingly on the selected host enviroment. --------------------------------------------------------- Reliability: This tool uses the timer device to compute excution time. An incorrect implemetation of the timer device on the host enviroment can alter computed indexes. To avoid doubts you can time the tests yourself considering that: PSA_I requires 44 seconds on a real 68060 PSA_F requires 55 seconds on a real 68060 Lower times mean better performaces. Example: PSA_I taking 22 seconds on a host enviroment means a 200 PSA_I index, being the default 68060 PSA_I 100. PSA_I formula: 100 * 44.0/(seconds_required_on_your_host) PSA_F formula: 100 * 55.0/(seconds_required_on_your_host) --------------------------------------------------------- Multitasking: ProStatioAudio is multitask-friendly and this tool is as well. If you have other activities running at the same time you run the benchmark, you'll get lower PSA indexes. The amount of slowdown is the same that ProStatioAudio would experience if running those same activities in background. --------------------------------------------------------- Activities ignored by this benchmark: This tool doesn't meter: - on screen animations (VU meters, SMPTE counter,...). These depend on several factors and can be selectively turned off in ProStatioAudio. Their impact is not influent. - disk streaming. This factor is largely dependant on the type of disk/controller in use. The choices for these components are often independent from the preferred host enviroment. --------------------------------------------------------- Usage: Always download latest version of this tool from the official site (http://www.audiolabs.it) when possible. Versions on the official site are granted to provide exact measurements of ProStationAudio performances. If you're using an emulator, be sure it supports JIT. Run the tool, a window opens. If your host eviroment complains about the lack of a math coprocessor and it's an emulator, please check the emulator settings to enable 6888x emulation. Hit the start buttons to selectively perform tests. Running time on a 68060 CPU is 44 seconds for PSA_I and 55 seconds for PSA_F. This changes according to the host enviroment speed. Happy benchmarking.