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Text File
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1991-02-20
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428 lines
PC Magazine Labs Benchmarks Release 5.6 - README File
-----------------------------------------------------
INTRODUCTION
------------
Welcome to Release 5.6 of the PC LABS BENCHMARK SERIES. In this
release we have incorporated a new 80486 Instruction Mix Test and
the ability to save a comma delimited results file. The Extended Memory
Test has been renamed to the BIOS Extended Memory Test to more
accurately describe its function. See the description of this test for
more details. We have also included detection of a 1004 error code
(Sector Not Found) in the DOS Disk Access Test and allowed the DOS Disk
Access and BIOS Disk Seek tests to automatically recover and continue
after a seek error.
This file contains a brief description of each of the benchmark
tests. The file BENEXEC.TXT describes how to execute the tests and
may be viewed by selecting Execution from the BENCHINS menu or using
DOS commands to COPY, TYPE, or PRINT it.
The benchmark files are distributed in a compressed format and should
be installed by selecting Installation from the BENCHINS menu.
DESCRIPTIONS OF TESTS
---------------------
SYSTEM INFORMATION
PC Labs' MicroScope looks "under the hood" of your machine and displays
important information about its configuration. Each section of the
screen expands when selected to show even more detail. Memory, device
drivers, disk drives, processor type and speed are some of the
information MicroScope makes available. The current configuration can
also be saved in a disk file for future review.
PROCESSOR PERFORMANCE TESTS
PLEASE NOTE: Since the execution speed of microcomputers is incredibly
fast, the functions described in the Processor Performance Tests are
performed many times in a loop to produce the published results. While
the number of iterations varies from test to test, they are consistant
within each test when testing different machines.
INSTRUCTION MIX
---------------
The Instruction Mix benchmark test times a series of tasks specific to
the 8088, 80286, or 80386 chip. Since this test shows how the CPU
operates in the context of the bus, processor, system memory, and
motherboard architecture, a faster time means better overall computer
performance.
80486 INSTRUCTION MIX <--- NEW <<
---------------------
This test, based upon the test above, contains additional instructions
unique to the 80486 chip.
128K NOP LOOP
-------------
The 128K NOP Loop benchmark test times the execution of a loop
containing 128K of NOP instructions.
DO-NOTHING LOOP
---------------
The Do-nothing Loop benchmark test times the execution of a loop
containing one NOP instruction.
INTEGER ADD
-----------
The Integer Add benchmark test times the execution of a loop
containing an ADD instruction.
INTEGER MULTIPLY
----------------
The Integer Multiply benchmark test times the execution of a loop
containing a IMUL instruction.
STRING SORT AND MOVE
--------------------
The String Sort and Move benchmark test times the execution of a
bubble sort performed on 200 random strings containing 16 characters
each.
PRIME NUMBER SIEVE
------------------
The Prime Number Sieve benchmark test times the execution of a routine
to find the prime numbers between 0 and 8190.
FLOATING POINT MIX
------------------
The Floating Point Mix (also known as the Floating Point Calculation
Without Coprocessor) benchmark test sets up a floating point emulation
program in RAM and then exercises the processor and tests RAM access
speeds during floating point calculations. The floating point
processes performed are identical to those used in the Coprocessor
Test.
COPROCESSOR PERFORMANCE TESTS
COPROCESSOR SPEED TEST
----------------------
The Coprocessor Speed benchmark test exercises the coprocessor using
the same floating point calculations used in the Floating Point Mix
Test. In addition to testing the speed differences of coprocessors in
different machines, the speed gained by using a coprocessor can be
seen by comparing the two floating point tests on the same machine.
DISK PERFORMANCE TESTS
BIOS DISK SEEK
--------------
The BIOS Disk Seek benchmark test measures mechanical track-to-track
disk drive access times. Fast times are helpful with programs such as
databases, which often store and must later find data in many separate
places on a drive. Both sequential and random access is tested.
DOS DISK ACCESS
---------------
The DOS Disk Access benchmark test measures the time necessary to
perform 1000 read requests at random locations on the disk via DOS
calls.
NOTE: If a seek error occurs in either of the above tests a message
---- will appear for a few seconds, a replacement sector will be chosen
and the test will continue. This is NOT necessarily an indication
of a bad disk drive. These tests access sectors which may have
been legitimately locked out during the formatting of the drive.
If you suspect a problem with your drive use a diagnostic program
to test the drive.
DOS FILE ACCESS
---------------
The DOS File Access (Small and Large Records) benchmark test times
disk throughput as a result of mechanical disk drive speed, hard disk
controller function, and bus speed. The test may be used to show the
effects of disk caching by running both with and without a cache. Fast
times for a particular record length are advantageous when working
with an application that uses a similar record length.
DOS VARIABLE SIZE FILE ACCESS
-----------------------------
The DOS Variable File Access (Small and Large Records) benchmark test
is similar to the DOS File Access test and has been designed primarily
for testing hardware and software disk caches. The small record size
is 200 bytes and the large record size is 2048 bytes. File sizes range
from 300 to 19,200 records for small records and 30 to 1,920 records
for large records.
VIDEO PERFORMANCE TESTS
DIRECT SCREEN ACCESS
--------------------
The Direct Screen Access benchmark test times the writing of data
directly into screen memory. Fast times are advantageous for
application programs that bypass slower BIOS and DOS calls and write
directly to the screen.
TELETYPE WITHOUT SCROLLING
--------------------------
The Teletype Without Scrolling benchmark test times the writing of
data to the screen using BIOS calls. Fast times are advantageous for
programs that display large amounts of data in a non-scrolling
fashion.
TELETYPE WITH SCROLLING
-----------------------
The Teletype With Scrolling benchmark test times the writing of data
to the screen using BIOS calls but adds the time necessary to scroll
the entire screen up one line at a time once the screen is initially
filled. This test writes the same amount of data as the non-scrolling
test. The difference between the two times indicates the overhead
attributable to scrolling the screen. Fast times are advantageous for
application programs that frequently cause the screen to scroll.
MEMORY PERFORMANCE TESTS
------------------------
The Memory Performance benchmark tests indicate the time needed to read
and write data to conventional, expanded, and extended memory areas.
Due to advances in the 80386 and 80486 processor chips, the results
obtained using the Extended Memory tests with this processor are not
indicative of all programs using extended memory on 80386 and 80486
machines. The test uses the BIOS function for switching in and out of
Protected Mode. The BIOS call is not commonly used to perform this
function on a these machines. The test has been renamed the BIOS
Extended Memory Test to indicate its specific use of the BIOS functions.
PRINTER SPEED TEST
------------------
The Printer Speed benchmark test times the throughput of your printer
by printing a typical two-page business letter. Because this is a
throughput test, our results are almost always slower than the speeds
claimed by manufacturers, who usually clock a one line "burst" speed.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Additional information may be found accompanying reviews in PC
Magazine. If you have any specific questions or suggestions, please
send them along with your registration form or in a separate letter
addressed to: PC Labs Benchmark Registration, 1 Park Avenue, New
York, NY, 10016. PC MagNet is also an excellent source of information
as well as a place to post questions.
Thank you for using the PC Labs Benchmark Series Release 5.6.
Sincerely,
C. James Galley III
Director, PC Labs
PC Magazine Labs Benchmarks Release 5.6 - Execution Instructions
----------------------------------------------------------------
STARTING THE BENCH.EXE PROGRAM
------------------------------
To run the main benchmarks program:
. make the directory containing the
benchmark programs the current
directory.
. type "BENCH" (without the quotes).
You may use the following command line parameters:
GO bypasses the initial logo screens.
AUTO starts the benchmarks in automatic mode. The processor tests
will cycle through one at a time. This option uses the
BENCH.KEY file. NOTE: A reboot is required to end AUTO mode.
LCD Uses black and white attributes. Use for forcing better display
legibility on laptop computers.
For example, "BENCH GO" will execute the benchmark program and bypass
the initial logo.
MENU OPERATIONS
FILE MENU
---------
The "Save results" selection allows you to save the test results in a
file on your disk. You will have the ability to change the machine
description (See SET MENU) and the name of the file. The file will be
saved in the current directory and will overwrite an old file with the
same name. Be sure not to use the same file name when running the
MicroScope utility.
The "Save results to .CSV" selection is similar to the "Save results"
selection except that the data is stored in comma delimited format for
importing into a database or spreadsheet program. A machine id is
requested and will appear in each record so that the records for
individual machines can be located if they are loaded into a combined
database file.
The "About" selection tells about the benchmark program. The people
involved with the project over the years as well as the languages and
tools used to create the programs are listed.
The "Quit" selection terminates the benchmark program.
VIEW MENU
---------
The "Results" selection allows you to browse through the test results
on the screen. The format is the same as the results file. You can
scroll up and down using the arrow, PgUp, PgDn, Home, and End keys.
Use the Esc key to return to the main menu.
The "System Info" selection executes MicroScope - PC Labs' System
Information Utility. You have the ability to enter a file name for
MacroScope to save the description of the current configuration
of your machine. Be careful not to use the same file name you for
saving the results to disk.
PERFORMANCE MENU
----------------
The selections on this menu measure the performance capabilities of
your machine. These are the indicators of the raw power of your
machine.
The "Processor..." selection activates the Processor Performance Tests
submenu. The following tests are available:
Instruction Mix
80486 Instruction Mix
128K NOP Loop
Do-nothing Loop
Integer Add
Integer Multiply
String Sort and Move
Prime Number Sieve
Floating Point Mix
Use the space bar to "check-off" the tests you wish to run and hit the
Enter key. To abort hit the Esc key. Each of your chosen tests will be
run and the results displayed.
The "Coprocessor" selection runs the math coprocessor test. The
results are displayed at the completion of the test.
The "Disk..." selection activates the Disk Performance Tests submenu.
The following tests are available:
BIOS Disk Seek
DOS Disk Access
DOS File Access
DOS Varible Size File Access
The "Video..." selection activates the Video Performance Tests
submenu. The following tests are available:
Direct Screen Access
Teletype Without Scrolling
Teletype With Scrolling
The "Memory..." selection activates the Memory Performance Tests
submenu. The following tests are available:
Conventional Read
Conventional Write
Expanded Read
Expanded Write
BIOS Extended Read
BIOS Extended Write
The "Battery Rundown" selection executes the Battery Rundown Test.
This test will drain the battery in a laptop machine by executing
code in a loop and writing files at regular intervals. After the
battery is completely drained, the result of this test can be found
in the files RUNDOWN.001, RUNDOWN.002, and RUNDOWN.003. The longest
duration noted in these files is the result.
COMPATIBILITY MENU
------------------
The selections on this menu test the compatibility of a piece of
hardware against a published specification. At this time there is only
one choice on this menu.
The "VGA Hardware" selection is only valid if you have a VGA graphics
device. It tests your VGA adapter against the IBM standard. Any
deviations from the standard do not necessarily indicate a defective
or unusable board. Many application programs do not use all the
available features and may also contain code to correct for
deficiencies in your particular device.
QUALITY MENU
------------
The selections on this menu represent tests which must be interpreted
by the individual user. At this time there is only one choice on this
menu.
The "EGA/VGA Monitor" selection allows you to display various test
patterns on your EGA or VGA Monitor using different display modes. The
results will depend on your tastes with respect to size of characters,
text readability, brightness, and contract as well as color
perception.
SET MENU
--------
The "Enter info..." selection allows you to enter a name for the
machine being tested. Up to 25 characters are available. The name you
enter will appear on results screens as well as in the results file.
HELP MENU
---------
The "Help" selection presents a menu of help topics. Select the topic
to view and hit the Enter key. Hit the Enter key again to return to
the menu.
The "Timer accuracy" selection allows you to test the accuracy of the
internal system timer. By comparing the internal timer to an external
time base, such as a stop watch, you can see if the results derived by
the tests are valid for your machine. A correction factor is displayed
to allow you to adjust for any inaccuracies in your timer.