Measure computer computation power

[Dantzig]

Hi!

 

I want to measure the computational power (CPU wise) of a couple of different laptops and servers. For context, the problem arose at work, but I have rabbit-holed deep into understanding the root cause. I have several algorithms ranging from sorting algorithms, machine learning training (not GPU-supported for now) and complex operations research algorithms (Traveling Salesman, etc. some single-threaded for now - others multi-threaded).  

 

What I see when running on my gaming pc, work laptop, work server etc is a muddy picture where it is somewhat hard to say a priori what setup is best suited (fastest) for a particular algorithm. The subjects are running macOS/windows/UNIX-based distro's, so basically everything is represented.

 

I guess it makes sense to divide tests into single- and multi-threaded applications, but how would you tests this (if not installing all my different algorithms etc. and test directly). Cinebench seems not to have a UNIX installation. More math-focused stuff like LinPack might be a possibility?

 

How would you approach this?

 

 

[YoungBlade]

Do you want to measure the system power consumption or just the CPU power consumption? If the former, get a watt meter as your first step. If the latter, good luck figuring out how to do that for each of the laptops. Your best bet would probably be software monitoring in that case, which isn't ideal but won't require soldering and unsoldering stuff inside a laptop.

[Fasauceome]

31 minutes ago, YoungBlade said:

Do you want to measure the system power consumption or just the CPU power consumption? If the former, get a watt meter as your first step. If the latter, good luck figuring out how to do that for each of the laptops. Your best bet would probably be software monitoring in that case, which isn't ideal but won't require soldering and unsoldering stuff inside a laptop.

I believe OP is actually referring to stress testing and performance, as opposed to literal power, and would like suggestions compatible with Unix (I think) in addition to Mac or windows.

[YoungBlade]

3 hours ago, Fasauceome said:

I believe OP is actually referring to stress testing and performance, as opposed to literal power, and would like suggestions compatible with Unix (I think) in addition to Mac or windows.

In that case, you'd need to pick cross-platform benchmark applications that are representative of the types of workload being done. My first thought would be 7-Zip and doing the benchmark with all cores and then limiting it to one thread.

[Dantzig]

4 hours ago, Fasauceome said:

I believe OP is actually referring to stress testing and performance, as opposed to literal power, and would like suggestions compatible with Unix (I think) in addition to Mac or windows.

Sorry, yea the number of calculations (didn't use the term flops because I was actually not sure if this would cover all my use cases)

[Dantzig]

51 minutes ago, YoungBlade said:

In that case, you'd need to pick cross-platform benchmark applications that are representative of the types of workload being done. My first thought would be 7-Zip and doing the benchmark with all cores and then limiting it to one thread.

Excellent and simple suggestion!