Conference hydra::axp-developer

3170.0. "IBR - Point 19343" by RDGENG::ASAP () Mon Feb 10 1997 06:02

    Company Name :  IBR
    Contact Name :  Gerd Heupel
    Phone        :  0049 (0)228 979850
    Fax          :  0049 (0)2289798555
    Email        :  
    Date/Time in :  10-FEB-1997 11:01:30
    Entered by   :  Dave Hague
    SPE center   :  REO

    Category     :  NT
    OS Version   :  3.51
    System H/W   :  Alpha XL266


    Brief Description of Problem:
    -----------------------------

From:	NAME: ESCTECH@ILO         
	TEL: (822-)6704         
	ADDR: ILO                 <dlennon@ESSC@ILO>
To:	ASAP@RDGENG@MRGATE


Hello - 

Apologies for the delay in forwarding this, but unfortunately through a mixture
of illness and holiday arrangements we have a lack of German resources. The
request was received by fax, and we have been held up in translating the
details. Can you please supply a fax-no., as there are some compiler commands
included that have not been translated.

POINT Log Number	 19343

Company Name 	IBR

Engineers name	Gerd Heupel

Telephone Number  0049 (0)228 979850

Fax Number		0049 (0)2289798555

E-mail Address	

Operating System, Version	Windows NT V3.51

Platform			Alpha

Problem Statement		

We are porting a graphic application with approx.6000 modules of source codes
(90% Fortran,8% C++,2% C) on DEC/Alpha with operating systems Windows NT 3.51.

The application is running on a DEC Alpha XL266.

A speed comparison to an Intel PC with 166 Mhz Pentium Processor,by which  the
code was fully compiled without optimisation,gave no measureable difference.

Question:
Kann one achieve an improvement of preformance on DEC Alpha through the use of
other compiler switches?

Gerd,

I am assuming you are using Visual C++ 4.x and Digital Fortran 1.2 for Alpha NT. If
not then you should think about upgrading to the lattest versions.

I don't believe that by altering the compile flags you will increase performance
dramatically. I am assuming you are compiling with full optimisation enabled.

I would look to use one of the performance tools from the Windows NT resource kit to 
gage application bottlenecks.

A couple of white papers may help (These are available on the Internet), The first give
specific Alpha performance tunning checklist -- look at possible alignment problems. 

	- Windows NT Performance Tuning Tips/checklist
	- Integrating DEC Fortran Version 1.2 for Windows NT Alpha and Visual C++ 4.0

http://www.partner.digital.com/www-swdev/pages/Home/TECH/documents/WNT-papers.html.
	
If you find that the application is CPU bound and you have checked the Alpha performance
checklist white paper. You may want to consider upgrading/testing the performance of other 
more powerful Alpha machines. 

The Alpha XL 266 has been replaced with the Alpha XL 300/333 or there are other more 
powerful Alpha workstation machine available. The alpha range is located on:

http:\\www.alphastation.digital.com

If the application bottleneck is not CPU for example: Graphics or Disk-subsystem then 
this should be investigated.

I hope this gives you enough information to start the performance investigation.

regards,
Dave Hague
Software Partner Engineering.

e-mail: [email protected]