INTEL news release --- Java Performance.
biz.yahoo.com
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Wednesday April 16 8:01 AM EDT
Tests show Java runs fastest on Intel processors
Published findings show the world's most popular processors are best for Java
SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 16, 1997--Intel Corporation today made publicly available test results that show the Java(a) programming language runs best on Intel Architecture processors.
In benchmark tests addressing Java performance on various systems, a 100MHz Pentium(r) processor-based system was 1.5 to 2 times faster than systems with processors from other vendors. Higher speed Intel Architecture processor-based systems showed even higher performance. The findings, published in an Intel white paper entitled "Java Performance," derive from tests Intel conducted using the CaffeineMark(a) benchmark. Created and maintained by Pendragon Software, the CaffeineMark serves as the computing industry standard for Java performance measurement
Benefits for Customers
The findings are expected to be welcome news to customers at two levels. Computer users, who have made Intel processors the most widely used processors in the world, can continue working and playing on Intel-based products, confident they're seeing top performance from Java applications. Application developers, who have embraced Java as a means of adding excitement to their products, can create innovative new software knowing it can reach the largest cadre of computing customers.
While conventional wisdom suggests PC gamers may be the first to gain from the speed Intel processors bring to Java applications, some of the greatest beneficiaries may be in business computing. During his keynote speech at last week's Innovate '97 conference in Houston, Texas, Dr. Andrew S. Grove, chief executive officer of Intel, presented a demonstration of the Pentium processor's Java power in a business environment. An engineering prototype of a Networked PC (Net PC) with a Pentium II processor performed visibly faster than a Sun Microsystems JavaStation* with both systems running a standard version of Corel Office for Java.
"Because Java is playing a key role in applications for computing, Intel is providing the best computing environment for Java," said Pat Gelsinger, vice president and general manager of Intel's Desktop Products Group. "Businesses can accelerate their use of multimedia through exciting Java applications and, at the same time, be assured they're getting top Java performance from the solid Intel Architecture their computing systems are already built on."
Great Java Performance Today, Even Greater Tomorrow
The high level of performance demonstrated by Intel Architecture-based computers results from more than the inherent power of Intel processors. For the last two years, teams of Intel software engineers have been actively engaged in a number of projects directed at tuning the performance of the Java language on the Intel Architecture. Intel has made enhancements to the Java virtual machine, software that interprets Java code into machine code.
"Java system performance, as measured by the CaffeineMark, often depends more on the Java virtual machine software than on the hardware," said Ivan Phillips, president of Pendragon Software Corporation. "Due to the intense competition in the Java compiler market for Windows(a) PCs, today's fastest implementations of Java run on the Intel Architecture."
Such performance tuning can produce a huge effect on application performance. Although it is not widely known outside the developer community, applications created with the platform-independent approach of the Java language still rely upon virtual machine code, which must be adapted to each individual processor type.
Intel has also been active in developing high-performance implementations of audio and video for use by Java developers seeking to enrich multimedia and Internet applications. The company exhibited its media for Java at the JavaOne Developers Conference earlier this month.
Because the Intel Architecture is the most popular in the world, Intel's software improvements will be amplified by engineers around the globe. The new and effective Java software that developers create to run on Intel Architecture-based computers will take advantage of Intel performance features while delivering collateral enhancements of their own. As a result, people using Intel Architecture-based computers can expect to see more -- and more powerful -- Java applications in the months and years ahead.
Viewing Performance Results
Intel's "Java Performance" white paper is available from the Intel website at:
intel.com . Other test results can be viewed at the Pendragon Software website at: webfayre.com . These include the "world's fastest Java" using Asymetrix Corporation's SuperCede(a)-Java Edition running on a 133MHz Pentium processor-based system.
Intel, the world's largest chip maker, is also a leading manufacturer of personal computer, networking and communications products. Additional information is available at www.intel.com./pressroom .
Note to Editors: Intel and Pentium are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation.
(a) Other brands or products are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.
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The fact that Intel is using Corel Office for Java for speed tests is encouraging. Must be best-of-breed at the moment, and ahead of the competition (Konas, Applix, Star).
ah |
