The processor _can_ make a large difference in mathematical computations, but quite a few of you seem to be assuming that the computational program is going to be written in a high-level language, and begin speaking of threading. What you seem to be forgetting is that for raw number crunching you need to get all of the redundant awkward arrgh-stupid-compiler code out of the way and (are you sitting down?) learn assembly....Preferably for an architecture designed with fp-math in mind, unlike intel or amd (superfluous graphical instructions all around). High-level is fine for huge apps with lots of "features," but to find the next largest prime in your lifetime, you have to convert to binary and get the nose to the proverbial grindstone.
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Test. Before. Committing. You break the build, you don't go home until it's fixed.
The processor _can_ make a large difference in mathematical computations, but quite a few of you seem to be assuming that the computational program is going to be written in a high-level language, and begin speaking of threading. What you seem to be forgetting is that for raw number crunching you need to get all of the redundant awkward arrgh-stupid-compiler code out of the way and (are you sitting down?) learn assembly. ...Preferably for an architecture designed with fp-math in mind, unlike intel or amd (superfluous graphical instructions all around). High-level is fine for huge apps with lots of "features," but to find the next largest prime in your lifetime, you have to convert to binary and get the nose to the proverbial grindstone.