Historical Performance Benchmarks

Introduction

The specific benchmark used was a molecular dynamics simulation which involved simulating a calcium aluminosilicate glass consisting of 6500 atoms at room temperature under atmospheric pressure for 25,000 timesteps, or 25ps. The radial cutoff distance was 5.5 Å. All of the data was able to fit into the physical RAM of each system, resulting in no swapping. However, the simulation code used tabulates the potentials and forces rather than recalculating them at each time step, making the performance depend heavily on memory performance (latency and bandwidth) and the cache hierarchy in addition to floating point arithmetic.

All binaries were compiled with optimizations for the platform on which the benchmark was being run, including any special SIMD instruction sets that the compiler could generate on its own. There are differences in the optimizations performed by the compilers, but I've tried to use each compiler's most sensible set of optimization options. To see the exact options I used for each benchmark, in addition to a plethora of other metadata, you can view the raw data used to generate this page in my website's git repository.

Here is a graphical respresentation of the performance data:

Some measurements below also have an "Optimized Time" column. This measurement was made on a version of the application that periodically sorts the atomic positions in memory to increase cache hit rate. Because this optimization was not available at the time I started doing these benchmarks, many of the older systems do not have it.

SPARC Processors

System	Processor	Clock	Time (sec)
Sun Ultra 10	UltraSPARC IIi	1 × 360 MHz	5829
Sun Enterprise 4500	UltraSPARC II	1 × 400 MHz	5639
Sun Netra T1	UltraSPARC IIi	1 × 440 MHz	5686
Sun Ultra 60	UltraSPARC II	1 × 360 MHz	5561
Sun Ultra 60	UltraSPARC II	1 × 450 MHz	4974
Sun Blade 100	UltraSPARC IIe	1 × 500 MHz	8634
Sun Fire v100	UltraSPARC IIi	1 × 548 MHz	5640
Sun Blade 150	UltraSPARC IIi	1 × 550 MHz	5249
Sun Blade 150	UltraSPARC IIi	1 × 650 MHz	5023
Sun Blade 1000	UltraSPARC III	1 × 750 MHz	2520
Sun Blade 1000	UltraSPARC III Cu	1 × 900 MHz	2030
Sun Fire v210	UltraSPARC IIIi	1 × 1.0 GHz	2053
Sun Blade 1500 (Red)	UltraSPARC IIIi	1 × 1.1 GHz	1862
Sun Fire v240	UltraSPARC IIIi	1 × 1.5 GHz	1558
Sun Blade 1500 (Silver)	UltraSPARC IIIi	1 × 1.5 GHz	1501
Sun Blade 2500 (Silver)	UltraSPARC IIIi	1 × 1.6 GHz	1428

MIPS Processors

System	Processor	Clock	Time (sec)
SGI O2	MIPS R5000	1 × 180 MHz	25299
SGI O2	MIPS R10000	1 × 195 MHz	14064
SGI Indigo2	MIPS R10000	1 × 195 MHz	8438
SGI Octane	MIPS R10000	1 × 225 MHz	5744
SGI Fuel	MIPS R14000	1 × 500 MHz	2507
SGI Fuel	MIPS R14000	1 × 600 MHz	1787

POWER/PowerPC Processors

System	Processor	Clock	Time (sec)
IBM RS/6000 43p 150	PowerPC 604e	1 × 375 MHz	10889
Apple Power Mac G4	PowerPC 7450	1 × 733 MHz	7291
Apple Power Mac G4	PowerPC 7450	1 × 933 MHz	4533
Apple Power Mac G5	PowerPC 970	1 × 1.6 GHz	2317
IBM Blue Gene/P	PowerPC 450	1 × 850 MHz	3030
IBM Blue Gene/P	PowerPC 450	4 × 850 MHz	1720
IBM Power 550 Express	POWER6	1 × 4.2 GHz	646
IBM Power 550 Express	POWER6	4 × 4.2 GHz	414

PA-RISC Processors

System	Processor	Clock	Time (sec)
HP C8000	PA-8800	1 × 1.0 GHz	801

Itanium Processors

System	Processor	Clock	Time (sec)	Optimized Time (sec)
HP rx2600	Itanium 2 900	1 × 900 MHz	1294	1212
HP rx2600	Itanium 2 900	2 × 900 MHz	1094	986

ARM Processors

System	Processor	Clock	Time (sec)	Optimized Time (sec)
Raspberry Pi Model B	ARM1176JZF-S	1 × 700 MHz	16459	10000
BeagleBone Black Rev C	ARM Cortex-A8	1 × 1.0 GHz	9781	8213
Terasic DE10-Nano	ARM Cortex-A9	1 × 800 MHz	3639	2501
Terasic DE10-Nano	ARM Cortex-A9	2 × 800 MHz	3203	2011
BeagleBone AI	ARM Cortex-A15	1 × 1.5 GHz	1220	1004
BeagleBone AI	ARM Cortex-A15	2 × 1.5 GHz	1146	946
Raspberry Pi 3	ARM Cortex-A53	1 × 1.2 GHz	2531	1463
Raspberry Pi 3	ARM Cortex-A53	2 × 1.2 GHz	2427	1489
Raspberry Pi 3	ARM Cortex-A53	4 × 1.2 GHz	2508	1939
Raspberry Pi 4	ARM Cortex-A72	1 × 1.5 GHz	879	732
Raspberry Pi 4	ARM Cortex-A72	2 × 1.5 GHz	815	592
Raspberry Pi 4	ARM Cortex-A72	3 × 1.5 GHz	939	589
Raspberry Pi 4	ARM Cortex-A72	4 × 1.5 GHz	1146	639
NVIDIA Jetson Nano	ARM Cortex-A57	1 × 1.4 GHz	876	778
NVIDIA Jetson Nano	ARM Cortex-A57	2 × 1.4 GHz	738	592
NVIDIA Jetson Nano	ARM Cortex-A57	3 × 1.4 GHz	707	541
NVIDIA Jetson Nano	ARM Cortex-A57	4 × 1.4 GHz	667	528
MacBook Air M1	Apple M1/Rosetta	1 × 3.2 GHz	118	108
MacBook Air M1	Apple M1/Rosetta	2 × 3.2 GHz	93	83
MacBook Air M1	Apple M1/Rosetta	3 × 3.2 GHz	84	77
MacBook Air M1	Apple M1/Rosetta	4 × 3.2 GHz	78	73
MacBook Air M1	Apple M1/Rosetta	8 × 3.2 GHz	80	78
MacBook Air M1	Apple M1	1 × 3.2 GHz	94	86
MacBook Air M1	Apple M1	2 × 3.2 GHz	73	67
MacBook Air M1	Apple M1	3 × 3.2 GHz	66	61
MacBook Air M1	Apple M1	4 × 3.2 GHz	61	59
MacBook Air M1	Apple M1	8 × 3.2 GHz	65	65
MacBook Pro M1 Pro	Apple M1 Pro	1 × 3.2 GHz	93	106
MacBook Pro M1 Pro	Apple M1 Pro	2 × 3.2 GHz	72	65
MacBook Pro M1 Pro	Apple M1 Pro	4 × 3.2 GHz	60	60
MacBook Pro M1 Pro	Apple M1 Pro	6 × 3.2 GHz	60	61
MacBook Pro M1 Pro	Apple M1 Pro	8 × 3.2 GHz	63	64
D64pls_v5	Ampere Altra Q80-30	1 × 3.0 GHz	212	195
D64pls_v5	Ampere Altra Q80-30	2 × 3.0 GHz	163	148
D64pls_v5	Ampere Altra Q80-30	3 × 3.0 GHz	144	136
D64pls_v5	Ampere Altra Q80-30	4 × 3.0 GHz	136	134
D64pls_v5	Ampere Altra Q80-30	8 × 3.0 GHz	144	145
D64pls_v5	Ampere Altra Q80-30	16 × 3.0 GHz	196	197
D64pls_v5	Ampere Altra Q80-30	32 × 3.0 GHz	313	310
D64pls_v5	Ampere Altra Q80-30	64 × 3.0 GHz	548	557
D96pls_v5	Microsoft Cobalt 100	1 × 3.4 GHz	140	120
D96pls_v5	Microsoft Cobalt 100	2 × 3.4 GHz	104	92
D96pls_v5	Microsoft Cobalt 100	3 × 3.4 GHz	90	85
D96pls_v5	Microsoft Cobalt 100	4 × 3.4 GHz	85	83
D96pls_v5	Microsoft Cobalt 100	8 × 3.4 GHz	93	92
D96pls_v5	Microsoft Cobalt 100	16 × 3.4 GHz	122	122
D96pls_v5	Microsoft Cobalt 100	32 × 3.4 GHz	187	184
D96pls_v5	Microsoft Cobalt 100	48 × 3.4 GHz	254	255
D96pls_v5	Microsoft Cobalt 100	96 × 3.4 GHz	507	500

x86 Processors

System	Processor	Clock	Time (sec)	Optimized Time (sec)
Dell Inspiron 8100	Pentium III M	1 × 1.1 GHz	3680
Tyan MPX S2466	Athlon MP 1900+	1 × 1.6 GHz	3660
Dell OptiPlex GX260	Pentium 4 (Northwood)	1 × 1.8 GHz	2170
Dell OptiPlex GX260	Pentium 4 (Northwood)	1 × 2.4 GHz	1661
Gateway E-4650	Pentium 4 (Northwood)	1 × 2.2 GHz	1743
Dell PowerEdge 2850	Xeon 2.8 (Nocona)	1 × 2.8 GHz	974
-	Pentium D	1 × 3.2 GHz	929
Asus Z70va	Pentium M 760	1 × 2.0 GHz	731
Sun Fire X4100	Opteron 275	1 × 2.2 GHz	806
Sun Fire X2200 M2	Opteron 2214	1 × 2.2 GHz	873
Sun Fire X2200 M2	Opteron 2376	1 × 2.3 GHz	592
Supermicro	Opteron 2216	1 × 2.4 GHz	713
Supermicro X8DTT	Xeon X5560	1 × 2.8 GHz	304
Dell	Core 2 Duo E6700	1 × 2.7 GHz	439
Dell OptiPlex 760	Core 2 Duo E7500	1 × 2.9 GHz	346
Dell OptiPlex 990	Core i7-2600	1 × 3.4 GHz	201
HP dc7800p	Core 2 Duo E8400	1 × 3.0 GHz	318
HP e9180f	Core i7 920	1 × 2.7 GHz	334
HP ProLiant SL390s G7	Xeon X5672	1 × 3.2 GHz	310
HP ProLiant DL360 G7	Xeon X5672	1 × 3.2 GHz	308
-	Xeon X5650	1 × 2.7 GHz	316
-	Xeon X5680	1 × 3.3 GHz	313
-	Xeon W5590	1 × 3.3 GHz	273
Supermicro H8DGT	Opteron 6212	1 × 2.6 GHz	353
-	Opteron 6176	1 × 2.3 GHz	575
Supermicro SC818TQ-1400LPB	Opteron 6136	1 × 2.2 GHz	565	483
Supermicro SC818TQ-1400LPB	Opteron 6136	2 × 2.2 GHz	477	419
Supermicro SC818TQ-1400LPB	Opteron 6136	4 × 2.2 GHz	412	407
Supermicro SC818TQ-1400LPB	Opteron 6136	8 × 2.2 GHz	476	470
Appro gB222X	Xeon E5530	1 × 2.4 GHz	416
Appro gB222X	Xeon E5530	2 × 2.4 GHz	306
Appro gB222X	Xeon E5530	4 × 2.4 GHz	265
Appro gB222X	Xeon E5530	8 × 2.4 GHz	256
HP ProLiant SL230s G8	Xeon E5-2660	1 × 3.0 GHz	270
HP ProLiant SL230s G8	Xeon E5-2660	2 × 3.0 GHz	208
HP ProLiant SL230s G8	Xeon E5-2660	4 × 3.0 GHz	171
HP ProLiant SL230s G8	Xeon E5-2660	8 × 3.0 GHz	171
HP ProLiant SL230s G8	Xeon E5-2660	16 × 3.0 GHz	164
Appro gB512X	Xeon E5-2670	1 × 2.6 GHz	292	237
Appro gB512X	Xeon E5-2670	4 × 2.6 GHz	175	155
Appro gB512X	Xeon E5-2670	8 × 2.6 GHz	164	141
Dell T5600	Xeon E5-2687W	1 × 3.1 GHz	205
Dell T5600	Xeon E5-2687W	2 × 3.1 GHz	165
Dell T5600	Xeon E5-2687W	4 × 3.1 GHz	133
Dell T5600	Xeon E5-2687W	8 × 3.1 GHz	128
Dell PowerEdge C8220X	Xeon Phi SE10P	8 × 1.1 GHz	1802	1209
Dell PowerEdge C8220X	Xeon Phi SE10P	16 × 1.1 GHz	1589
Dell PowerEdge C8220X	Xeon Phi SE10P	32 × 1.1 GHz	1479	1106
Cray XC30	Xeon E5-2695 v2	1 × 2.4 GHz	279	225
Cray XC30	Xeon E5-2695 v2	2 × 2.4 GHz	216	173
Cray XC30	Xeon E5-2695 v2	4 × 2.4 GHz	180	163
Cray XC30	Xeon E5-2695 v2	6 × 2.4 GHz	176	154
Cray XC30	Xeon E5-2695 v2	12 × 2.4 GHz	163	149
Cray XC30	Xeon E5-2695 v2	24 × 2.4 GHz	166	153
Cray XC40	Xeon E5-2698 v3	1 × 2.3 GHz	232	178
Cray XC40	Xeon E5-2698 v3	2 × 2.3 GHz	176	137
Cray XC40	Xeon E5-2698 v3	4 × 2.3 GHz	150	130
Cray XC40	Xeon E5-2698 v3	8 × 2.3 GHz	150	132
Cray XC40	Xeon E5-2698 v3	16 × 2.3 GHz	149	136
Cray XC40	Xeon E5-2698 v3	32 × 2.3 GHz	152	143
-	Xeon E5-2643 v4	1 × 3.4 GHz	202	160
-	Xeon E5-2643 v4	2 × 3.4 GHz	154	122
-	Xeon E5-2643 v4	3 × 3.4 GHz	132	110
-	Xeon E5-2643 v4	6 × 3.4 GHz	116	102
Cray XC40	Xeon Phi 7250	4 × 1.4 GHz	1259	839
Cray XC40	Xeon Phi 7250	4 × 1.4 GHz	1009	774
Cray XC40	Xeon Phi 7250	4 × 1.4 GHz	858	687
Cray XC40	Xeon Phi 7250	4 × 1.4 GHz	763	667
Cray XC40	Xeon Phi 7250	4 × 1.4 GHz	725	667
Cray XC40	Xeon Phi 7250	4 × 1.4 GHz	713	674
Cray XC40	Xeon Phi 7250	4 × 1.4 GHz	744	712
Apple iMac 18,3	Core i5-7600K	1 × 3.8 GHz	189	143
Apple iMac 18,3	Core i5-7600K	2 × 3.8 GHz	125	107
Apple iMac 18,3	Core i5-7600K	4 × 3.8 GHz	115	97
Apple MacBookPro 15,2	Core i7-8559U	1 × 2.7 GHz	147	118
Apple MacBookPro 15,2	Core i7-8559U	2 × 2.7 GHz	117	98
Apple MacBookPro 15,2	Core i7-8559U	3 × 2.7 GHz	106	87
Apple MacBookPro 15,2	Core i7-8559U	4 × 2.7 GHz	97	84
-	AMD EPYC 7702	1 × 2.0 GHz	160	146
-	AMD EPYC 7702	2 × 2.0 GHz	123	112
-	AMD EPYC 7702	4 × 2.0 GHz	101	98
-	AMD EPYC 7702	8 × 2.0 GHz	106	105
-	AMD EPYC 7702	16 × 2.0 GHz	122	119
-	AMD EPYC 7702	32 × 2.0 GHz	163	163
-	AMD EPYC 7702	64 × 2.0 GHz	303	302
Mac Mini 8,2	Intel i7-8700B	1 × 3.2 GHz	169	100
Mac Mini 8,2	Intel i7-8700B	2 × 3.2 GHz	127	96
Mac Mini 8,2	Intel i7-8700B	3 × 3.2 GHz	113	96
Mac Mini 8,2	Intel i7-8700B	4 × 3.2 GHz	107	104
Mac Mini 8,2	Intel i7-8700B	6 × 3.2 GHz	109	137
Cray EX235n	AMD EPYC 7763	1 × 2.5 GHz	141	124
Cray EX235n	AMD EPYC 7763	2 × 2.5 GHz	145	121
Cray EX235n	AMD EPYC 7763	3 × 2.5 GHz	116	104
Cray EX235n	AMD EPYC 7763	4 × 2.5 GHz	114	101
Cray EX235n	AMD EPYC 7763	8 × 2.5 GHz	105	98
Cray EX235n	AMD EPYC 7763	16 × 2.5 GHz	127	118
Cray EX235n	AMD EPYC 7763	32 × 2.5 GHz	180	160
Cray EX235n	AMD EPYC 7763	64 × 2.5 GHz	237	233
Cray EX235n	AMD EPYC 7763	128 × 2.5 GHz	472	425
Lenovo P14s Gen2	Intel i7-1185G7	1 × 3.0 GHz	116	97
Lenovo P14s Gen2	Intel i7-1185G7	2 × 3.0 GHz	89	83
Lenovo P14s Gen2	Intel i7-1185G7	3 × 3.0 GHz	86	81
Lenovo P14s Gen2	Intel i7-1185G7	4 × 3.0 GHz	89	85
Lenovo P14s Gen2	Intel i7-1185G7	8 × 3.0 GHz	172	127
Intel NUC 12 Extreme	Intel i7-12700	1 × 2.1 GHz	88	82
Intel NUC 12 Extreme	Intel i7-12700	2 × 2.1 GHz	72	66
Intel NUC 12 Extreme	Intel i7-12700	4 × 2.1 GHz	61	64
Intel NUC 12 Extreme	Intel i7-12700	8 × 2.1 GHz	69	68
Intel NUC 12 Extreme	Intel i7-12700	10 × 2.1 GHz	74	75
Intel NUC 12 Extreme	Intel i7-12700	20 × 2.1 GHz	125	134
Azure HBv3	AMD EPYC 7V73X	1 × 2.2 GHz	130	115
Azure HBv3	AMD EPYC 7V73X	2 × 2.2 GHz	102	88
Azure HBv3	AMD EPYC 7V73X	3 × 2.2 GHz	90	80
Azure HBv3	AMD EPYC 7V73X	4 × 2.2 GHz	83	76
Azure HBv3	AMD EPYC 7V73X	8 × 2.2 GHz	82	80
Azure HBv3	AMD EPYC 7V73X	16 × 2.2 GHz	103	100
Azure HBv3	AMD EPYC 7V73X	32 × 2.2 GHz	142	136
Azure HBv3	AMD EPYC 7V73X	64 × 2.2 GHz	256	249
Azure HBv3	AMD EPYC 7V73X	120 × 2.2 GHz	430	423