Re: [boost] [fixed_point] First presentation from GSoC 2015 and more

Subject: Re: [boost] [fixed_point] First presentation from GSoC 2015 and more
From: Michael Marcin (mike.marcin_at_[hidden])
Date: 2016-10-21 00:05:29

On 10/20/2016 3:56 PM, Christopher Kormanyos wrote:
>>>> I would like to further investigate your sqrt implementation.
>
>>> It seems the link to the whitepaper for sqrt has broken over the years.
>
>>> I found it again here:>> http://www.realitypixels.com/turk/computergraphics/FixedSqrt.pdf
>>   OK. Thank you. I will try to bench the iterative sqrt algorithm for,> let's say, 32-bit signed fixed-point on a 32-bit microcontroller.> If I get any sensible results compared with our polynomial> approximation, I will forward them to the thread.
> I have benchmarked the iterative shift-and-add sqrt functioncompared with the polynomial approximation used inthe proposed Boost.Fixed_point. The benchmark usedbare-metal embedded microcontrollers.
>
> I used a 32-bit microcontroller at 24MHz and also an 8-bitmicrocontroller at 16MHz. I used an argument of 6/10 forthe sqrt function. The fixed_point type used was:boost::fixed_point::negatable<7, -24>. Timing measurementshave been done with a digital ascilloscope. GCC 5.2 and 5.3have been used.
>
> On 32-bit microcontroller:
> * polynomial approx : 6 micro-sec, sqrt(6/10) = 0.7745966
> * Shift-and-add :15 micro-sec, sqrt(6/10) = 0.7745967
> On 8-bit microcontroller:
> * polynomial approx. : 180us* Shift-and-add : 450us
> Here, the unit [us] means microseconds.
>
> The benchmark code is available at develop branch here:
> https://github.com/BoostGSoC15/fixed_point/blob/develop/example/fixed_point_bare_metal_benchmark_32bit_sqrt_variation.cpp
> Best regards, Chris.
>

I was able to reproduce your results on win64 using vs2015.
I was able to trick the compiler and double the speed of the iterative 
method but was unable to approach the poly approx in performance.

results at the top of this link (requires google benchmark)
http://codepad.org/CF84VtYS

Thanks for running the tests.