std.math performance (SSE vs. real)

[Andrei Alexandrescu via Digitalmars-d]

On 6/28/14, 3:42 AM, Walter Bright wrote:
> Inverting matrices is commonplace for solving N equations with N
> unknowns.

Actually nobody does that.

Also, one consideration is that the focus of numeric work changes with 
time; nowadays it's all about machine learning, a field that virtually 
didn't exist 20 years ago. In machine learning precision does make a 
difference sometimes, but the key to good ML work is to run many 
iterations over large data sets - i.e., speed.

I have an alarm go off when someone proffers a very strong conviction. 
Very strong convictions means there is no listening to any argument 
right off the bat, which locks out any reasonable discussion before it 
even begins.

For better or worse modern computing units have focused on 32- and 
64-bit float, leaving 80-bit floats neglected. I think it's time to 
accept that simple fact and act on it, instead of claiming we're the 
best in the world at FP math while everybody else speeds by.


Andrei