Instructions Per Second (MIPS)

alpharithms fallback 1

Instructions Per Second is a metric by which a computer processor’s speed can be measured. It relates the number of instructions that a CPU can execute, counted in millions, within a given time period.

Millions of Instructions Per Second is calculated by the following formula:

mips formula1

Shortcomings

MIPS is a poor metric for performance has two notable issues:

  1. Instructions are not standardized between machines;
  2. Non CPU delays such as I/O and memory can impact overall execution time;

As reported by PC magazine in November 24, 1987; the MIPS metric has so many shortcomings that it is popularly referred to as Meaningless Indices of Performance (R).

Zαck West
BSc Computer Science, BSc Technology Education. Life-long learner and entrepreneur specializing in design, digital marketing, and web app development. Fascinated by natural systems, concurrency, and the nature of consciousness.