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Xtreme X.I.P.
I have been recording CPU and disk usage for the entire duration of this run at a rate of one sample per second. I'm faced with a dilemma about how to represent it graphically. Since it's obviously impractical to display one x on the graph for each sample, I have to determine how to combine multiple samples. It is the decision to pick between average and peak utilization that I'm not sure of. Average would certainly show the overall load better, but it does little justice to the spiky utilization of a program such as y-cruncher in swap mode and is misleading in terms of making the program appear not to be maximizing system resources. I'll show you what I mean:
Averaged Graph, Peaked Graph
For a graph that's even as wide as the ones above, each "macrosample" still represents just shy of two minutes of time.
Fun Stats: 2.39 quadrillion cycles of CPU time consumed so far, 24.1 trillion bytes read, 23.5 trillion bytes written
Particle's First Rule of Online Technical Discussion:
As a thread about any computer related subject has its length approach infinity, the likelihood and inevitability of a poorly constructed AMD vs. Intel fight also exponentially increases.
Rule 1A:
Likewise, the frequency of a car pseudoanalogy to explain a technical concept increases with thread length. This will make many people chuckle, as computer people are rarely knowledgeable about vehicular mechanics.
Rule 2:
When confronted with a post that is contrary to what a poster likes, believes, or most often wants to be correct, the poster will pick out only minor details that are largely irrelevant in an attempt to shut out the conflicting idea. The core of the post will be left alone since it isn't easy to contradict what the person is actually saying.
Rule 2A:
When a poster cannot properly refute a post they do not like (as described above), the poster will most likely invent fictitious counter-points and/or begin to attack the other's credibility in feeble ways that are dramatic but irrelevant. Do not underestimate this tactic, as in the online world this will sway many observers. Do not forget: Correctness is decided only by what is said last, the most loudly, or with greatest repetition.
Rule 3:
When it comes to computer news, 70% of Internet rumors are outright fabricated, 20% are inaccurate enough to simply be discarded, and about 10% are based in reality. Grains of salt--become familiar with them.
Remember: When debating online, everyone else is ALWAYS wrong if they do not agree with you!
Random Tip o' the Whatever
You just can't win. If your product offers feature A instead of B, people will moan how A is stupid and it didn't offer B. If your product offers B instead of A, they'll likewise complain and rant about how anyone's retarded cousin could figure out A is what the market wants.
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