Min / Max FPS Comes To Test Results

With Phoronix Test Suite 4.8 "Sokndal", the minimum and maximum performance results are now being commonly displayed along side the rest of the results.

Aside from showing the average performance result, the standard error, the actual result values, and other data already displayed through the Phoronix Test Suite and OpenBenchmarking.org has been to also display the minimum and maximum results. This min/max request has most commonly been for when displaying the frames-per-second (FPS) results on graphics tests. With Phoronix Test Suite 4.8, due out next quarter, this will commonly happen.

With the latest Git code of the Phoronix Test Suite, test profiles can now specify minimum and maximum result values through the XML-based parser definition with the MIN_ and MAX_ prefixes. For those curious about the trivial change needed to expose this support, see this Xonotic test profile sample and its result-definition.xml sample.

With this small change to the test profiles, when running Phoronix Test Suite 4.8+, the minimum and maximum result range is displayed on the graphs as well as from the command-line. This has been a long sought after feature for those interested in more data beyond the average FPS and other metrics.

Here's a look at the minimum and maximum result display from the command-line interface using the default "concise" display mode.

For supported test profiles, the min/max values are also rendered onto the traditional result graphs. Any feedback is welcome about more polished ways to display this information or any other feedback on the Phoronix Test Suite is always welcome. Let us know via the forums, emailing us, or Twitter!

These changes, plus other features, will be found in the Phoronix Test Suite 4.8-Sokndal Milestone 1 release due in the next week or two.