====== 8086 (16-bit) C compiler performance ======

Some notes on standards compliance level:

^ Compiler ^ C standard ^ C++ standard ^
| gcc-ia16 6.3.0 | C11 | C++14 (Tiny/Small memory only) |
| OpenWatcom | C90 (limited C99) | limited C++98 |
| Digital Mars | C99 | C++98 |

===== Dhrystone v2.1 =====

  * Results given in Dhrystones per second. Higher is better.
  * //286-tuned compile// refers to building with 80286-specific opcodes/tuning, as opposed to the generic option.

^ Compiler ^ Flags ^ DOSBox (3000 cycles) ^ 86Box (80286 @ 8MHz) ^ 86Box (80286 @ 8MHz, 286-tuned compile) ^
| gcc-ia16 6.3.0 (July 2022) | ''-O0''             | 3329.2 | 1910.1 | 1935.6 |
| gcc-ia16 6.3.0 (July 2022) | ''-O1''             | 6332.9 | 3273.3 | 3255.0 | 
| gcc-ia16 6.3.0 (July 2022) | ''-O2''             | 6935.4 | 3640.9 | 3664.3 | 
| gcc-ia16 6.3.0 (July 2022) | ''-O3''             | 6936.9 | 3641.3 | 3664.3 | 
| gcc-ia16 6.3.0 (July 2022) | ''-Os''             | 5066.5 | 2697.5 | 2722.5 | 
| OpenWatcom (Jun 25 2022) |                 | 4046.0 | 2198.6 | 2240.7 | 
| OpenWatcom (Jun 25 2022) | ''-oneatx -oh'' | 5496.4 | 3066.3 | 3183.4 | 
| Digital Mars C 8.57 |                      | 4221.6 | 2339.2 | 2437.2 | 
| Digital Mars C 8.57 | ''-o''               | 4481.8 | 2635.9 | 2721.1 | 

===== DOS C Compiler Benchmark (dccb) =====

[[https://github.com/leikareipa/dccb|dccb]] is a software 3D rasterizer, designed to test real-world performance across a variety of C DOS compilers.

==== DOSBox, 67000 cycles ====

Test performed by leikareipa.

^ Result (FPS) ^ Compiler ^
| 57 | Microsoft C/C++ 8 |
| 41 | Digital Mars C/C++ 8 |
| 37 | Open Watcom ? |
| 33 | Borland Turbo C 2 |
| 32 | Borland C++ 2 |
| 32 | Microsoft C 5 |
| 31 | Microsoft QuickC 1 |
| 30 | HI-TECH Pacific C 7 |
| 14 | Mix Power C 2.2 |

===== Code size notes =====

FreeDOS kernel (2022-06-04):

  * gcc-ia16 6.3.0: 53216 bytes
  * OpenWatcom: 48757 bytes