dddd AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X 64-Core testing with a Gigabyte TRX40 AORUS PRO WIFI (F6 BIOS) and AMD Radeon RX 5700 8GB on Pop 22.04 via the Phoronix Test Suite. a: Processor: AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X 64-Core @ 2.90GHz (64 Cores / 128 Threads), Motherboard: Gigabyte TRX40 AORUS PRO WIFI (F6 BIOS), Chipset: AMD Starship/Matisse, Memory: 4 x 32GB DDR4-3000MT/s CMK64GX4M2D3000C16, Disk: Samsung SSD 970 EVO Plus 500GB, Graphics: AMD Radeon RX 5700 8GB, Audio: AMD Navi 10 HDMI Audio, Monitor: DELL P2415Q, Network: Intel I211 + Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200 OS: Pop 22.04, Kernel: 6.8.0-76060800daily20240311-generic (x86_64), Desktop: GNOME Shell 42.5, Display Server: X Server 1.21.1.4, OpenGL: 4.6 Mesa 24.0.3-1pop1~1711635559~22.04~7a9f319 (LLVM 15.0.7 DRM 3.57), Vulkan: 1.3.274, Compiler: GCC 11.4.0, File-System: ext4, Screen Resolution: 1920x1080 v: Processor: AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X 64-Core @ 2.90GHz (64 Cores / 128 Threads), Motherboard: Gigabyte TRX40 AORUS PRO WIFI (F6 BIOS), Chipset: AMD Starship/Matisse, Memory: 4 x 32GB DDR4-3000MT/s CMK64GX4M2D3000C16, Disk: Samsung SSD 970 EVO Plus 500GB, Graphics: AMD Radeon RX 5700 8GB, Audio: AMD Navi 10 HDMI Audio, Monitor: DELL P2415Q, Network: Intel I211 + Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200 OS: Pop 22.04, Kernel: 6.8.0-76060800daily20240311-generic (x86_64), Desktop: GNOME Shell 42.5, Display Server: X Server 1.21.1.4, OpenGL: 4.6 Mesa 24.0.3-1pop1~1711635559~22.04~7a9f319 (LLVM 15.0.7 DRM 3.57), Vulkan: 1.3.274, Compiler: GCC 11.4.0, File-System: ext4, Screen Resolution: 1920x1080 c: Processor: AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X 64-Core @ 2.90GHz (64 Cores / 128 Threads), Motherboard: Gigabyte TRX40 AORUS PRO WIFI (F6 BIOS), Chipset: AMD Starship/Matisse, Memory: 4 x 32GB DDR4-3000MT/s CMK64GX4M2D3000C16, Disk: Samsung SSD 970 EVO Plus 500GB, Graphics: AMD Radeon RX 5700 8GB, Audio: AMD Navi 10 HDMI Audio, Monitor: DELL P2415Q, Network: Intel I211 + Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200 OS: Pop 22.04, Kernel: 6.8.0-76060800daily20240311-generic (x86_64), Desktop: GNOME Shell 42.5, Display Server: X Server 1.21.1.4, OpenGL: 4.6 Mesa 24.0.3-1pop1~1711635559~22.04~7a9f319 (LLVM 15.0.7 DRM 3.57), Vulkan: 1.3.274, Compiler: GCC 11.4.0, File-System: ext4, Screen Resolution: 1920x1080 d: Processor: AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X 64-Core @ 2.90GHz (64 Cores / 128 Threads), Motherboard: Gigabyte TRX40 AORUS PRO WIFI (F6 BIOS), Chipset: AMD Starship/Matisse, Memory: 4 x 32GB DDR4-3000MT/s CMK64GX4M2D3000C16, Disk: Samsung SSD 970 EVO Plus 500GB, Graphics: AMD Radeon RX 5700 8GB, Audio: AMD Navi 10 HDMI Audio, Monitor: DELL P2415Q, Network: Intel I211 + Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200 OS: Pop 22.04, Kernel: 6.8.0-76060800daily20240311-generic (x86_64), Desktop: GNOME Shell 42.5, Display Server: X Server 1.21.1.4, OpenGL: 4.6 Mesa 24.0.3-1pop1~1711635559~22.04~7a9f319 (LLVM 15.0.7 DRM 3.57), Vulkan: 1.3.274, Compiler: GCC 11.4.0, File-System: ext4, Screen Resolution: 1920x1080 GravityMark 1.87 Resolution: 1920 x 1080 - Renderer: OpenGL Frames Per Second > Higher Is Better a . 120.1 |==================================================================== v . 120.2 |==================================================================== c . 119.7 |==================================================================== d . 119.8 |==================================================================== GravityMark 1.87 Resolution: 1920 x 1080 - Renderer: Vulkan Frames Per Second > Higher Is Better a . 128.9 |==================================================================== v . 129.7 |==================================================================== c . 129.2 |==================================================================== d . 128.7 |=================================================================== GPUScore: Breaking Limit 1.0 Resolution: 1920 x 1080 - Ray-Tracing: Off FPS > Higher Is Better a . 77.19 |==================================================================== v . 77.20 |==================================================================== c . 77.21 |==================================================================== d . 77.15 |==================================================================== NAMD 3.0b6 Input: ATPase with 327,506 Atoms ns/day > Higher Is Better a . 2.70024 |================================================================== v . 2.70250 |================================================================== c . 2.69463 |================================================================== d . 2.70940 |================================================================== NAMD 3.0b6 Input: STMV with 1,066,628 Atoms ns/day > Higher Is Better a . 0.67484 |================================================================== v . 0.67703 |================================================================== c . 0.67488 |================================================================== d . 0.66919 |================================================================= QuantLib 1.35-dev Size: S tasks/s > Higher Is Better QuantLib 1.35-dev Size: XXS tasks/s > Higher Is Better Z3 Theorem Prover 4.12.1 SMT File: 1.smt2 Seconds < Lower Is Better a . 34.27 |=================================================================== v . 34.74 |==================================================================== c . 34.24 |=================================================================== d . 34.68 |==================================================================== Z3 Theorem Prover 4.12.1 SMT File: 2.smt2 Seconds < Lower Is Better a . 84.43 |==================================================================== v . 84.75 |==================================================================== c . 85.01 |==================================================================== d . 84.62 |==================================================================== LZ4 Compression 1.10 Compression Level: 1 - Compression Speed MB/s > Higher Is Better a . 697.43 |================================================================== v . 703.00 |=================================================================== c . 702.51 |=================================================================== d . 703.23 |=================================================================== LZ4 Compression 1.10 Compression Level: 1 - Decompression Speed MB/s > Higher Is Better a . 4478.1 |================================================================== v . 4503.1 |=================================================================== c . 4503.6 |=================================================================== d . 4521.7 |=================================================================== LZ4 Compression 1.10 Compression Level: 2 - Compression Speed MB/s > Higher Is Better a . 320.76 |================================================================== v . 323.03 |=================================================================== c . 321.80 |=================================================================== d . 323.68 |=================================================================== LZ4 Compression 1.10 Compression Level: 2 - Decompression Speed MB/s > Higher Is Better a . 3918.2 |================================================================== v . 3950.2 |=================================================================== c . 3926.6 |=================================================================== d . 3943.7 |=================================================================== LZ4 Compression 1.10 Compression Level: 3 - Compression Speed MB/s > Higher Is Better a . 108.81 |=================================================================== v . 106.61 |================================================================== c . 106.57 |================================================================== d . 106.54 |================================================================== LZ4 Compression 1.10 Compression Level: 3 - Decompression Speed MB/s > Higher Is Better a . 4145.5 |=================================================================== v . 4151.9 |=================================================================== c . 4141.0 |=================================================================== d . 4155.9 |=================================================================== LZ4 Compression 1.10 Compression Level: 9 - Compression Speed MB/s > Higher Is Better a . 39.83 |==================================================================== v . 39.51 |=================================================================== c . 39.50 |=================================================================== d . 39.73 |==================================================================== LZ4 Compression 1.10 Compression Level: 9 - Decompression Speed MB/s > Higher Is Better a . 4296.1 |================================================================== v . 4335.0 |=================================================================== c . 4318.1 |=================================================================== d . 4339.5 |=================================================================== LZ4 Compression 1.10 Compression Level: 12 - Compression Speed MB/s > Higher Is Better a . 13.33 |==================================================================== v . 13.22 |=================================================================== c . 13.14 |=================================================================== d . 13.25 |==================================================================== LZ4 Compression 1.10 Compression Level: 12 - Decompression Speed MB/s > Higher Is Better a . 4409.7 |=================================================================== v . 4388.1 |=================================================================== c . 4387.8 |=================================================================== d . 4395.4 |=================================================================== GraphicsMagick Operation: Swirl Iterations Per Minute > Higher Is Better a . 264 |====================================================================== v . 265 |====================================================================== c . 262 |===================================================================== d . 265 |====================================================================== GraphicsMagick Operation: Rotate Iterations Per Minute > Higher Is Better a . 68 |====================================================================== v . 69 |======================================================================= c . 69 |======================================================================= d . 68 |====================================================================== GraphicsMagick Operation: Sharpen Iterations Per Minute > Higher Is Better a . 64 |====================================================================== v . 64 |====================================================================== c . 65 |======================================================================= d . 65 |======================================================================= GraphicsMagick Operation: Enhanced Iterations Per Minute > Higher Is Better a . 163 |====================================================================== v . 163 |====================================================================== c . 163 |====================================================================== d . 163 |====================================================================== GraphicsMagick Operation: Resizing Iterations Per Minute > Higher Is Better a . 161 |====================================================================== v . 160 |====================================================================== c . 160 |====================================================================== d . 161 |====================================================================== GraphicsMagick Operation: Noise-Gaussian Iterations Per Minute > Higher Is Better a . 80 |====================================================================== v . 81 |======================================================================= c . 81 |======================================================================= d . 81 |======================================================================= GraphicsMagick Operation: HWB Color Space Iterations Per Minute > Higher Is Better a . 98 |====================================================================== v . 99 |======================================================================= c . 99 |======================================================================= d . 99 |======================================================================= dav1d 1.4.2 Video Input: Chimera 1080p FPS > Higher Is Better a . 378.50 |=================================================================== v . 378.60 |=================================================================== c . 378.09 |=================================================================== d . 377.62 |=================================================================== dav1d 1.4.2 Video Input: Summer Nature 4K FPS > Higher Is Better a . 210.49 |=================================================================== v . 210.04 |=================================================================== c . 209.96 |=================================================================== d . 210.11 |=================================================================== dav1d 1.4.2 Video Input: Summer Nature 1080p FPS > Higher Is Better a . 490.15 |=================================================================== v . 490.08 |=================================================================== c . 490.99 |=================================================================== d . 490.02 |=================================================================== dav1d 1.4.2 Video Input: Chimera 1080p 10-bit FPS > Higher Is Better a . 357.22 |=================================================================== v . 356.41 |=================================================================== c . 357.08 |=================================================================== d . 356.84 |=================================================================== SVT-AV1 2.1 Encoder Mode: Preset 3 - Input: Bosphorus 4K Frames Per Second > Higher Is Better a . 5.151 |==================================================================== v . 5.174 |==================================================================== c . 5.159 |==================================================================== d . 5.153 |==================================================================== SVT-AV1 2.1 Encoder Mode: Preset 5 - Input: Bosphorus 4K Frames Per Second > Higher Is Better a . 13.08 |==================================================================== v . 13.03 |==================================================================== c . 13.08 |==================================================================== d . 13.03 |==================================================================== SVT-AV1 2.1 Encoder Mode: Preset 8 - Input: Bosphorus 4K Frames Per Second > Higher Is Better a . 45.19 |=================================================================== v . 45.70 |==================================================================== c . 45.61 |==================================================================== d . 45.81 |==================================================================== SVT-AV1 2.1 Encoder Mode: Preset 13 - Input: Bosphorus 4K Frames Per Second > Higher Is Better a . 114.31 |================================================================= v . 118.12 |=================================================================== c . 116.51 |================================================================== d . 118.05 |=================================================================== SVT-AV1 2.1 Encoder Mode: Preset 3 - Input: Bosphorus 1080p Frames Per Second > Higher Is Better a . 13.62 |=================================================================== v . 13.88 |==================================================================== c . 13.66 |=================================================================== d . 13.81 |==================================================================== SVT-AV1 2.1 Encoder Mode: Preset 5 - Input: Bosphorus 1080p Frames Per Second > Higher Is Better a . 39.69 |==================================================================== v . 39.87 |==================================================================== c . 39.85 |==================================================================== d . 39.96 |==================================================================== SVT-AV1 2.1 Encoder Mode: Preset 8 - Input: Bosphorus 1080p Frames Per Second > Higher Is Better a . 85.99 |==================================================================== v . 85.80 |==================================================================== c . 84.83 |=================================================================== d . 86.10 |==================================================================== SVT-AV1 2.1 Encoder Mode: Preset 13 - Input: Bosphorus 1080p Frames Per Second > Higher Is Better a . 330.38 |================================================================== v . 334.90 |=================================================================== c . 335.53 |=================================================================== d . 331.87 |================================================================== x265 Video Input: Bosphorus 4K Frames Per Second > Higher Is Better a . 24.74 |==================================================================== v . 24.63 |==================================================================== c . 24.78 |==================================================================== d . 24.73 |==================================================================== x265 Video Input: Bosphorus 1080p Frames Per Second > Higher Is Better a . 48.26 |==================================================================== v . 48.52 |==================================================================== c . 48.29 |==================================================================== d . 48.23 |==================================================================== ACES DGEMM 1.0 Sustained Floating-Point Rate GFLOP/s > Higher Is Better a . 1198.85 |================================================================== v . 1182.68 |================================================================= c . 1187.55 |================================================================= d . 1192.53 |================================================================== Intel Open Image Denoise 2.3 Run: RT.hdr_alb_nrm.3840x2160 - Device: CPU-Only Images / Sec > Higher Is Better a . 1.36 |===================================================================== v . 1.36 |===================================================================== c . 1.36 |===================================================================== d . 1.36 |===================================================================== Intel Open Image Denoise 2.3 Run: RT.ldr_alb_nrm.3840x2160 - Device: CPU-Only Images / Sec > Higher Is Better a . 1.36 |===================================================================== v . 1.36 |===================================================================== c . 1.36 |===================================================================== d . 1.36 |===================================================================== Intel Open Image Denoise 2.3 Run: RTLightmap.hdr.4096x4096 - Device: CPU-Only Images / Sec > Higher Is Better a . 0.67 |===================================================================== v . 0.67 |===================================================================== c . 0.67 |===================================================================== d . 0.67 |===================================================================== OSPRay 3.2 Benchmark: particle_volume/ao/real_time Items Per Second > Higher Is Better a . 14.60 |==================================================================== v . 14.58 |==================================================================== c . 14.59 |==================================================================== d . 14.59 |==================================================================== OSPRay 3.2 Benchmark: particle_volume/scivis/real_time Items Per Second > Higher Is Better a . 14.41 |==================================================================== v . 14.39 |==================================================================== c . 14.41 |==================================================================== d . 14.41 |==================================================================== OSPRay 3.2 Benchmark: particle_volume/pathtracer/real_time Items Per Second > Higher Is Better a . 151.59 |=================================================================== v . 152.58 |=================================================================== c . 151.40 |================================================================== d . 151.38 |================================================================== OSPRay 3.2 Benchmark: gravity_spheres_volume/dim_512/ao/real_time Items Per Second > Higher Is Better a . 7.27533 |================================================================== v . 7.30698 |================================================================== c . 7.26339 |================================================================= d . 7.32471 |================================================================== OSPRay 3.2 Benchmark: gravity_spheres_volume/dim_512/scivis/real_time Items Per Second > Higher Is Better a . 6.92101 |================================================================== v . 6.90367 |================================================================== c . 6.86281 |================================================================= d . 6.87097 |================================================================== OSPRay 3.2 Benchmark: gravity_spheres_volume/dim_512/pathtracer/real_time Items Per Second > Higher Is Better a . 10.52 |==================================================================== v . 10.50 |==================================================================== c . 10.51 |==================================================================== d . 10.53 |==================================================================== 7-Zip Compression MIPS > Higher Is Better Stockfish Chess Benchmark Nodes Per Second > Higher Is Better a . 119940652 |============================================================ v . 120633830 |============================================================ c . 127866344 |================================================================ d . 122539585 |============================================================= POV-Ray Trace Time Seconds < Lower Is Better a . 10.48 |==================================================================== v . 10.48 |==================================================================== c . 10.35 |=================================================================== d . 10.39 |=================================================================== Gcrypt Library 1.10.3 Seconds < Lower Is Better a . 218.64 |=================================================================== v . 218.41 |=================================================================== c . 218.41 |=================================================================== d . 217.16 |=================================================================== Cpuminer-Opt 24.3 Algorithm: Magi kH/s > Higher Is Better a . 1501.35 |================================================================== v . 1502.76 |================================================================== c . 1504.76 |================================================================== d . 1501.22 |================================================================== Cpuminer-Opt 24.3 Algorithm: x20r kH/s > Higher Is Better a . 14390 |==================================================================== v . 14200 |=================================================================== c . 14260 |=================================================================== d . 14340 |==================================================================== Cpuminer-Opt 24.3 Algorithm: scrypt kH/s > Higher Is Better a . 486.88 |=================================================================== v . 488.00 |=================================================================== c . 487.19 |=================================================================== d . 486.24 |=================================================================== Cpuminer-Opt 24.3 Algorithm: Deepcoin kH/s > Higher Is Better a . 18630 |==================================================================== v . 18600 |=================================================================== c . 18760 |==================================================================== d . 18670 |==================================================================== Cpuminer-Opt 24.3 Algorithm: Ringcoin kH/s > Higher Is Better a . 7241.79 |================================================================== v . 7287.39 |================================================================== c . 7218.92 |================================================================= d . 7265.92 |================================================================== Cpuminer-Opt 24.3 Algorithm: Blake-2 S kH/s > Higher Is Better a . 323050 |================================================================== v . 327940 |=================================================================== c . 323110 |================================================================== d . 323040 |================================================================== Cpuminer-Opt 24.3 Algorithm: Garlicoin kH/s > Higher Is Better a . 7290.49 |================================================================ v . 7364.86 |================================================================ c . 6911.78 |============================================================ d . 7545.32 |================================================================== Cpuminer-Opt 24.3 Algorithm: Skeincoin kH/s > Higher Is Better a . 86810 |==================================================================== v . 86760 |==================================================================== c . 86780 |==================================================================== d . 86850 |==================================================================== Cpuminer-Opt 24.3 Algorithm: Myriad-Groestl kH/s > Higher Is Better a . 25040 |==================================================================== v . 25000 |==================================================================== c . 25060 |==================================================================== d . 25060 |==================================================================== Cpuminer-Opt 24.3 Algorithm: LBC, LBRY Credits kH/s > Higher Is Better a . 34380 |==================================================================== v . 34120 |=================================================================== c . 34140 |==================================================================== d . 34210 |==================================================================== Cpuminer-Opt 24.3 Algorithm: Quad SHA-256, Pyrite kH/s > Higher Is Better a . 114620 |=================================================================== v . 114790 |=================================================================== c . 114690 |=================================================================== d . 114870 |=================================================================== Cpuminer-Opt 24.3 Algorithm: Triple SHA-256, Onecoin kH/s > Higher Is Better a . 159260 |================================================================== v . 159670 |================================================================== c . 161740 |=================================================================== d . 159840 |================================================================== Blender 4.2 Blend File: BMW27 - Compute: CPU-Only Seconds < Lower Is Better a . 29.85 |==================================================================== v . 29.78 |==================================================================== c . 29.77 |==================================================================== d . 29.75 |==================================================================== Blender 4.2 Blend File: Junkshop - Compute: CPU-Only Seconds < Lower Is Better a . 42.62 |==================================================================== v . 42.62 |==================================================================== c . 42.62 |==================================================================== d . 42.45 |==================================================================== Blender 4.2 Blend File: Classroom - Compute: CPU-Only Seconds < Lower Is Better a . 85.16 |==================================================================== v . 85.61 |==================================================================== c . 85.61 |==================================================================== d . 85.37 |==================================================================== Blender 4.2 Blend File: Fishy Cat - Compute: CPU-Only Seconds < Lower Is Better a . 40.30 |==================================================================== v . 40.45 |==================================================================== c . 40.20 |==================================================================== d . 40.19 |==================================================================== Blender 4.2 Blend File: Barbershop - Compute: CPU-Only Seconds < Lower Is Better a . 305.40 |=================================================================== v . 304.97 |=================================================================== c . 305.55 |=================================================================== d . 304.71 |=================================================================== Blender 4.2 Blend File: Pabellon Barcelona - Compute: CPU-Only Seconds < Lower Is Better a . 94.09 |==================================================================== v . 93.79 |==================================================================== c . 93.88 |==================================================================== d . 93.82 |==================================================================== PyPerformance 1.11 Benchmark: go Milliseconds < Lower Is Better a . 211 |====================================================================== v . 212 |====================================================================== c . 211 |====================================================================== d . 211 |====================================================================== PyPerformance 1.11 Benchmark: chaos Milliseconds < Lower Is Better a . 104 |===================================================================== v . 104 |===================================================================== c . 105 |====================================================================== d . 105 |====================================================================== PyPerformance 1.11 Benchmark: float Milliseconds < Lower Is Better a . 101 |===================================================================== v . 101 |===================================================================== c . 102 |====================================================================== d . 100 |===================================================================== PyPerformance 1.11 Benchmark: nbody Milliseconds < Lower Is Better a . 124 |===================================================================== v . 125 |====================================================================== c . 124 |===================================================================== d . 122 |==================================================================== PyPerformance 1.11 Benchmark: pathlib Milliseconds < Lower Is Better a . 22.3 |===================================================================== v . 22.4 |===================================================================== c . 22.4 |===================================================================== d . 22.3 |===================================================================== PyPerformance 1.11 Benchmark: raytrace Milliseconds < Lower Is Better a . 443 |====================================================================== v . 444 |====================================================================== c . 443 |====================================================================== d . 443 |====================================================================== PyPerformance 1.11 Benchmark: xml_etree Milliseconds < Lower Is Better a . 68.0 |===================================================================== v . 67.9 |===================================================================== c . 67.9 |===================================================================== d . 67.8 |===================================================================== PyPerformance 1.11 Benchmark: gc_collect Milliseconds < Lower Is Better a . 976 |====================================================================== v . 972 |====================================================================== c . 972 |====================================================================== d . 976 |====================================================================== PyPerformance 1.11 Benchmark: json_loads Milliseconds < Lower Is Better a . 24.7 |===================================================================== v . 24.8 |===================================================================== c . 24.8 |===================================================================== d . 24.7 |===================================================================== PyPerformance 1.11 Benchmark: crypto_pyaes Milliseconds < Lower Is Better a . 111 |====================================================================== v . 111 |====================================================================== c . 111 |====================================================================== d . 110 |===================================================================== PyPerformance 1.11 Benchmark: async_tree_io Milliseconds < Lower Is Better a . 1.67 |===================================================================== v . 1.67 |===================================================================== c . 1.67 |===================================================================== d . 1.68 |===================================================================== PyPerformance 1.11 Benchmark: regex_compile Milliseconds < Lower Is Better a . 159 |====================================================================== v . 159 |====================================================================== c . 159 |====================================================================== d . 159 |====================================================================== PyPerformance 1.11 Benchmark: python_startup Milliseconds < Lower Is Better a . 13.2 |=================================================================== v . 13.6 |===================================================================== c . 13.3 |=================================================================== d . 13.2 |=================================================================== PyPerformance 1.11 Benchmark: asyncio_tcp_ssl Milliseconds < Lower Is Better a . 1.85 |===================================================================== v . 1.78 |================================================================== d . 1.80 |=================================================================== PyPerformance 1.11 Benchmark: django_template Milliseconds < Lower Is Better a . 40.2 |===================================================================== v . 39.4 |==================================================================== d . 39.5 |==================================================================== PyPerformance 1.11 Benchmark: asyncio_websockets Milliseconds < Lower Is Better a . 518 |===================================================================== v . 517 |===================================================================== d . 522 |====================================================================== PyPerformance 1.11 Benchmark: pickle_pure_python Milliseconds < Lower Is Better a . 403 |====================================================================== v . 401 |====================================================================== d . 400 |===================================================================== Whisper.cpp 1.6.2 Model: ggml-base.en - Input: 2016 State of the Union Seconds < Lower Is Better Whisper.cpp 1.6.2 Model: ggml-small.en - Input: 2016 State of the Union Seconds < Lower Is Better Whisper.cpp 1.6.2 Model: ggml-medium.en - Input: 2016 State of the Union Seconds < Lower Is Better