about OpenMP

probably because the compiler figures out that you don't use the variable 'a', so it optimizes the code out.

Even if you use 'a', the compile might still optimize the loop away and replace it by a simple assignment. Few compilers out there recognize such simple pattern very well.

OpenMP is supported in Visual C++ 2010, but it isn't enabled by default when you make a new project.

Go to Project->Properties, then Configuration Properties, then C/C++, Language, and set Open MP Support to Yes.

Kambiz and Yourself are correct, too - the compiler is optimising away the code branches that don't go anywhere.


Try switching on OpenMP support in your project and running this:

[source]

#include "windows.h"
#include "math.h"
#include
#include

int main(void)
{
double t1 = omp_get_wtime( );
float sum = 0.0f;//new!
for(int i = 0;i < 8;i ++)
{
float a = 0;
for(int j = 0;j < 10000000;j++)
{
a += sqrtf(j);
}
sum += a;//new!
}
double t2 = omp_get_wtime( );
std::cout<<"time: "< std::cout<<"sum: "<
sum = 0.0f;//new!
#pragma omp parallel for
for(int i = 0;i < 8;i ++)
{
float a = 0;
for(int j = 0;j < 10000000;j++)
{
a += sqrtf(j);
}
sum += a;//new!
}
double t3 = omp_get_wtime( );
std::cout<<"time: "< std::cout<<"sum: "< std::cout<<"speed improvement: "<<((t2-t1)/(t3-t2))<<"x"< system("pause");
return 0;
}

[/source]

You should see a speed improvement that's close to your CPU's core-count. I get around 3.8x on a quad-core.