Why is long slower than int in x64 Java?

Question

I\'m running Windows 8.1 x64 with Java 7 update 45 x64 (no 32 bit Java installed) on a Surface Pro 2 tablet.

The code below takes 1688ms when the type of i is a long

Answer 1

For the record, this version does a crude "warmup":

public class LongSpeed {

    private static long i = Integer.MAX_VALUE;
    private static int j = Integer.MAX_VALUE;

    public static void main(String[] args) {

        for (int x = 0; x < 10; x++) {
            runLong();
            runWord();
        }
    }

    private static void runLong() {
        System.out.println("Starting the long loop");
        i = Integer.MAX_VALUE;
        long startTime = System.currentTimeMillis();
        while(!decrementAndCheckI()){

        }
        long endTime = System.currentTimeMillis();

        System.out.println("Finished the long loop in " + (endTime - startTime) + "ms");
    }

    private static void runWord() {
        System.out.println("Starting the word loop");
        j = Integer.MAX_VALUE;
        long startTime = System.currentTimeMillis();
        while(!decrementAndCheckJ()){

        }
        long endTime = System.currentTimeMillis();

        System.out.println("Finished the word loop in " + (endTime - startTime) + "ms");
    }

    private static boolean decrementAndCheckI() {
        return --i < 0;
    }

    private static boolean decrementAndCheckJ() {
        return --j < 0;
    }

}

The overall times improve about 30%, but the ratio between the two remains roughly the same.

Answer 2

It's likely due to the JVM checking for safepoints when long is used (uncounted loop), and not doing it for int (counted loop).

Some references: https://stackoverflow.com/a/62557768/14624235

https://stackoverflow.com/a/58726530/14624235

http://psy-lob-saw.blogspot.com/2016/02/wait-for-it-counteduncounted-loops.html