Micro versus Mainframe Performance for a Selected Class of Mathematical Programming Problems.

This article compares the performance of microcomputers in solving nonlinear programming test problems with that of a mainframe computer. Interest in the use of microcomputers in MS/OR has increased significantly over the past few years. So much in fact that microcomputers will likely be one of the major technological impacts upon the profession over the next five to 10 years. Microcomputers, along with corresponding advances in computer networking, provide alternatives to traditional centralized computing facilities. With proper equipment selection and implementation, processing can be placed closer to the user. Perhaps more important than the new options available to existing users is the opportunity to expand the realm of MS/OR practice to a new group of users. Traditionally the use of MS/OR has required substantial computer resources. This has created an entry barrier for small to medium organizations. The problems of obtaining and managing the data and computer resources still remain, but the approach is now technically feasible.