List<t> generic type - Fastest way to copy into an unmanaged array?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Daniel Mori
  • Start date Start date
D

Daniel Mori

Hi, Im hoping someone can give me some advice.
Im doing some development using VS Whidbey 2005 beta 1.

Im about to implement some highly time critical code related to a
managed collection of floats.

I basically require the fastest way to convert a managed array of
floats into an unmanaged array of floats.

As far as the managed collection is implemented, ive read that the
following would be the most type-safe and efficient (no
boxing/unboxing):

List<float> myFloats

However, Ive also read that the Marshal.Copy method is an extremely
fast way of copying a tradional managed array into an unmanaged array.
But if i do this method (i,e use a tradional .net array), I have the
boxing/unboxing issues.

For this particular case, I must sacrifice all I can for conversion
speed.

Can anyone recommend the fastest way to store and convert an array of
floats (managed -> unmanaged)?

thanks for reading.
 
Daniel,
Hi, Im hoping someone can give me some advice.
Im doing some development using VS Whidbey 2005 beta 1.

Im about to implement some highly time critical code related to a
managed collection of floats.

I basically require the fastest way to convert a managed array of
floats into an unmanaged array of floats.

As far as the managed collection is implemented, ive read that the
following would be the most type-safe and efficient (no
boxing/unboxing):

List<float> myFloats

However, Ive also read that the Marshal.Copy method is an extremely
fast way of copying a tradional managed array into an unmanaged array.
Click to expand...

It is indeed.
But if i do this method (i,e use a tradional .net array), I have the
boxing/unboxing issues.
Click to expand...

Huh? Why boxing here? As long as you use an array of float, you won't need
boxing/unboxing. Granted, you'll end up copying a value here and there from
the stack to the managed heap where the array is stored, but it definitely
does *not* imply boxing at all (unless you for some reason declare the array
as Object* __gc[], which you probably aren't doing).
 
Tomas Restrepo \(MVP\) said:
Daniel,
Hi, Im hoping someone can give me some advice.
Im doing some development using VS Whidbey 2005 beta 1.

Im about to implement some highly time critical code related to a
managed collection of floats.

I basically require the fastest way to convert a managed array of
floats into an unmanaged array of floats.

As far as the managed collection is implemented, ive read that the
following would be the most type-safe and efficient (no
boxing/unboxing):

List<float> myFloats

However, Ive also read that the Marshal.Copy method is an extremely
fast way of copying a tradional managed array into an unmanaged array.
Click to expand...

It is indeed.
But if i do this method (i,e use a tradional .net array), I have the
boxing/unboxing issues.
Click to expand...

Huh? Why boxing here? As long as you use an array of float, you won't need
boxing/unboxing. Granted, you'll end up copying a value here and there from
the stack to the managed heap where the array is stored, but it definitely
does *not* imply boxing at all (unless you for some reason declare the array
as Object* __gc[], which you probably aren't doing).
Click to expand...


You're quite right. I mis-read documentation on array and collection
type boxing/unboxing.

Thankyou for your assistance.
Regards.
 
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