float_benchmark.rb

n = 5_000_000
puts Benchmark.measure { n.times { Float("9.0") } }
puts Benchmark.measure { n.times { "9.0".to_f } }

gistfile1.txt

# user, system, user+system, real in seconds

# master (0e5f208f)
$ RBXOPT=-X19 bin/rbx -v
rubinius 2.0.0dev (1.9.3 0e5f208f yyyy-mm-dd JI) [x86_64-apple-darwin11.3.0]
$ RBXOPT=-X19 bin/rbx ~/float_benchmark.rb
 19.099325   0.022679  19.122004 ( 18.981508)
  1.602614   0.000624   1.603238 (  1.589942)

# with patch
$ RBXOPT=-X19 bin/rbx -v
rubinius 2.0.0dev (1.9.3 6d1467d1 yyyy-mm-dd JI) [x86_64-apple-darwin11.3.0]
$ RBXOPT=-X19 bin/rbx ~/float_benchmark.rb
  2.471862   0.004314   2.476176 (  2.362196)
  1.768438   0.001124   1.769562 (  1.695914)

# MRI 1.9.3
$ ruby -v
ruby 1.9.3p125 (2012-02-16 revision 34643) [x86_64-darwin11.3.0]
$ ruby ~/float_benchmark.rb
  1.310000   0.000000   1.310000 (  1.315623)
  1.280000   0.000000   1.280000 (  1.277073)