Timer speed VS infinite while loop

Question

I have got the next problem. In windows forms I need to make a timer that simulates a while loop. I have runned some tests and a while loop is about 27 times faster than a timer with 1 interval. So my question is, how can I simulate a while loop with my timer. This is the code I used to test the interval:

private: System::Void timer1_Tick(System::Object^  sender, System::EventArgs^  e) {
             m_nI++;
             lbltimer->Text = m_nI++.ToString();
             if (m_nI > 10000000)
                 {
                     timer1->Enabled = false;
                 }

             while(1)
             {
                 m_nIMin++;
                 lblLoop->Text = m_nIMin.ToString();
                 Application::DoEvents();
                 if (m_nIMin > 10000000)
                 {
                     break;
                 }
             }
         }

m_nI is declared global just as m_nIMin they are both ints. Any respond in c++/cli or c++ would be welcome. Thanks in advance.

PS. I know Application::DoEvents() isn't good to use but its the only solution on testing a infinite while loop in windowsforms.

It is very important I accomplish the speed for a project i'm currently working on. — Thealon, May 23 '14 at 08:14
This whole question doesn't make any sense. If you want a while loop, then use a while loop. Certainly don't use it in the Timer_Tick event handler, though. You can't run a blocking loop on the UI thread without hogging the UI. That's why you need DoEvents. Solve the problem by using a background thread. — Cody Gray - on strike, May 23 '14 at 08:23
Could you give me a sample code of the background thread? Ill take it as an answer. — Thealon, May 23 '14 at 08:28
The UI thread only needs to do things that make sense to a human. Who's eyes are utterly incapable of seeing a number change at 1 millisecond increments. It is a complete blur, it starts to get blurry at 50 msec updates. Plenty slow enough for a Timer, a hot while() loop is complete overkill. Avoid writing senseless code and problems like this just disappear. — Hans Passant, May 23 '14 at 08:42
@HansPassant I know thats why i'm looking for an alternative to this while loop. I'm updating old C console code to newer c++/cli code. The console code was using a while loop that was infinite and now I need the same speed in winforms. Although a timer isn't fast enough a backgroundworker may be the solution. But any help is appreciated. — Thealon, May 23 '14 at 08:45

score 1 · Answer 1 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:27

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The timer resolution is given by the system heartbeat. This typically defaults to 64 beats/s which is 15.625 ms. However there are ways to modify these system wide settings to achieve timer resolutions down to 1 ms or so.

For more details read Why .NET Timers are limited to 15ms

on the other hand while loop runs continuously and may cause UI to freeze if not used properly.

edited May 23 '17 at 12:27

Community

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answered May 23 '14 at 09:28

Manish Dalal

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But how I achieve the same speed as in a while loop, that was my question – Thealon May 23 '14 at 09:35
through timer only, YOU CANNOT.... but you can find a way-out (called jugaad) by knowing how much time one iteration of the loop takes, and run the loop that many times within one timer event ....... Alternatively, run a while loop with Application.DoEvents (But read http://blog.codinghorror.com/is-doevents-evil/ before using DoEvents) – Manish Dalal May 23 '14 at 09:53

Timer speed VS infinite while loop

1 Answers1