Nim VS Python benchmarks

Current benchmark data was generated on Mon Apr 14 2025, full log can be found HERE

CONTRIBUTIONS are WELCOME!

[x86_64][4 cores] AMD EPYC 7763 64-Core Processor (Model 1)

* -m in a file name stands for multi-threading or multi-processing

* -i in a file name stands for direct intrinsics usage. (Usage of simd intrinsics via libraries is not counted)

* -ffi in a file name stands for non-stdlib FFI usage

* (You may find time < time(user) + time(sys) for some non-parallelized programs, the overhead is from GC or JIT compiler, which are allowed to take advantage of multi-cores as that's more close to real-world scenarios.)

binarytrees

Input: 18

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
nim 2.nim 934ms 16ms 34.6MB 917ms 3ms nim 2.2.2
nim 2.nim 960ms 15ms 34.9MB 947ms 0ms nim/clang 2.2.2
python 1.py 1213ms 9.6ms 96.3MB 1153ms 47ms pypy 3.10.16
python 1.py timeout 0.0ms 40.9MB 4967ms 17ms cpython 3.13.3
python 1.py timeout 0.0ms 40.5MB 4760ms 227ms pyston 3.8.12

Input: 15

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
nim 2.nim 88ms 1.6ms 5.5MB 80ms 0ms nim 2.2.2
nim 2.nim 91ms 2.6ms 5.8MB 80ms 0ms nim/clang 2.2.2
python 1.py 97ms 0.7ms 68.7MB 70ms 20ms pypy 3.10.16
python 1.py 477ms 2.7ms 11.9MB 450ms 10ms pyston 3.8.12
python 1.py 732ms 10.0ms 12.8MB 720ms 0ms cpython 3.13.3

coro-prime-sieve

Input: 4000

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
python 1.py 1229ms 8.1ms 106.1MB 1177ms 37ms pypy 3.10.16
python 1.py 2740ms 11ms 25.2MB 2720ms 10ms cpython 3.13.3
nim 1.nim timeout 0.0ms 559.4MB 2500ms 2040ms nim 2.2.2
nim 1.nim timeout 0.0ms 555.8MB 2460ms 2080ms nim/clang 2.2.2
python 1.py timeout 0.0ms 17.3MB 4980ms 3ms pyston 3.8.12

Input: 1000

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
python 1.py 226ms 4.5ms 86.4MB 190ms 23ms pypy 3.10.16
python 1.py 238ms 4.8ms 20.5MB 217ms 7ms cpython 3.13.3
python 1.py 677ms 17ms 16.8MB 657ms 7ms pyston 3.8.12
nim 1.nim 4313ms 32ms 519.8MB 2100ms 1790ms nim/clang 2.2.2
nim 1.nim 4341ms 20ms 519.4MB 2177ms 1743ms nim 2.2.2

fasta

Input: 2500000

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
nim 2.nim 187ms 1.4ms 1.5MB 180ms 0ms nim 2.2.2
nim 2.nim 236ms 2.8ms 1.8MB 223ms 0ms nim/clang 2.2.2
nim 1.nim 554ms 2.2ms 1.8MB 453ms 90ms nim/clang 2.2.2
nim 1.nim 575ms 2.2ms 1.5MB 473ms 90ms nim 2.2.2
python 1.py 1856ms 3.7ms 88.7MB 1810ms 33ms pypy 3.10.16
python 5-m.py 2281ms 14ms 65.4MB 3517ms 857ms pypy 3.10.16
python 5-m.py 2454ms 16ms 12.5MB 3597ms 933ms pyston 3.8.12
python 1.py 3039ms 6.1ms 8.1MB 3027ms 0ms pyston 3.8.12
python 5-m.py 3378ms 6.8ms 13.9MB 4507ms 907ms cpython 3.13.3
python 1.py 4717ms 37ms 8.9MB 4703ms 0ms cpython 3.13.3

Input: 250000

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
nim 2.nim 21ms 0.6ms 1.5MB 10ms 0ms nim 2.2.2
nim 2.nim 26ms 0.3ms 1.8MB 20ms 0ms nim/clang 2.2.2
nim 1.nim 58ms 0.8ms 1.8MB 40ms 0ms nim/clang 2.2.2
nim 1.nim 61ms 0.3ms 1.5MB 40ms 10ms nim 2.2.2
python 1.py 253ms 4.7ms 63.3MB 227ms 10ms pypy 3.10.16
python 5-m.py 311ms 6.2ms 12.5MB 407ms 143ms pyston 3.8.12
python 1.py 313ms 1.7ms 8.1MB 300ms 0ms pyston 3.8.12
python 5-m.py 410ms 4.8ms 13.8MB 487ms 147ms cpython 3.13.3
python 5-m.py 451ms 3.7ms 65.4MB 747ms 310ms pypy 3.10.16
python 1.py 498ms 22ms 8.9MB 483ms 0ms cpython 3.13.3

helloworld

Input: QwQ

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
nim 1.nim 1.1ms 0.1ms 1.5MB 0ms 0ms nim 2.2.2
nim 1.nim 1.1ms 0.1ms 1.9MB 0ms 0ms nim/clang 2.2.2
python 1.py 11ms 0.9ms 7.8MB 0ms 0ms pyston 3.8.12
python 1.py 14ms 1.3ms 8.6MB 10ms 0ms cpython 3.13.3
python 1.py 28ms 0.4ms 51.6MB 10ms 10ms pypy 3.10.16

lru

Input: 1000 1000000

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
nim 2.nim 110ms 0.4ms 1.4MB 100ms 0ms nim 2.2.2
nim 2.nim 114ms 0.7ms 1.9MB 110ms 0ms nim/clang 2.2.2
python 2.py 145ms 1.4ms 58.3MB 120ms 10ms pypy 3.10.16
python 1.py 178ms 1.3ms 59.3MB 150ms 10ms pypy 3.10.16
python 1.py 726ms 8.6ms 8.9MB 717ms 0ms pyston 3.8.12
python 2.py 840ms 8.8ms 8.5MB 830ms 0ms pyston 3.8.12
python 1.py 1148ms 17ms 9.5MB 1137ms 0ms cpython 3.13.3
python 2.py 1347ms 2.0ms 9.3MB 1333ms 0ms cpython 3.13.3
nim 1.nim timeout 0.0ms 1.3MB 4990ms 0ms nim 2.2.2
nim 1.nim timeout 0.0ms 1.5MB 4990ms 0ms nim/clang 2.2.2

Input: 1000 3000000

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
nim 2.nim 326ms 2.2ms 1.4MB 320ms 0ms nim 2.2.2
nim 2.nim 340ms 0.3ms 1.6MB 330ms 0ms nim/clang 2.2.2
python 2.py 344ms 7.2ms 59.2MB 320ms 10ms pypy 3.10.16
python 1.py 380ms 1.8ms 60.3MB 357ms 10ms pypy 3.10.16
python 1.py 2133ms 11ms 8.9MB 2120ms 0ms pyston 3.8.12
python 2.py 2493ms 11ms 8.5MB 2480ms 0ms pyston 3.8.12
python 1.py 3395ms 51ms 9.5MB 3383ms 0ms cpython 3.13.3
python 2.py 3992ms 18ms 9.1MB 3980ms 0ms cpython 3.13.3
nim 1.nim timeout 0.0ms 1.3MB 4990ms 0ms nim 2.2.2
nim 1.nim timeout 0.0ms 1.5MB 4990ms 0ms nim/clang 2.2.2

Input: 100 500000

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
nim 2.nim 49ms 0.2ms 1.5MB 40ms 0ms nim/clang 2.2.2
nim 2.nim 52ms 1.4ms 1.3MB 43ms 0ms nim 2.2.2
python 2.py 104ms 2.3ms 58.1MB 87ms 7ms pypy 3.10.16
python 1.py 122ms 4.0ms 58.7MB 100ms 13ms pypy 3.10.16
python 1.py 349ms 7.4ms 8.5MB 337ms 0ms pyston 3.8.12
python 2.py 390ms 5.2ms 8.1MB 377ms 0ms pyston 3.8.12
nim 1.nim 446ms 2.7ms 1.5MB 440ms 0ms nim/clang 2.2.2
nim 1.nim 479ms 2.2ms 1.3MB 470ms 0ms nim 2.2.2
python 1.py 552ms 6.4ms 9.3MB 540ms 0ms cpython 3.13.3
python 2.py 649ms 7.0ms 8.8MB 637ms 0ms cpython 3.13.3

mandelbrot

Input: 5000

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
nim 1.nim 386ms 0.2ms 4.7MB 380ms 0ms nim/clang 2.2.2
nim 1.nim 576ms 0.7ms 4.4MB 570ms 0ms nim 2.2.2

Input: 1000

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
nim 1.nim 18ms 0.2ms 1.9MB 10ms 0ms nim/clang 2.2.2
nim 1.nim 26ms 0.9ms 1.6MB 20ms 0ms nim 2.2.2

merkletrees

Input: 17

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
nim 1.nim 532ms 4.4ms 34.6MB 513ms 0ms nim 2.2.2
nim 1.nim 609ms 7.4ms 34.9MB 593ms 0ms nim/clang 2.2.2
python 1.py 2227ms 9.2ms 202.8MB 2113ms 100ms pypy 3.10.16
python 1.py timeout 0.0ms 94.0MB 4960ms 27ms cpython 3.13.3
python 1.py timeout 0.0ms 130.4MB 4937ms 47ms pyston 3.8.12

Input: 15

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
nim 1.nim 113ms 0.7ms 9.6MB 100ms 0ms nim 2.2.2
nim 1.nim 134ms 2.0ms 9.9MB 123ms 0ms nim/clang 2.2.2
python 1.py 384ms 2.6ms 105.2MB 327ms 43ms pypy 3.10.16
python 1.py 3481ms 73ms 37.3MB 3450ms 20ms cpython 3.13.3
python 1.py timeout 0.0ms 48.9MB 4957ms 30ms pyston 3.8.12

nbody

Input: 5000000

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
nim 2.nim 319ms 0.9ms 1.8MB 310ms 0ms nim 2.2.2
nim 2.nim 342ms 1.8ms 2.0MB 330ms 0ms nim/clang 2.2.2
python 2.py 1350ms 3.5ms 57.9MB 1327ms 10ms pypy 3.10.16
python 1.py 2654ms 20ms 57.2MB 2627ms 13ms pypy 3.10.16
python 1.py timeout 0.0ms 8.9MB 4990ms 0ms cpython 3.13.3
python 2.py timeout 0.0ms 8.9MB 4990ms 0ms cpython 3.13.3
python 1.py timeout 0.0ms 8.3MB 4990ms 0ms pyston 3.8.12
python 2.py timeout 0.0ms 8.1MB 4990ms 0ms pyston 3.8.12

Input: 500000

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
nim 2.nim 34ms 0.6ms 1.8MB 30ms 0ms nim 2.2.2
nim 2.nim 38ms 0.5ms 2.0MB 30ms 0ms nim/clang 2.2.2
python 2.py 177ms 2.0ms 57.9MB 157ms 10ms pypy 3.10.16
python 1.py 309ms 11ms 57.1MB 287ms 7ms pypy 3.10.16
python 1.py 1009ms 134ms 8.3MB 997ms 0ms pyston 3.8.12
python 2.py 1304ms 5.0ms 8.3MB 1293ms 0ms pyston 3.8.12
python 1.py 2984ms 72ms 8.8MB 2970ms 0ms cpython 3.13.3
python 2.py 3398ms 9.8ms 8.9MB 3387ms 0ms cpython 3.13.3

nsieve

Input: 12

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
nim 1.nim 289ms 6.8ms 41.5MB 277ms 0ms nim 2.2.2
nim 1.nim 329ms 8.1ms 41.8MB 317ms 0ms nim/clang 2.2.2
python 1.py 2598ms 14ms 369.5MB 2527ms 60ms pypy 3.10.16
python 2.py 3071ms 19ms 633.0MB 2897ms 157ms pyston 3.8.12
python 1.py 4831ms 76ms 320.4MB 4770ms 47ms pyston 3.8.12
python 1.py timeout 0.0ms 321.3MB 4960ms 27ms cpython 3.13.3
python 2.py timeout 0.0ms 633.8MB 4833ms 150ms cpython 3.13.3
python 2.py timeout 0.0ms 959.7MB 4723ms 260ms pypy 3.10.16

Input: 10

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
nim 1.nim 53ms 2.7ms 11.5MB 40ms 0ms nim 2.2.2
nim 1.nim 56ms 3.9ms 11.8MB 43ms 0ms nim/clang 2.2.2
python 1.py 545ms 16ms 135.2MB 510ms 20ms pypy 3.10.16
python 2.py 746ms 6.9ms 164.2MB 707ms 27ms pyston 3.8.12
python 1.py 1093ms 21ms 86.0MB 1070ms 10ms pyston 3.8.12
python 2.py 1471ms 14ms 165.0MB 1430ms 30ms cpython 3.13.3
python 2.py 1569ms 31ms 290.2MB 1480ms 77ms pypy 3.10.16
python 1.py 2775ms 8.1ms 86.9MB 2750ms 10ms cpython 3.13.3

regex-redux

Input: 2500000_in

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
nim 1.nim 1632ms 4.8ms 164.1MB 1603ms 20ms nim/clang 2.2.2
nim 1.nim 1698ms 8.9ms 163.9MB 1667ms 13ms nim 2.2.2
python 1.py 2250ms 7.9ms 243.5MB 2190ms 40ms pypy 3.10.16
python 1.py 4742ms 16ms 252.7MB 4557ms 170ms pyston 3.8.12
python 1.py timeout 0.0ms 149.9MB 4927ms 57ms cpython 3.13.3

Input: 250000_in

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
nim 1.nim 172ms 1.7ms 20.9MB 160ms 0ms nim/clang 2.2.2
nim 1.nim 178ms 1.9ms 20.6MB 163ms 0ms nim 2.2.2
python 1.py 332ms 4.0ms 87.9MB 293ms 23ms pypy 3.10.16
python 1.py 499ms 5.4ms 30.0MB 467ms 23ms pyston 3.8.12
python 1.py 619ms 0.9ms 29.5MB 583ms 23ms cpython 3.13.3

spectral-norm

Input: 8000

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
nim 1.nim 3587ms 0.7ms 1.6MB 3580ms 0ms nim/clang 2.2.2
nim 1.nim 3592ms 2.0ms 1.4MB 3580ms 0ms nim 2.2.2
python 8.py timeout 0.0ms 14.8MB 40ms 7ms cpython 3.13.3
python 8.py timeout 0.0ms 96.8MB 803ms 73ms pypy 3.10.16
python 8.py timeout 0.0ms 14.1MB 33ms 10ms pyston 3.8.12

Input: 4000

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
nim 1.nim 900ms 0.9ms 1.5MB 890ms 0ms nim/clang 2.2.2
nim 1.nim 902ms 2.5ms 1.3MB 890ms 0ms nim 2.2.2
python 8.py timeout 0.0ms 14.6MB 50ms 10ms cpython 3.13.3
python 8.py timeout 0.0ms 96.2MB 1303ms 180ms pypy 3.10.16
python 8.py timeout 0.0ms 13.7MB 57ms 20ms pyston 3.8.12

Input: 2000

lang code time stddev peak-mem mem time(user) time(sys) compiler compiler/runtime
nim 1.nim 227ms 0.4ms 1.5MB 220ms 0ms nim/clang 2.2.2
nim 1.nim 227ms 1.0ms 1.3MB 220ms 0ms nim 2.2.2
python 8-m.py 1955ms 10ms 93.2MB 6330ms 253ms pypy 3.10.16
python 8.py timeout 0.0ms 14.3MB 90ms 13ms cpython 3.13.3
python 8.py timeout 0.0ms 13.1MB 127ms 37ms pyston 3.8.12