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ctimegettickcount
Leonid
Leonid

Reputation: 93

GetTickCount function

I have a question regarding GetTickCount function, I have two calls to this function in my code with several commands between them and the function in both calls returns same count. i.e.

var1 = GetTickCount();
code
:
:
var2 = GetTickCount();

var1 and var2 has same values in it.

can someone help?

Upvotes: 9

Views: 35517

Answers (5)

Conrad Frix
Conrad Frix

Reputation: 52645

If you go the QueryPerformanceCounter route you need to watch out for hardware dependent wierdness. Its been awhile so I don't know if this kinda stuff still happens.

You might also want to take a look at this link since it has a nice sample app which compares QueryPerformanceCounter, GetTickCount and TimeGetTime

Upvotes: 5

naivnomore
naivnomore

Reputation: 1319

From MSDN

The resolution of the GetTickCount function is limited to the resolution of the system timer, which is typically in the range of 10 milliseconds to 16 milliseconds. The resolution of the GetTickCount function is not affected by adjustments made by the GetSystemTimeAdjustment function.

The elapsed time is stored as a DWORD value. Therefore, the time will wrap around to zero if the system is run continuously for 49.7 days. To avoid this problem, use the GetTickCount64 function. Otherwise, check for an overflow condition when comparing times.

If you need a higher resolution timer, use a multimedia timer or a high-resolution timer.

Upvotes: 2

Dmitry Brant
Dmitry Brant

Reputation: 7710

GetTickCount has a resolution of one millisecond (in practice, it's several milliseconds). It's highly likely that the functions you're calling in between are taking considerably less than 1 millisecond.

Upvotes: 1

jcoder
jcoder

Reputation: 30035

If you are referring to the Windows API call then read this. I would guess that you are trying to time a short interval so this paragraph is relevant. Are you timing something shorter than that interval? If so look into QueryPerformanceCounter instead perhaps.

The resolution of the GetTickCount function is limited to the resolution of the system timer, which is typically in the range of 10 milliseconds to 16 milliseconds. The resolution of the GetTickCount function is not affected by adjustments made by the GetSystemTimeAdjustment function.

Upvotes: 7

Jon Skeet
Jon Skeet

Reputation: 1500575

Assuming this is the Windows GetTickCount call, that's entirely reasonable:

The resolution of the GetTickCount function is limited to the resolution of the system timer, which is typically in the range of 10 milliseconds to 16 milliseconds.

Note that it's only measuring milliseconds to start with - and you can do an awful lot in a millisecond these days.

The docs go on to say:

If you need a higher resolution timer, use a multimedia timer or a high-resolution timer.

Perhaps QueryPerformanceCounter would be more appropriate?

Upvotes: 20

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