MP3 optimization exploiting processor architecture and using better algorithms

For all applications, execution time depends on the executing processors architecture and clock frequency, the computational complexity (number of operations) of the algorithms used in the program, the compiler, and the programmer's skill. But how much influence do these factors exert on overall performance? In this article, we compare the performance of diverse MP3 decoder implementations that cover various levels and types of optimizations. Our goal is to illustrate the influence of these factors on performance.