LabVIEW Timed Loop Slower than While Loop

Issue Details

Why is a timed loop slower than a regular while loop in LabVIEW?

Solution

Timed loops enforce strict timing, and while loops execute as fast as your CPU will allow.

Additional Information

Timed loops were a new feature introduced in LabVIEW 7.1, and one misconception about timed loops is that they execute "faster" than regular while loops.  On the contrary, timed loops actually run slower than while loops due to the tradeoff between speed and determinism.  A timed loop is close to deterministic because it will iterate at the period you specify (although it is not completely deterministic since Windows is not a real-time operating system).  A while loop will simply run as fast as your CPU will allow.  A timed loop is generally used when there is a need for multi-rate timing capabilities, precise timing, feedback on loop execution, timing characteristics that change dynamically, several levels of execution priority, or precise determinism in a real-time operating system.

For more information on using timed loops in LabVIEW, refer the links below.