my slow results are much faster than yours

Yes. This is 32-bit 5.8.9 on 64-bit Vista on Core 2 Quad @2.4GHz:

## full hash
C:\test>\perl32\bin\perl.exe 909437-1.pl
Lock hash took 1.153 seconds

## refs my way
C:\test>\perl32\bin\perl.exe 909437-2.pl
Lock scalar ref took 3.057 seconds

## refs your way
C:\test>\perl32\bin\perl.exe 909437-3.pl
Lock scalars ref took 3.473 seconds
[download]

And 64-bit 5.10.1:

C:\test>909437-1
Lock hash took 1.189 seconds

C:\test>909437-2
Lock scalar ref took 3.285 seconds

C:\test>909437-3
Lock scalars ref took 3.434 seconds
[download]

Maybe the internal semaphoring has improved substantially in 5.14? Time to consider an upgrade.

Does 5.14 have much else to make the pain worth while?

perl5140delta

I meant anything that has specifically stood out for you.

With regard to the disparity between our timings, they aren't down to 5.14 per se.

They are noticeably quicker on 5.14, but the delta remains the same (for me):

C:\test>\perl5.14-64\bin\perl.exe 909437-1.pl
Lock hash took 0.904 seconds

C:\test>\perl5.14-64\bin\perl.exe 909437-2.pl
Lock scalar ref took 2.482 seconds

C:\test>\perl5.14-64\bin\perl.exe 909437-3.pl
Lock scalars ref took 2.951 seconds
[download]

Are you using AS, or other?

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