Random Number Generation

Using a Computer to Generate Random Numbers

My algorithm: Uses low-order bits from high precision of timing trivial programs to frequently seed the Psuedo-Random Number Generator. The low-order bits are high in entropy and affected by external sources such things as CPU load, CPU temperature (CPU speed varies slightly with CPU temperature), clock variance, and other unpredictable stimulus.

There is no seed (or rather, it is self-seeding) needed to prime the routines, and the results are not predictable given previous results.

Sample C implementation [1]


Diehard Battery of Tests [2] for determining the quality of random numbers.

"ENT" random number testing program [3] [4]