Pointers are good.

Okay, why is C++ more efficent than VB.

Okay... memory use. VB uses more memory than C++. If you ask for a String in VB, you are sucking up memory. In C++ I can char* and get just what I need.

I would say write a simple algorithm in both VC++ and VB, and then disassemble them. Look at them. We can suggest code to use if you would like. Perhaps the Towers of Hanoi. But I think you will see streamlining in the VC++ executable that you won't see in the VB.