Is converting a number to a string any faster than not converting it?

[notsad2 (nots7d)]

simple

local function PrintNoConvert(something: number)
   print(something)
end

local function PrintConvert(something: number)
   local converted = tostring(something)

   print(converted)
end

PrintNoConvert(8)
PrintConvert(2)

-- is there a difference in speed?

[ALonelyGalaxy]

No, I tested it by replicating your system and adding os.clock() for microsecond precision, non-converted value is always faster because tostring() is another function along with print() and each function requires a very small delay to process and run. Here is the script if you are curious:

local function PrintNoConvert(something: number)
    local startTime = os.clock()
    print(something)
    print(os.clock() - startTime)
end

local function PrintConvert(something: number)
    local startTime = os.clock()
    local converted = tostring(something)

    print(converted)
    print(os.clock() - startTime)
end

PrintNoConvert(5)

task.wait(1)

PrintConvert(5)