speed up for data array

[PMACKAY]

just a silly question..

is it faster for me to x=a(i),y=b(j) or a$=(i,j) or x=a(i,j)

i am trying to speed up data read and write to a dummy screenmap (x,y)

eg. poke screenmap (x,y) and peek screenmap (x,y) just looking for quickest way to read and to string for fake mem map