A simple performance tests written in JavaScript using Node.js + Async module. Note: Assumes 'async' module is installed.

perf-test-async.js

var fs = require('fs');
var async = require('async');

var count = 0;

var startTime = Date.now();

fs.readFile('seeds.txt', { encoding: 'utf-8' }, function(err, text){
    var lines = text.split('\n');
  	var fnArray = [];

	for (var i = 0; i < lines.length; i++) {
		var bounds = lines[i].split(' ');

		// Le magic of closures (& self-callingness)!
		fnArray.push((function(lower, upper){
			return function(cb){
				cb(null, palindromeCountBetween(lower, upper));
			}
		})(bounds[0], bounds[1]));
	};

	async.parallel(fnArray, function(err, results){
		for (var i = 0; i < results.length; i++) {
			count += results[i];
		};

		console.log('Count: %d', count);
		console.log('%s secs', (Date.now() - startTime) / 1000);
	});
});

function palindromeCountBetween(lower, upper) {
	var result = 0;
	var l = Number(lower);
	var u = Number(upper);

	for (var i = l; i <= u; i++) {
		if (isPalindrome(i)) {
			result++;
		};
	};

	return result;
}

function isPalindrome(x) {
	var reversed = 0;
	var temp = x;
	while(temp > 0) {
		reversed = reversed * 10 + temp % 10;
		temp = parseInt(temp / 10);
	}
	return reversed == x; // I already know types, so no conversion required.
}