Here's an example with some commentary on workflow.

I'm trying to understand how the default specular differs from the Glossy node.

First thing I do is set up both, on a simple prop like a sphere. This way I can render two setups simultaneously and examine the differences in a single render.

But I'm doing several things wrong in this case.

I have shadows on, pixel samples = 6, min shading rate = .5. And I've not cropped my render effectively so I waste a lot of time rendering stuff that is not providing information.

This is a 15 seconds render.

---

Renderosity forum reply notifications are wonky. If I read a follow-up in a thread, but I don't myself reply, then notifications no longer happen AT ALL on that thread. So if I seem to be ignoring a question, that's why. (Updated September 23, 2019)