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Subject: Re: Rough comparison between rotated bitboards and 0x88

Author: Andrew Dados

Date: 16:37:14 06/19/00

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On June 19, 2000 at 19:03:34, James Robertson wrote:

>Abstract: For the last several days, I have been frantically trying to prove
>that my beloved rotated bitboards I spent two years on are as fast as the 0x88
>code I threw together in about an hour.
>
>Conclusion: life is not fair.
>
>Materials & Methods: I managed to speed up my bitboard move generation by 50%
>and bring it almost to the speed 0x88 move generation provides. In most
>positions my rotated bitboards are less than 10-20% slower than the 0x88 code. I
>could live with that, as potential speedups in well written code elsewhere and
>the hope of 64-bit processors that all us bitboard guys look forward to would be
>sufficient compensation. However, the story seems to get worse. Not
>surprisingly, making/unmaking moves is hopelessly slower than in 0x88 (only
>divine replanning of the universe will change that), but even functions such as
>check detection become slower than 0x88 as the pieces come off.
>
>Rotated bitboards do have several saving graces, not the least of which is
>capture generation. For instance, in the position 4k3/8/8/8/8/8/8/RNBQKBNR - -
>rotated bitboards are almost 500% faster! Even in less extreme positions, they
>still hold a healthy edge. Certain aspects of a scoring function are also
>greatly increased in speed. Mobility scoring can be much faster, but when it
>reaches the complexity of what I am writing for Insomniac 0x88 may catch up or
>even surpass the capability of rotated bitboards.
>
>My actual conclusions are... I don't really know. I will have to rewrite
>Insomniac from the ground up, as the new and improved bitboard code I wrote for
>the "speed race" will be almost impossible to move into the old version. So....
>I have a choice now between 0x88 and rotated bitboards, and am hoping maybe some
>of you could give me advice. Is there anyone else who has worked extensively
>with both systems? Anyone who has done more quantitative comparisons? On the
>side of 0x88 seems to be speed and simple code, but I am emotionally attached to
>rotated bitboards and the hope of increased speed on 64-bit processors is
>tantalizing.
>
>Thanks for any help.
>James

Even worse news: When I went down to asm as you did for bitboards, I was able to
speed up capture detection for 0x88 by some 66% :)

However I wouldn't bother rewriting everything since it works nicely...

cheers -
-Andrew-



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