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Subject: Re: Two computers vs. one computer

Author: Mogens Larsen

Date: 23:47:16 06/24/00

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On June 24, 2000 at 17:13:47, eric guttenberg wrote:

>I have noticed quite a few recent posts reporting program vs. program
>results obtained on a single computer. I continue to be a little mis-
>trustful of those results as a reliable indicator of the relative
>playing strengths of the programs.  It has always seemed to me that some
>programs are more greatly affected by the 1-machine format than others.
>Is my concern misplaced here?  Is there now some consensus that the
>results are not in the long run different because a single machine rather
>than 2 separate but identical machines are used?

The only major difference between two computers as opposed to one, is the option
of using permanent brain, without worrying about problems. Problems such as: do
both programs use genuine ponder off? Or is one of them thinking anyway. That
can be checked of course using certain kinds of software, but very few, myself
included, actually do.

The results however, are not that different from 1 to 2 computers, because most
programmers have incorporated a wellfunctioning permanent brain, whether it's
turned on or off. I don't think any program, Crafty included, have any
significant advantage in that area. So there's no reason for concern IMHO.

Of course this doesn't mean that I would turn down an offer for an extra
computer :o).

Best wishes...
Mogens



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