Author: Robert Henry Durrett
Date: 17:44:07 05/29/02
Would this Configuration Work [At least theoretically]? Perhaps all in a single box, conveniently called a “COMPUTER”: Have eight motherboards, each with one processor. Motherboards and processors would be the fastest available. Each motherboard with it’s own RAM, also fastest available. Everything optimized for use as chess engines. Chess engine software, possibly all identical, loaded into each MB/RAM/Processor. I.e. each board operates as a chess computer, independently from the other seven “fast” boards. Essentially, there would be eight chess computers all performing independently, one on each board. Have two more motherboards, not necessarily fast at all, with relatively slow processors. RAM might be not so special either, although maybe should be if used for transferring data to other processors via read/write to this RAM. The chess move gets entered into the first “slow” processor. It computes all legal two-ply [or more?] move sequences. That would not take much time, so fast processors not necessary. Then the set of possible two-ply sequences is partitioned into eight subsets, all roughly equal in size. Then the first subset is sent to the first fast board, the second subset sent to the second fast board, etc., with the eighth subset sent to the eighth fast board. Each fast board [i.e. chess computer] then finds the best move sequence of those sent to it. It does not consider any other cases. Then each of the eight fast boards sends it’s “best move,” along with any supporting data, to the second “slow” processor. Finally, the “slow” processor selects the best of the eight available moves [using the "supporting data" as appropriate] and outputs the COMPUTER’s move. If two best are precisely equal, may have to pick one by “flip of coin.” No one needs to know how many boards are in the box. [May as well be sneaky.] Incidentally, the box must have the necessary supporting hardware, such as power supply(ies) etc. If this would work, at least theoretically, could it be made to work in time for the DF/Kramnik match in October? NASA could send a man to the moon and they met their deadline, and this seems a much simpler task. Would a “can do attitude” [and $$$] get this job done in time? Bob D.
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