Author: David Dory
Date: 18:57:35 05/29/02
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On May 29, 2002 at 20:44:07, Robert Henry Durrett wrote: >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. Sorry Bob, You don't get much benefit out of this type of set-up. (This is very similar to a "cluster", I believe). The best thing about it is that you could have each CPU & board, "guess" a different answering move by the opponent, and begin working on the best reply on the opponent's time. IMHO Because of the nature of alpha-beta, the bandwidth get's plugged. This is what I've always been told. REALLY would like to see it done though, and thoroughly tested with excellent components. (No slow CPU's) Sometimes you THINK it just HAS to be (good/bad/indifferent), but you don't know for stink until it's really tested. Even then, you only know with the EXACT set-up you have at that moment of testing. Everything else is only fine speculation. David
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