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Subject: Re: Computer for Kramnik Match: 64-bit Deep Fritz for Unix?

Author: Slater Wold

Date: 20:54:37 06/17/02

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On June 17, 2002 at 20:13:26, Robert Henry Durrett wrote:

>
>I recently contacted Chessbase [info@chessbase.com] and received an email
>response saying that they will soon provide the information I requested, and
>more, about the computer.  It will appear on their Chessbase News webpage.
>
>In the meantime, it's not too late to speculate!
>
>While discussing the computer [for the Kramnik match] with my son, who is here
>at my house for a visit, he noted that "there are plenty of 64-bit 64-processor
>computers running under UNIX."  When pressed for details, he could not give me
>any because he does not use such "beasts" in his job.  Maybe someone here is
>more familiar with this?
>
>The commercial version of Fritz runs on PCs that have Windows operating systems
>simply because the customers want to put Fritz on their home PCs, which run
>under Windows.
>
>But is there any reason, or LAW, that says that the computer they will use for
>the Kramnik match cannot run under UNIX?
>
>Essentially the same situation applies for word length.  The Fritz customers
>have 32-bit computers, so Fritz is designed to run on those 32-bit computers.
>
>But is there any reason, or LAW, that says that the computer they will use for
>the Kramnik match cannot be a 64-bit computer?  i.e. have a 64-bit deep fritz
>running under UNIX?
>
>If so, do any of the "UNIX-types" here at ICD/CCC know how fast the processors
>could be in that case?  Which processors would they use?
>
>What do you think?  Is an 8-processor 64-bit computer running under UNIX a
>possibility for the Deep Fritz versus Kramnik October 2002 match?
>
>Bob D.

I agree with Dann.  There's not a snowflakes chance in hell Chessbase would be
stupid enough to go against Kramnik on a Linux computer.  (Which does have a
64-bit OS.)

Why?  Simple!

If they decided "Hey!  We can get some serious speedups using this 64 CPU with
Linux!  We'd have a better chance at winning!" then not ONLY do they have to
sell Fritz, they also have to sell Linux.

Linux is a damn fine OS.  There is absolutly nothing at all wrong with it.  But
it is *FAR* from the standard OS of the common computer user.

Also, 64 bit CPUs are NOT common.  Most people don't have $2k to go spend on a
PC, let alone a single CPU.  Besides, a computer running dual, quad, i2 Pentium
CPUs is NOT a PC.  It's a super-computer.  I believe the goal at hand, is
beating Kramnik with a computer that most people can at least "relate" to.  I
can "relate" to an 8-way Xeon.  I cannot "relate" to an 8-way i2 box.

They want people to see this computer, (no matter what it may be) running the
same OS that they use everyday, beat this Super-GM.  They don't want people
saying, "Sure, it won.  But what the hell is Linux?!"



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