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Subject: Re: Hardware Question

Author: Jasmine Baer

Date: 14:53:13 03/12/04

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Yes.  Both Shredder 7 and 8 can be set up to use two threads.  And, with a dual
processor system, I'd have an excuse to purchase DF8 and DJ8.  Ha-ha!  Won't the
wife be thrilled!  "What the HELL are you doing, you geek!  And you complain
about ME spending like a drunken sailor?!?"

On March 11, 2004 at 16:47:47, David Mitchell wrote:

>On March 11, 2004 at 13:07:41, Jasmine Baer wrote:
>
>>I need some real-world advice.
>>
>>I have become addicted to letting my chess engines fight it out on
>>www.playchess.com with other engines.  Now, it pains me to stop my PC from
>>playing chess so that I can do real work on it.  :-)  So... I intend to build a
>>chess-only PC.
>>
>>I would like to build a dual-cpu PC partly because I have never done so before,
>>and partly because those look like the ones that perform the best on the
>>playchess server.  Which of the following set-ups would you all recommend for me
>>to build?  Keep in mind, I want the system that will be able to hold its own
>>against some of the better PCs out on playchess.com - i.e. Elo's around 2800 on
>>a consistent basis.  Also keep in mind that I prefer NOT to spend more than
>>$1,500.
>>
>>System 1:  Dual Athlon MP
>>Tyan S2466 Mobo
>>Kingston 512 MB DDR PC2100 RAM
>>2600+ Athlon MP x 2
>>Antec 550W EPS 12v PSU
>>Plus the assorted IDE HD, CDRW drive, O/S, floppy, etc.
>>PRICE:  $,1,144
>>
>>System 2:  Dual Xeon DP
>>Tyan S2723 Mobo
>>Kingston 512 MB DDR PC 2100 RAM
>>2.66 GHz Intel Xeon x 2
>>Antec 550W EPS 12v PSU
>>Plus the assorted IDE HD, CDRW drive, O/S, floppy, etc.
>>PRICE:  $1,474
>>
>>For my purposes (goofing off playing chess online and letting it analyze
>>positions, etc. - basically, all my chess playing needs will be on this system),
>>is the Xeon system really worth $300 more?  Will it perform longer?  Is it more
>>stable?  Will it be "better" on the playchess server?
>>
>>I'm not worried about which one can do MP3s faster or handle game graphics
>>better.  I've got a 2.8 Ghz P4 for that kind of stuff.  All I am looking for is
>>something that can run about 20 hours/day and play chess on the server and
>>analyze positions.
>>
>>Please provide some good feedback. I value all of your opinions, and I want to
>>get the most for my dollar.
>>
>>Thanks.
>>-Erik
>
>First question is, can your engine even use two CPU's?  If it isn't set up to
>run in parallel, it won't be a benefit to it's performance. Computer matches can
>be run easiest on a dual though.
>
>The real world (as opposed to what?) answer is, although AMD processors are
>generally best for chess, your program should be tested on both, and
>performances compared.
>
>The key to longevity is IMO quality components (which you seem to have spec'd
>out already), quality electricity (brown outs and spikes wreck havoc on
>integrated electronics), and a relatively cool operating environment.
>
>Cleanliness may not be biblically tied to godliness, but it is "heavenly" to
>electronics. Dirt stops the fan's air from cooling properly, and may vastly
>shorten expected lifetime of the device.
>
>I hate to poke a pin at your "what openings commercial engines play", question,
>but that data has already been collected for many thousands of CC, sorted out in
>great detail, and is on the web. I don't have the url, but I saw it just
>recently, so perhaps someone here can chime in with the address.
>
>Whatever you buy, remember it will be only so-so by next year. Look for
>something you really will enjoy even though it's not one of the fastest,
>anymore.
>
>dave



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