Computer Chess Club Archives


Search

Terms

Messages

Subject: Re: questions about hardware for WCCC

Author: Joachim Rang

Date: 08:47:09 06/17/04

Go up one level in this thread


On June 17, 2004 at 11:29:45, Uri Blass wrote:

>On June 17, 2004 at 11:24:23, Uri Blass wrote:
>
>>On June 17, 2004 at 11:09:16, Joachim Rang wrote:
>>
>>>On June 17, 2004 at 09:27:02, Uri Blass wrote:
>>>
>>>>1)Suppose that I bring a computer to the tournament and do not use a loan
>>>>computer.
>>>>
>>>>I will probably do it
>>>>
>>>>Can I keep the computer there or do I need to carry it every day to my home
>>>>and later carry it back to my home?
>>>>
>>>>2)I think that I will buy a computer from IBM and I am going for the faster
>>>>single processor that I can get before WCCC.
>>>>
>>>>http://www-132.ibm.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=-840&storeId=1&langId=-1&dualCurrId=73&categoryId=2588412
>>>>
>>>>I think to buy the computer that has a price of 3770$ in that list if I can get
>>>>it before WCCC.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>I decided probably not to buy dual because other people test it with ponder on
>>>>so I plan to use only ponder off in my tests and hope that everything is going
>>>>to be ok because I do not change my pondering code.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>I am not sure if I can get it before WCCC and I try to find out.
>>>>I will not buy it if I cannot get it before WCCC(It seems that I assumed wrongly
>>>>that the time that somebody in Israel can get a computer is the time that take
>>>>to send a computer from USA to Israel in the worst case but people tell me that
>>>>if IBM has not that computer in Israel it can take more time).
>>>>
>>>>IBM does not have this computer in Israel and if I need to wait more than 2
>>>>weeks to get it I am not going to buy it and I guess that I will buy a cheaper
>>>>computer from IBM and another computer from IBM with 2 processors for the same
>>>>price.
>>>>
>>>>I decided not to buy dual processors and to concentrate on a single processor
>>>>that is faster if I can do it.
>>>>
>>>>I can later add second processor if I want.
>>>>
>>>>3)People suggest me for the same price to buy more computers and I want to know
>>>>what you suggest to do.
>>>>
>>>>Speed is important for me in WCCC and I am afraid that I am too late in buying
>>>>the fastest computer.
>>>>
>>>>I decided that building a computer is not an option for me and I need somebody
>>>>that I can trust who will teach me how to do it and I do not have somebody for
>>>>that purpose.
>>>>
>>>>I want to know what you suggest and what is the best deal that I can get now
>>>>for the same price that I need to pay for the computer that I plan to buy.
>>>>
>>>>Uri
>>>
>>>
>>>Hi Uri,
>>>
>>>I would strongly suggest to buy a cheaper system. There is an Athlon 64 3200+
>>
>>
>>Is the athlon64 3200+ significantly better than the PIV that I can get as loaned
>>computer?
>>
>>
>>>with 512 KB 2nd level cache and 2.2 Ghz clockspeed available for about 300 $. An
>>>Opteron 150 or an FX-53 will be probably not faster than 10%.
>>
>>The opteron that I think to buy is only opteron148.
>>I do not think that I can get opteron150 and at least the link does not suggest
>>it.
>>
>>Are you sure that the difference is smaller than 10%.
>>
>>I thought that opteron is always better than athlon(otherwise I do not
>>understand why selling opteron1.8 ghz is 2488$ based on the link when the
>>Athlon64 is significantly cheaper).
>>
>>1.8ghz is more than 10% less than 2.2ghz so your words suggest that
>>athlon64 3200ghz is both cheaper and faster than the opteron244 1.8ghz.
>>
>>If this is the case then what is the reason to buy opteron1.8ghz?
>>
>>I am interested in the number of nodes per second that public movei get in the
>>opening position with the athlon.
>>
>>I remember impressive results of slater with the opteron and I have no idea if
>>the athlon can get close to it.
>>
>>Uri
>
>Here is slater results:
>http://chessprogramming.org/cccsearch/ccc.php?art_id=364613
>
>Can you get above 600 Knodes per second with athlon64 3200?
>
>Uri


I'm quite sure one can. If the architecure is the same and that is more or less
true for Opterons/FX/AMD 64 than what is critical for the knps is the Clockspeed
(of course it is not true for different architectures: P4-clockspeed is worth
only 0.7 AMD XP-Clockspeed and only 0.6 AMD 64 clockspeed). An opteron 148 is
clocked with 2.2 GHz so is an AMD 64 3400+. There is only one differenc iirc
that is the opteron has two RAM-Interfaces. I think that does not matter much
(less than 10%). There is also an AMD 64 3200+ with 2.2 GHz out but with a
smaller 2nd level cachen (512 KB instead of 1024kb). But the second level cache
is also of minor importance for a chess program unless you have your engine
specifically designed for this specific architecture.

So I bet an AMD 64 3400+ and even an AMD 64 3200+ is the same speed (+-10%) than
an Opteron 148.

I think there are stores in Europe where one can order an AMD 3400+ with quality
components for 1200 € in a week. Whether they deliver to Israel is another
question.

regards Joachim



This page took 0 seconds to execute

Last modified: Thu, 15 Apr 21 08:11:13 -0700

Current Computer Chess Club Forums at Talkchess. This site by Sean Mintz.