Author: Steve B
Date: 11:42:01 01/12/05
One generally accepted method to determine an approximate rating for a dedicated computer was the well know suite of chess problems called the BT 2450 and BT 2630 test suites these suites were made up of 30 problems each and depending on the average solve times for the 30 positions a rating could be computed. many of the well known dedicated computers of the day were tested with these suites The Tasc R40-R30 ,Mephisto Genius and Magellan, Saitek Risc 2500 and Novag Diablo to name but a few if a computer could not find the winning move for a particular position within 15 minutes, the problem was scored as a 900(seconds)and stopped one very significant current day use of the test suites is it can be used to verify if you have a correctly running version of a certain model you can enter a position into your unit..compare its solve time to the solve time for that model already tested and it should perform exactly as previously tested i once was offered a computer that supposedly was a Fidelity Mach IV (68020 Processor 20 Mhz) but did not have the correct model number instead of the normal 6110 model it was model 6097(Mach II)but was supposedly "outfitted" with the higher processor i sent the seller a few of the BT 2630 test positions and asked him to tell me how long in seconds it took for the computer to find such and such a move(obviously the winning move in the test suite) needless to say the solution times were not similar(much slower of course) and i declined the offer more on the BT test Suites here: http://www.schachcomputer.at/bt2630.htm one position that NO dedicated computer tested could ever solve within the 15 minutes was this one: position 13 from the BT 2630 and taken from the game.. Bagirow-Gufeld: [D] 2bq3k/2p4p/p2p4/7P/1nBPPQP1/r1p5/8/1K1R2R1 b - - 0 1 BLACK TO MOVE the best winning move is ..Be6 which Gufeld played in the game NO dedicated computer could find the move within the 15 minutes even my trusty Novag Star Ruby insists on playing Pc2+ well after the 15 minutes how long does your computer take to find Be6 for black?? Best Steve
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