I think that George's optimization of the way that assignments are handed out has to do with this. More slow machines are being given the higher end of the DC's. The DC machines that are known good and faster are being given the tail end.

[COLOR="SeaGreen"][SIZE="4"][B]IIRC[/B][/SIZE][/COLOR]

Unfortunately my preference is to search for world record first time LLs just for the 1 in 200,000 chance that I get bragging rights and a reason to buy a poster that looks like a solid mass of gray ink.

Why unfortunately? George's optimization doesn't force people to do a work type different from what they want. He just assigns exponents within a worktype differently.

I was being facetious. "Unfortunately" because world record size LLs take longer to test. However, I am enthralled by the prospect of actually finding one however slim my chances are. This is the type of work that I want to do.

[quote=lycorn;148831]Yep. It is hard to understand why the server is handing out exps in the 50M range, when there are thousands of other ones listed as available for LL, in the 40M and 30M ranges (and even quite a few in the 20M).
I think priority should be given to consolidate the results obtained for the ranges partially scanned, instead of continuing to go higher and higher, leaving so many gaps behind.[/quote]

It's probably manual assigned ...

[quote=ckdo;175502][SIZE=2]Countdown to proving M(20996011) is the 40th Mersenne Prime: 1,000
[/SIZE][/quote]

[SIZE=2]Countdown to proving M(20996011) is the 40th Mersenne Prime: 900

That's 9 days for the last 100 exponents... :spot:
[/SIZE]

[QUOTE=joblack;176899]It's probably manual assigned ...[/QUOTE]Although the post you quoted was only 7 months ago, it's history now. Read the [URL="http://www.mersenneforum.org/showthread.php?p=148849#post148849"]post after that one[/URL] for a brief explanation of the situation way back then. :smile:

[QUOTE]Countdown to proving M(20996011) is the 40th Mersenne Prime: 900

That's 9 days for the last 100 exponents... [/QUOTE]

You think? Last time I checked there are still 140 exponents awaiting first time check below M(20996011)

[quote=Primeinator;176919]You think? Last time I checked there are still 140 exponents awaiting first time check below M(20996011)[/quote]

You obviously are looking at wrong sources of information.

[QUOTE]You obviously are looking at wrong sources of information. [/QUOTE]

No, I was just suffering from a momentary lapse in memory. It is M(30402457) that has 137 exponents awaiting a first time check. Sorry!

On a slightly more positive note... it is now 898 left to prove M40 is actually M40.

[QUOTE=Primeinator;176919]You think? Last time I checked there are still 140 exponents awaiting first time check below M(20996011)[/QUOTE]

The way I read the chart at [url]http://www.mersenne.org/primenet/[/url] :

"Status Unproven": The number of exponents that HAVE NOT submitted a valid LL or DC test. As of today the lowest EXP requiring an LL test is in the 26M range. I am quite sure it is these columns that are OFFICAL and that feed the milestones reports.

"Assigned": Current active(?) assignments in a given range. There are several reasons why there might be assignments in completed ranges and you could ask why they are allowed to remain so (but that is another topic of lesser interest to me). Personally I have had several first time LL assignments in the 25-29M range that once completed reported as completing the Double Check. So apparently someone else assigned AFTER me completed BEFORE me. No big deal the assignmed got tested twice and I got credit for one.