Which version for P-III's?

[RMAC9.5]

Yes, they are great for moving TF spl file results from non-networked PCs to networked PCs before reporting to the Prime95 server.

[cheesehead]

Originally Posted by joblack

In my opinion it´s not good to remove older cpu optimization even when they are only used for TF.

Then you'll be pleased to know that at ftp://mersenne.org/gimps/archived_executables/ you can download executables as far back as version 18.

[S00113]

Originally Posted by cheesehead

Then you'll be pleased to know that at ftp://mersenne.org/gimps/archived_executables/ you can download executables as far back as version 18.

It isn't very practical to use separate binaries for different CPUs if you manage a lot of very different computers. Or to find out which binary work best for each different confiuration. The one and only version could check this itself, and choose the most efficient work type as well.

[cheesehead]

So, lets ask:

George,

What would be the costs and consequences of restoring all old CPU optimizations to the current version?

[Prime95]

Originally Posted by cheesehead

What would be the costs and consequences of restoring all old CPU optimizations to the current version?

Aaaaaaaccccccckkkkkkkkk!

[Mini-Geek]

Originally Posted by cheesehead

What would be the costs and consequences of restoring all old CPU optimizations to the current version?

Originally Posted by Prime95

Aaaaaaaccccccckkkkkkkkk!

His sanity, apparently.

[cheesehead]

So, there you have it:

It may be impractical to use separate binaries for different CPUs if you manage a lot of very different computers, but it would also be impractical, for GIMPS's continued success, to drive its founder 'round the bend.

[Uncwilly]

Originally Posted by S00113

It isn't very practical to use separate binaries for different CPUs if you manage a lot of very different computers.

I think that based upon what has been posted, PIII's using 23.5 and 25.8 for all other Intel is 'best' . I don't remember about AMD's. Couldn't you have a little installer that determines what type of CPU the machine has and then let it copy the right folder over. Since all of the 23.5's will be "v4 computers" you can set them to "do whatever makes the most sense" on the client side and set "v4 computers" to TF from the web side.

[S00113]

Originally Posted by Uncwilly

I think that based upon what has been posted, PIII's using 23.5 and 25.8 for all other Intel is 'best' . I don't remember about AMD's. Couldn't you have a little installer that determines what type of CPU the machine has and then let it copy the right folder over. Since all of the 23.5's will be "v4 computers" you can set them to "do whatever makes the most sense" on the client side and set "v4 computers" to TF from the web side.

I already use different binaries, since most of my workers are now 64 bit. A few (not 64 bit) are even running Windows. But there are also different configurations, different files, different formats, etc. It is always possible to get around all this, but maintaining it is a lot of hassle nevertheless.

The main challenge is to find out which version works best for each configuration. According to the v5 status page I have 54 different CPU models. I can't benchmark every one of them with all versions of mprime. IMHO mprime should contain as many optimizations as possible, try different optimizations unless the best one is evident, and also select the most efficient work type (FFT range or TF level) automatically.

George's sanity is more important, of course.