GIMPS competition

[Prime95]

We have a competitor http://neoview.kicks-ass.net/mersenne/

Actually its a very nice looking web site.

[jinydu]

If I understand correctly, there is only 1 computer devoted to the task of searching all values of p in increasing order. That computer then updates the webpage automatically. It seems very unlikely that he wouldn't know about GIMPS.

[ixfd64]

It's pretty cool, but it's also a wasteful effort.

He would be better off running Prime95 and updating us about his assignments.

[davieddy]

I think he is trying to claim that he was the first to
discover M(21701).

[ET_]

He is indeed... but he had no clue, at that time, that his algorithm was reliable, I guess.

It's all in S-L-O-W Java. Maybe he'll rethink the whole project after the comments he's going to receive.

Luigi

[davieddy]

Or maybe he thought the press wouldn't be interested.
One 10M digit prime is interesting.
Two and it's getting boring

[mcduck]

Originally Posted by ixfd64

It's pretty cool, but it's also a wasteful effort.

Hey, nothing wrong with a little double checking! About 21701 it's anybody's guess.

Also, I notice from his stats it took him 445 seconds to test M21701 (Oct 14, 2008), so I doubt he will find a prize qualifying prime anytime soon ;)

[cheesehead]

Originally Posted by ixfd64

It's pretty cool, but it's also a wasteful effort.

Most other entertainment is "wasteful", too. :-)

He would be better off running Prime95 and updating us about his assignments.

I think you meant: "We would be better off if he ran Prime95 and updated us about his assignments." ;-)

Looks like he's having a fine time on his own.

[uigrad]

I agree completely with Cheesehead's comments, and am even amazed at how well they are worded!

I think it's a cool webpage. I considered making something similar and running it for a few days, just to see how far it would get.

By coincidence, I've set up a server that replicates the work done by SETI. It actually works extremely efficiently. I've stayed toe-to-toe with them in number of alien contacts made!

[Uncwilly]

Originally Posted by uigrad

By coincidence, I've set up a server that replicates the work done by SETI. It actually works extremely efficiently. I've stayed toe-to-toe with them in number of alien contacts made!

[retina]

Originally Posted by uigrad

By coincidence, I've set up a server that replicates the work done by SETI. It actually works extremely efficiently. I've stayed toe-to-toe with them in number of alien contacts made!

Although I'm curious as to how to compare the efficiency properly? Can we say that uigrad's method is of the same efficiency or more efficient?

Since we could use the mathematical approach and calculate the efficiency as (number of positive results)/(number of contributing systems). Since both would give the same ratio then it could be said that uigrad's method is of the same efficiency.

On the other hand, we could also say that SETI uses millions of computers to generate a certain number of positive results and uigrad uses one computer to generate the same number of positive results. Thus it would appear that uigrad's method is less wasteful and is thus more efficient.