Strength improvements due to software rather than hardware

[James Constance]

Hi all

As my A.I. lecturer seems to think that advances in chess engine strength are largely due to improvements in hardware, I was wondering if anyone could point me to somewhere that evaluates the relative contribution of search and evaluation vs hardware to improvements in strength.

Thanks

[Haikouichthys]

All the rating lists are either fixed hardware or at least designed to be equivalent to fixed hardware (and so all rating differences there are from software). Additionally, http://en.chessbase.com/post/komodo-8-t ... -challenge

[deefree49]

David Levy estimated a 50 to 70 point gain in ELO when processor speed is doubled.

Taking this into account, a typical quality standalone chess "game" from around 1990 ran at around 12 mhz. The best, generally affordable machine played at close to master level. (2200)

If you double the speed, according to Levy, the upgrade should give you 50 to 70 more ELO, or about 2250 -2270 ELO.

Double again to approximately 50 MHz and you get 2300 - 2340.

Go to 100 (typical Pentium, early 90's) and now 2350 - 2410.
200 MHz = 2400 - 2480.
400 MHz = 2450 - 2550.
800 MHz = 2500 - 2620
1600 MHz = 2550 - 2690

So if we average that out, it is somewhere in the low 2600's.

That standalone had at most, a program that was about 1 megabyte.
The average chess instruction in today's chess software (or programmed chess "knowledge") is at least 100 times that large now and likely even greater.

It seems that larger and highly improved programming has added another 600 ELO in the best cases. So the gain seems fairly evenly divided at this stage between software and hardware improvements. (there does seem to be a small lead in the programming end)

If you search the internet for "computer chess" I think you'd be amazed at how much pertinent information is available that addresses your question.

[Dann Corbit]

Hi all

As my A.I. lecturer seems to think that advances in chess engine strength are largely due to improvements in hardware, I was wondering if anyone could point me to somewhere that evaluates the relative contribution of search and evaluation vs hardware to improvements in strength.

Thanks

Should be fairly simple to calculate it.
There are many lists with old programs still in them.
The improvements in both hardware and software are clearly exponential in both cases.

Examine, for instance, Deep Junior on this list. There are many versions tested on the same hardware.

You can also see the improvement from hardware switches.

Code: Select all

THE SSDF RATING LIST 2014-12-11   %135221 games played by  342 computers							
                                           Rating   +	  -  Games   Won  Oppo
                                           ------  ---   --- -----   ---  ----
   1 Komodo 7.0 MP x64 2GB Q6600 2,4 GHz     3295   41   -36   474   78%  3073
   2 Komodo 5.1 MP x64 2GB Q6600 2,4 GHz     3254   28   -26   792   71%  3099
   3 Deep Rybka 4 x64  2GB Q6600 2,4 GHz     3209   24   -23  1048   73%  3038
   4 Stockfish 3 MP x64 2GB Q6600 2,4 GHz    3207   25   -23   958   70%  3060
   5 Deep Hiarcs 14 2GB Q6600 2,4 GHz        3200   23   -22  1020   68%  3071
   6 Deep Rybka 3 x64  2GB Q6600 2,4 GHz     3194   22   -21  1371   75%  3001
   7 Naum 4.2 MP x64 2GB Q6600 2,4 GHz       3147   21   -21  1083   61%  3071
   8 Naum 4 x64  2GB Q6600 2,4 GHz           3119   21   -20  1278   66%  3003
   9 Deep Junior Yokoh x64 2GB Q6600 2,4 GHz 3119   30   -30   530   55%  3082
  10 Deep Junior 13.3 2GB x64 Q6600 2,4 GHz  3113   23   -22   926   54%  3083
  11 Hiarcs 14 256MB Athlon 1200 MHz         3111   42   -38   360   71%  2950
  12 Deep Shredder 12 x64 2GB Q6600 2,4 GHz  3103   18   -18  1507   62%  3015
  13 Spike 1.4 MP 2GB Q6600  2,4 GHz         3102   19   -19  1349   61%  3024
  14 Deep Fritz 13 2GB Q6600 2,4 GHz         3102   24   -24   826   55%  3067
  15 Hiarcs 13.1  2GB Q6600 2,4 GHz          3100   24   -24   828   58%  3042
  16 Deep Hiarcs 13.2  2GB Q6600 2,4 GHz     3100   27   -26   712   62%  3017
  17 Deep Fritz 12 2GB Q6600 2,4 GHz         3092   20   -20  1200   55%  3055
  18 Deep Rybka 3  256MB Athlon 1200 MHz     3073   39   -37   332   58%  3017
  19 Deep Junior 12 x64 2GB  Q6600 2,4 GHz   3071   22   -21  1058   60%  2996
  20 Deep Fritz 11  2GB Q6600 2,4 GHz        3060   18   -18  1504   62%  2975
  21 Zappa Mexico II x64  2GB Q6600 2,4 GHz  3055   25   -24   816   59%  2989
  22 Naum 3.1 x64  2GB Q6600 2,4 GHz         3038   27   -26   692   58%  2984
  23 Arasan 17.2 MP x64 2GB Q6600 2,4 GHz    3027   33   -33   422   52%  3011
  24 Deep Hiarcs 12  2GB Q6600 2,4 GHz       3017   18   -18  1427   54%  2991
  25 Deep Shredder 11 x64 2GB Q6600  2,4 GHz 3012   21   -21  1048   52%  2999
  26 Arasan 16.0 MP x64 2GB Q6600 2,4 GHz    3001   33   -34   446   38%  3088
  27 Glaurung 2.2 x64 MP 2GB Q6600 2,4 GHz   2993   20   -20  1185   55%  2961
  28 Naum 4  256MB Athlon 1200 MHz           2990   26   -26   708   45%  3020
  29 Hiarcs 11.2 MP  2GB  Q6600  2,4 GHz     2988   20   -20  1125   47%  3006
  30 Shredder 12 256MB A1200 MHz             2977   27   -28   632   41%  3038
  31 Fritz 13 256MB Athlon 1200 MHz          2976   55   -51   180   63%  2885
  32 Deep Junior 10.1  2GB  Q6600  2,4 GHz   2966   23   -23   886   46%  2994
  33 Fritz 12  256MB  A1200 MHz              2948   27   -26   700   62%  2863
  34 Rybka 2.3.1 Arena 256MB Athlon 1200 MHz 2920   20   -20  1142   47%  2940
  35 Fritz 11  256MB Athlon 1200 MHz         2911   23   -24   853   42%  2966
  36 Rybka 1.2  256MB Athlon 1200 MHz        2906   25   -24   933   70%  2760
  37 Jonny 4.0 MP 2GB Q6600 2,4 GHz          2900   28   -30   680   29%  3053
  38 Deep Fritz 8 2GB  Q6600  2,4 GHz        2896   22   -23  1009   36%  2997
  39 Deep Shredder 11  256MB  Athlon 1200    2895   28   -29   574   45%  2930
  40 Shredder 8 MP 2GB  Q6600  2,4 GHz       2884   24   -25   908   32%  3010
  41 Hiarcs 11.1  256MB  Athlon 1200 MHz     2875   21   -21  1077   45%  2911
  42 Junior 10.1  256MB Athlon 1200 MHz      2862   17   -18  1585   41%  2922
  43 Deep Junior 8  2GB Q6600 2,4 GHz        2860   24   -25   952   30%  3009
  44 CM King 3.5 x64 MP 2GB  Q6600 2,4 GHz   2855   26   -28   752   29%  3006
  45 Fritz 10  256MB Athlon 1200 MHz         2844   34   -32   458   64%  2744
  46 Junior 10  256MB Athlon 1200 MHz        2843   22   -22  1042   64%  2740
  47 Zap!Chess Zanzibar 256MB Athlon 1200 MH 2834   20   -20  1200   49%  2841
  48 Hiarcs 10 HypMod 256MB Athlon 1200 MHz  2834   20   -19  1416   69%  2698
  49 Fruit 2.2.1  256MB Athlon 1200 MHz      2829   18   -18  1465   59%  2767
  50 Shredder 10 UCI  256MB Athlon 1200 MHz  2824   20   -19  1246   58%  2768
  51 Spike 1.2  256MB Athlon 1200 MHz        2819   22   -22   932   49%  2823
  52 Fritz 9.0  256MB Athlon 1200 MHz        2814   16   -16  1787   49%  2818
  53 Shredder 9.0 UCI  256MB Athlon 1200 Mz  2812   20   -20  1280   66%  2700
  54 Pocket Fritz 4 Naum 4.2 Ipaq 214        2805   62   -58   140   61%  2723
  55 Shredder 8.0 CB  256MB Athlon 1200 MHz  2800   21   -20  1245   65%  2692
  56 Chess Tiger 2007  256MB Athlon 1200 MHz 2796   20   -21  1244   33%  2923
  57 Shredder 7.04 UCI 256MB Athlon 1200 MH  2795   21   -20  1269   66%  2682
  58 Pro Deo 1.82 256MB Athlon 1200 MHz      2794   33   -34   426   43%  2841
  59 Junior 9.0  256MB Athlon 1200 MHz       2783   25   -24   868   63%  2687
  60 Deep Fritz 8.0  256MB Athlon 1200 MHz   2780   21   -20  1144   62%  2695
  61 Rybka 1.0 beta 128MB K6-2 450 MHz       2774   64   -70   115   38%  2857
  62 Junior 8.0  256MB Athlon 1200 MHz       2769   21   -21  1065   55%  2732
  63 Revelation Hiarcs 13.3 XScale 500 MHz   2768   63   -58   137   62%  2685
  64 Shredder 7.0  256MB Athlon 1200 MHz     2765   26   -25   841   69%  2630
  65 Deep Fritz 7.0  256MB Athlon 1200 MHz   2763   24   -23   938   65%  2655
  66 Spike 1.1  256MB Athlon 1200 MHz        2761   30   -29   537   57%  2709
  67 Pocket Fritz 4 Hiarcs 13 Ipaq 214       2756   57   -54   160   59%  2690
  68 Deep Junior 8.0  256MB Athlon 1200 MHz  2754   27   -26   687   61%  2678
  69 Fritz 8.0  256MB Athlon 1200 MHz        2754   19   -18  1413   58%  2699
  70 Pro Deo 1.86 256MB Athlon 1200 MHz      2750   57   -72   190   19%  2993
  71 Zap!Chess  256MB Athlon 1200 MHz        2743   26   -26   682   48%  2761
  72 Hiarcs 9.0  256MB Athlon 1200 MHz       2738   17   -18  1522   48%  2752
  73 Fritz 7.0 256MB Athlon 1200 MHz         2737   27   -27   674   61%  2660
  74 Gandalf 6.0  256MB  Athlon 1200 MHz     2735   23   -22   935   54%  2704
  75 Chess Tiger 2004  256MB Athlon 1200 MH  2724   21   -21  1088   52%  2708
  76 Gambit Tiger 2.0  256MB Athlon 1200     2722   26   -26   683   55%  2689
  77 Shredder 6.0 Pad UCI 256MB Athlon 1200  2720   22   -21  1073   60%  2647
  78 Chess Tiger 15.0  256MB Athlon 1200 MH  2718   19   -19  1299   54%  2693
  79 Pocket Fritz 3 Hiarcs Ipaq 214 624 MHz  2717   50   -48   200   58%  2663
  80 Chess Tiger 14.0 CB 256MB Athlon 1200   2714   28   -27   637   58%  2661
  81 Shredder 6.0  256MB Athlon 1200 MHz     2713   29   -28   587   60%  2644
  82 Pro Deo 1.1  256MB Athlon 1200 MHz      2711   24   -23   876   57%  2659
  83 Deep Fritz 256MB Athlon 1200 MHz        2710   24   -24   791   51%  2702
  84 Chessmaster 9000  256MB Athlon 1200 MHz 2706   35   -34   396   54%  2677
  85 Revelation Shredder 12  XScale 500 MHz  2705   60   -58   140   56%  2665
  86 Pocket Shredder Ipaq 114 624 MHz        2704   51   -48   200   61%  2628
  87 Junior 7.0  256MB  Athlon 1200 MHz      2697   21   -21  1048   51%  2690
  88 Shredder 7.0 UCI 128MB K6-2 450 MHz     2690   24   -24   834   43%  2741
  89 Rebel 12.0  256MB Athlon 1200 MHz       2684   29   -29   566   51%  2679
  90 Hiarcs 8.0  256MB Athlon 1200 MHz       2680   20   -20  1116   51%  2673
  91 Ruffian 1.0.1  256MB Athlon 1200 MHz    2676   23   -23   896   48%  2693
  92 Rebel Century 4.0 256MB Athlon 1200     2673   29   -28   590   60%  2604
  93 Deep Sjeng 1.5a  256MB Athlon 1200 MHz  2672   31   -31   493   52%  2661
  94 Chess Tiger 15.0  128MB K6-2 450 MHz    2670   24   -25   834   40%  2743
  95 Deep Fritz 7.0  128MB K6-2 450 MHz      2663   21   -21  1072   42%  2717
  96 Shredder 5.32  256MB Athlon 1200 MHz    2662   24   -24   819   49%  2669
  97 Gandalf 4.32h  256MB Athlon 1200 MHz    2661   28   -28   604   52%  2650
  98 CEBoard Fruit 2.3.1 XScale 400  400 MHz 2658   47   -47   215   53%  2639
  99 Gandalf 5.0  256MB Athlon 1200 MHz      2653   36   -36   364   45%  2689
 100 Hiarcs Palm Chess 12.1 T5               2653   63   -64   120   48%  2665
 101 Deep Fritz  128MB K6-2 450 MHz          2646   20   -20  1151   56%  2606
 102 Gambit Tiger 2.0  128MB K6-2 450 MHz    2643   24   -24   835   58%  2587
 103 Chess Tiger 14.0 CB 128MB K6-2 450 MHz  2639   22   -22   973   54%  2614
 104 Gandalf 5.1  256MB Athlon 1200 MHz      2637   25   -25   758   55%  2604
 105 Fritz 7.0  128MB K6-2 450 MHz           2634   36   -35   368   54%  2605
 106 Ruffian 2.0.0  256MB  Athlon 1200 MHz   2631   48   -49   205   46%  2660
 107 Junior 7.0  128MB K6-2 450 MHz          2631   20   -20  1200   56%  2588
 108 Revelation Rybka 2.2  XScale 500 MHz    2628   47   -44   240   62%  2545
 109 Shredder 6.0 UCI 128MB K6-2 450 MHz     2617   42   -42   264   52%  2607
 110 Crafty 18.12/CB 256MB  Athlon 1200 MH   2614   20   -21  1141   39%  2690
 111 Fritz 6.0  128MB K6-2 450 MHz           2613   16   -16  1751   48%  2626
 112 Gromit 3.11.9  256MB Athlon 1200 MHz    2610   43   -45   246   43%  2661
 113 Shredder 5.32  128MB K6-2 450 MHz       2608   19   -20  1242   42%  2667
 114 Yace Paderborn  256MB Athlon 1200 MH    2607   35   -35   389   48%  2620
 115 Chess Tiger 12.0 DOS 128MB K6-2 450     2599   18   -18  1448   48%  2612
 116 Junior 6.0  128MB K6-2 450 MHz          2595   13   -13  2677   43%  2646
 117 Hiarcs 8.0  128MB K6-2 450 MHz          2582   31   -33   480   39%  2663
 118 Shredder 5.0  128MB  K6-2 450 MHz       2582   16   -16  1818   44%  2623
 119 Shredder 4.0  128MB  K6-2 450 MHz       2571   22   -22   986   58%  2512
 120 Rebel Century 4.0  128MB K6-2 450 MHz   2568   51   -52   178   46%  2594
 121 Nimzo 7.32  128MB K6-2 450 MHz          2558   17   -18  1542   45%  2596
 122 Fritz 5.32  128MB K6-2 450 MHz          2556   20   -20  1194   48%  2573
 123 Nimzo 8.0  128MB K6-2 450 MHz           2553   19   -19  1362   43%  2602
 124 Junior 5.0  128MB K6-2 450 MHz          2542   20   -20  1108   50%  2543
 125 Hiarcs 7.32  128MB K6-2 450 MHz         2538   17   -17  1736   38%  2624
 126 Gandalf 5.0  128MB K6-2 450 MHz         2537   66   -62   122   59%  2474
 127 Gandalf 4.32f  128MB K6-2 450 MHz       2535   27   -27   627   51%  2528
 128 Crafty 19.17  256MB Athlon 1200 MH      2531   41   -45   304   30%  2680
 129 Gandalf 4.32h  128MB K6-2 450 MHz       2526   34   -33   418   52%  2511
 130 Hiarcs 7.01  128MB K6-2 450 MHz         2523   30   -31   525   43%  2574
 131 SOS  128MB  K6-2 450 MHz                2522   14   -14  2556   33%  2642
 132 Rebel Century 3.0  128MB K6-2 450 MHz   2521   29   -29   546   49%  2527
 133 Chessmaster 8000  128MB K6-2 450 MHz    2520   43   -44   251   45%  2552
 134 Pocket Fritz 2 XScale 400 MHz           2517   41   -41   283   51%  2509
 135 Goliath Light  128MB K6-2 450 MHz       2506   17   -18  1961   27%  2676
 136 Pocket Fritz 3 Glaurung 2.1 Ipaq 614C   2501   59   -67   140   33%  2628
 137 Fritz 5.32  64MB P200 MMX               2499   13   -13  3023   38%  2588
 138 Crafty 17.07/CB 128MB K6-2 450 MHz      2499   19   -19  1459   33%  2621
 139 Crafty 18.12/CB 128MB K6-2 450 MHz      2491   25   -27   929   25%  2682
 140 Nimzo 99  128MB K6-2 450 MHz            2486   21   -22  1016   44%  2527
 141 Resurrection Rybka 2.2 StrongARM 203 MH 2484   43   -42   260   51%  2477
 142 MChess Pro 8.0  128MB K6-2 450 MHz      2481   25   -26   753   40%  2551
 143 Genius 6.5  128MB  K6-2 450 MHz         2479   28   -28   605   48%  2492
 144 Chessmaster 6000  64MB P200 MMX         2477   65   -54   184   76%  2282
 145 Hiarcs 7.32  64MB P200 MMX              2473   20   -20  1134   52%  2460
 146 Hiarcs 7.0  64MB P200 MMX               2463   21   -20  1112   55%  2425
 147 Fritz 5.0 PB29%  67MB P200 MMX          2462   23   -22  1005   66%  2347
 148 Nimzo 99  64MB P200 MMX                 2452   23   -23   885   51%  2445
 149 Junior 5.0  64MB P200 MMX               2437   18   -18  1458   45%  2475
 150 Nimzo 98  58MB P200 MMX                 2433   19   -19  1352   51%  2429
 151 Rebel 9.0  47MB P200 MMX                2422   23   -23   920   61%  2342
 152 Hiarcs 6.0  49MB P200 MMX               2421   24   -24   829   56%  2378
 153 Shredder 3.0  64MB P200 MMX             2421   19   -19  1262   48%  2433
 154 Rebel 8.0  51MB P200 MMX                2412   21   -22  1011   47%  2436
 155 Zarkov 5.0  64MB P200 MMX               2412   24   -25   789   40%  2481
 156 MChess Pro 6.0  41MB P200 MMX           2410   24   -24   831   52%  2397
 157 Shredder 2.0  58MB P200 MMX             2405   19   -19  1314   44%  2444
 158 MChess Pro 8.0  64MB P200 MMX           2398   26   -25   718   53%  2376
 159 MChess Pro 7.1  46MB P200 MMX           2397   21   -21  1042   53%  2375
 160 Genius 5.0 DOS  46MB P200 MMX           2395   20   -20  1197   49%  2399
 161 Resurrection Fruit '05 StrongARM 203 MH 2393   67   -62   120   60%  2321
 162 Hiarcs 9.5a/9.6 Palm TungstenE OMAP 126 2392   34   -35   400   45%  2426
 163 Chess Tiger 11.8  Pentium 90 MHz        2386   42   -42   261   50%  2388
 164 CEBoard Crafty 2004 HP RX4240  400 MHz  2372   48   -50   200   43%  2423
 165 Gandalf 3.0  64MB P200 MMX              2367   41   -39   307   59%  2300
 166 WChess2000  64MB P200 MMX               2362   30   -31   542   37%  2453
 167 Kallisto II  64MB P200 MMX              2346   34   -34   403   52%  2331
 168 Rebel 9.0 Pentium 90 MHz                2340   22   -22   930   47%  2359
 169 Rebel 8.0 Pentium 90 MHz                2339   18   -18  1435   55%  2305
 170 Hiarcs 6.0 Pentium 90 MHz               2336   18   -18  1437   51%  2332
 171 Genius 5.0 DOS Pentium 90 MHz           2333   17   -17  1558   47%  2352
 172 Hiarcs 5.0 Pentium 90 MHz               2328   37   -36   363   59%  2264
 173 MChess Pro 6.0 Pentium 90 MHz           2314   16   -17  1726   45%  2347
 174 Genius 3.0 Pentium 90 MHz               2311   24   -24   845   60%  2238
 175 Rebel 6.0 Pentium 90 MHz                2306   31   -29   540   60%  2235
 176 MChess Pro 5.0 Pentium 90 MHz           2306   26   -25   769   63%  2215
 177 Genius 4.0 DOS Pentium 90 MHz           2303   23   -22   944   60%  2235
 178 Nimzo 3.5 Pentium 90 MHz                2297   22   -22   998   46%  2326
 179 Rebel 7.0 Pentium 90 MHz                2297   25   -24   799   59%  2231
 180 Junior 4.0 Pentium 90 MHz               2292   21   -22  1035   42%  2345
 181 Hiarcs 4.0 Pentium 90 MHz               2291   25   -24   786   54%  2262
 182 Shredder 1.0 Pentium 90 MHz             2290   54   -54   165   50%  2292
 183 Chessmaster 5000 Pentium 90 MHz         2286   49   -45   240   67%  2163
 184 Nimzo 3.0  Pentium 90 MHz               2281   25   -24   787   58%  2222
 185 Hiarcs 3.0 Pentium 90 MHz               2273   30   -29   545   56%  2229
 186 R30 v. 2.5                              2271   42   -38   343   69%  2134
 187 Genius 4.0 DOS 486/50-66 MHz            2267   23   -23   900   49%  2271
 188 CometA90  64MB P200 MMX                 2261   35   -37   378   38%  2344
 189 Junior 3.3-3.5  Pentium 90 MHz          2260   30   -30   516   47%  2279
 190 Chess Genius 3 Iphone 4 ARM A8 800MHz   2258   82   -69   100   69%  2119
 191 MB P200 MMX                             2255   42   -43   268   43%  2304
 192 MChess Pro 4.0 Pentium 90 MHz           2255   29   -28   578   52%  2239
 193 Genius 3.0 486/50-66 MHz                2254   24   -23   910   62%  2168
 194 Fritz 3.0 Pentium 90 MHz                2245   18   -18  1478   41%  2305
 195 WChess 1.06 Pentium 90 MHz              2235   20   -20  1222   39%  2311
 196 Mephisto Genius 2.0  486/50-66 MHz      2235   23   -23   917   58%  2177
 197 Fritz 4.0 Pentium 90 MHz                2233   40   -38   324   60%  2164
 198 Palm Tiger 2009 Tung C  400 MHz         2230   51   -53   180   43%  2277
 199 Kallisto 1.98 Pentium 90 MHz            2229   21   -22  1049   42%  2286
 200 MChess Pro 5.0 486/50-66 MHz            2229   26   -26   691   50%  2231
 201 Rebel 7.0 486/50-66 MHz                 2227   24   -25   777   49%  2235
 202 MChess Pro 4.0 486/50-66 MHz            2209   24   -23   846   53%  2186
 203 Chess Machine 30-32 MHz Schroeder 3.1   2208   28   -27   646   63%  2119
 204 WChess 1.03 486/50-66 MHz               2199   26   -26   677   49%  2205
 205 Hiarcs 3.0 486/50-66 MHz                2197   23   -23   865   50%  2194
 206 Rebel 6.0 486/50-66 MHz                 2197   23   -23   887   55%  2163
 207 Ch.Machine 30 MHz King 2.0 aggr/R30off  2195   20   -20  1239   63%  2100
 208 Meph Genius 68 030 33 MHz               2193   41   -40   287   53%  2173
 209 Mephisto London 68 030 33 MHz           2190   31   -31   482   50%  2188
 210 Chessmaster 4000 486/50-66 MHz          2190   35   -33   462   66%  2072
 211 Chess Genius 1.0  486/50-66 MHz         2183   22   -22   971   55%  2148
 212 Rebel Decade Pentium 90 MHz             2176   29   -29   563   45%  2213
 213 Chess Machine 30 MHz Schroeder 3.0      2174   65   -55   168   73%  2002
 214 Mephisto Gideon Pro  486/50-66 MHz      2170   35   -34   421   62%  2084
 215 MChess Pro 3.5  486/50-66 MHz           2168   22   -22   958   51%  2160
 216 MChess Pro 3.12  486/50-66 MHz          2164   37   -34   438   69%  2023
 217 Fritz 3.0 486/50-66 MHz                 2160   19   -19  1246   46%  2191
 218 Mephisto Lyon 68030 36 MHz              2151   28   -27   716   68%  2017
 219 Chess Genius 1.4 SX1  OMAP 310 120 MHz  2148   50   -47   210   60%  2080
 220 Chess Genius 1.0  486/33 MHz            2139   31   -31   483   50%  2142
 221 Mephisto Portorose 68030 36 MHz         2139   43   -38   407   77%  1929
 222 Mephisto Vancouver  68030 36 MHz        2127   36   -33   471   71%  1972
 223 Meph RISC 2   1 MB                      2127   61   -66   125   39%  2206
 224 Kasparov SPARC  20 MHz                  2125   23   -23   912   45%  2158
 225 MChess Pro 3.12  486/33 MHz             2125   50   -47   208   60%  2052
 226 Berlin Pro 68 020 24 MHz                2125   24   -23   850   58%  2071
 227 Kallisto 1.82-1.83 486/50-66 MHz        2109   20   -21  1117   42%  2166
 228 Chess Tiger 14.9 Palm m515 16MB 42MHz   2104   68   -75   100   39%  2182
 229 Hiarcs Master 2.0  486/33 MHz           2103   44   -43   249   53%  2085
 230 Mephisto RISC 1 MB ARM 2  14 MHz        2102   19   -19  1356   55%  2068
 231 Comet32 Pentium 90 MHz                  2100   24   -26  1011   24%  2304
 232 Mephisto Montreux ARM  14 MHz 512K      2095   27   -25   809   68%  1961
 233 MChess 1.1-1.71 486/33                  2093   46   -41   326   74%  1915
 234 Saitek RISC 2500 ARM2 14 MHz 128K       2092   19   -19  1276   54%  2066
 235 Chess Machine Schroeder 512K ARM2 16MHz 2091   27   -26   703   62%  2009
 236 Atlanta    SH7000 20 MHz                2083   28   -27   707   67%  1964
 237 Chess Machine The King 512K ARM2 16MHz  2073   32   -31   473   55%  2036
 238 Mephisto Vancouver  68020 12 MHz        2060   23   -22  1041   65%  1951
 239 Mephisto Lyon  68020 12 MHz             2049   18   -18  1442   59%  1987
 240 Socrates 3.0  486/33 MHz                2040   48   -49   203   47%  2061
 241 Fritz 2.0  486/33 MHz                   2030   29   -30   547   44%  2069
 242 Mephisto Portorose  68020 12 MHz        2028   27   -25   896   73%  1857
 243 MChess 1.1-1.71 386/25-33 MHz           2025   37   -34   408   65%  1918
 244 Star Sapphire                           2024   35   -35   389   52%  2014
 245 Fidelity Elite  68030 32 MHz (vers.9)   2021   31   -30   521   60%  1949
 246 Mephisto Berlin  68 000 12 MHz          2014   22   -22   986   57%  1967
 247 Sapphire II                             2008   33   -31   484   62%  1924
 248 Mephisto Vancouver  68000 12 MHz        2003   20   -20  1159   54%  1977
 249 Mephisto Lyon 68000 12 MHz              2002   20   -20  1190   56%  1960
 250 Mephisto MM 4 Turbo Kit  6502 16 MHz    1994   48   -43   292   73%  1820
 251 Novag Sapphire H8 10 MHz                1990   21   -21  1074   46%  2015
 252 Atlanta Brute Force SH7000 20 MHz       1981   52   -50   185   55%  1946
 253 Milano Pro  SH7000 20 MHz               1976   32   -30   509   60%  1904
 254 Fidelity Mach IV  68020 20 MHz          1975   18   -18  1495   48%  1989
 255 Mephisto Almeria  68020 12 MHz          1973   42   -39   305   62%  1887
 256 Hiarcs Master 1.0  486/33 MHz           1971   47   -47   214   48%  1987
 257 Mephisto Portorose 68000 12 MHz         1945   24   -23   867   60%  1872
 258 Mephisto Polgar 6502 10 MHz             1942   42   -41   283   59%  1880
 259 Fritz 1.0  486/33 MHz                   1941   48   -46   215   55%  1909
 260 Gandalf 2.1 Pentium 90 MHz              1939   47   -53   242   27%  2113
 261 Fidelity Elite  68000 x 2 (vers. 5)     1936   49   -47   209   57%  1888
 262 Nimzo 2.2.1 486/33 MHz                  1936   45   -47   229   42%  1990
 263 Zarkov 3.0 486/25-33 MHz                1931   45   -48   232   39%  2009
 264 Mephisto Roma  68020 14 MHz             1930   28   -26   712   65%  1821
 265 Rex Chess 2.3 386/25-33 MHz             1929   65   -61   126   59%  1865
 266 Mephisto Dallas 68020 12 MHz            1924   36   -33   492   72%  1763
 267 Mephisto Almeria 68000 12 MHz           1920   27   -26   694   59%  1856
 268 Zarkov 2.5  386/25-33 MHz               1919   56   -53   168   61%  1842
 269 Kasparov Brute Force  H8 10 MHz         1917   22   -22   966   43%  1967
 270 Fritz 1.0  386/25-33 MHz                1908   64   -66   113   46%  1939
 271 Novag Diablo  68000 16 MHz              1907   20   -21  1163   41%  1974
 272 Fidelity Mach III  68000 16 MHz         1894   14   -14  2410   52%  1881
 273 Complete Chess System  486/33 MHz       1886   46   -47   221   47%  1908
 274 Kasparov President/GK-2100 H8 10 MHz    1880   28   -29   581   46%  1907
 275 Mephisto MM 5  6502 5 MHz               1876   18   -18  1396   46%  1902
 276 Chess Genius 1.5 Palm m515 16MB 42MHz   1872   69   -81   100   32%  2004
 277 Mephisto Polgar  6502 5 MHz             1872   16   -16  1838   40%  1940
 278 Mephisto Dallas  68000 12 MHz           1871   21   -20  1177   61%  1796
 279 Mephisto Roma  68000 12 MHz             1870   18   -18  1519   56%  1829
 280 Mephisto Milano  6502  5 MHz            1866   22   -23   950   39%  1941
 281 Novag Super Expert C  6502 6 MHz Sel 5  1861   17   -17  1555   46%  1892
 282 Zarkov 2.6 386/25-33 MHz                1860   64   -61   125   56%  1819
 283 Mephisto Academy  6502 5 MHz            1841   17   -17  1595   43%  1887
 284 Chessmaster 3000 386/25-33 MHz          1834   67   -75   103   36%  1931
 285 Rex Chess 2.3 386/16-20 MHz             1831   52   -52   174   49%  1838
 286 Saitek Leonardo Maestro B 6502 18 MHz   1828   73   -66   105   62%  1744
 287 Mephisto Amsterdam  68000 12 MHz        1827   22   -21  1016   57%  1775
 288 Novag Super Expert B 6502 6 MHz sel 4   1821   29   -29   564   48%  1837
 289 Mephisto Mega IV  6502 4.9 MHz          1817   17   -17  1604   43%  1863
 290 Saitek Maestro D  6502 10 MHz           1817   25   -25   736   51%  1811
 291 Fidelity Excel Mach IIc  68000 12 MHz   1817   22   -22   975   50%  1815
 292 Novag Expert Turbo Kit 6502 16 MHz      1811   68   -62   120   61%  1731
 293 Mephisto MM 4  6502 5 MHz               1806   19   -19  1274   50%  1805
 294 Mephisto Modena  6502 4 MHz             1799   27   -28   655   40%  1869
 295 Kasparov GK-2000   H8 10 MHz            1799   28   -29   593   42%  1854
 296 Fidelity Travel Master H8/330 10 MHz    1796   67   -86   123   22%  2013
 297 Psion Atari  68000 8 MHz                1784   18   -18  1483   43%  1830
 298 CXG Sphinx Galaxy  6502 4 MHz           1783   17   -17  1733   37%  1875
 299 Novag Ruby H8  10 MHz                   1781   29   -30   545   42%  1836
 300 Fidelity Excel Mach IIa  68000 12 MHz   1780   45   -46   226   47%  1800
 301 Saitek Turboking II  6502 5 MHz         1771   22   -23   963   37%  1865
 302 Conchess Plymate Victoria 6502 5.5 MHz  1770   26   -27   701   40%  1842
 303 Fidelity Excel Club  68000 12 MHz       1759   22   -22   931   51%  1751
 304 Mephisto Mega IV Brute Force            1751   34   -35   422   38%  1840
 305 Novag Super Expert/Forte A 6502 5 MHz   1742   18   -19  1425   37%  1835
 306 Fidelity Par Excellence  6502 5 MHz     1738   21   -21  1014   48%  1751
 307 Fidelity Avant Garde  6502 5 MHz        1737   20   -20  1196   46%  1768
 308 Mephisto Rebell  6502 5 MHz             1726   19   -19  1391   38%  1811
 309 Saitek Stratos/Analys B  6502 6 MHz     1723   20   -20  1213   38%  1809
 310 Mephisto Super Mondial  6502 4 MHz      1722   18   -19  1455   35%  1828
 311 Novag Forte B  6502 5 MHz               1719   24   -24   837   44%  1762
 312 Saitek Leonardo Maestro A  6502 6 MHz   1714   29   -30   547   45%  1748
 313 Novag Forte A  6502 5 MHz               1711   22   -22   964   48%  1724
 314 Conchess Plymate  6502 5.5 MHz          1711   15   -16  2040   40%  1783
 315 Saitek Simultano/Corona C  6502 5 MHz   1709   23   -24   969   33%  1834
 316 Fidelity Excellence  6502 4 MHz         1704   17   -18  1562   43%  1754
 317 Novag Expert  6502 4 MHz                1690   24   -24   841   42%  1749
 318 Fidelity Elegance  6502 3.6 MHz         1681   40   -39   303   54%  1653
 319 Conchess Plymate  6502 4 MHz            1681   38   -37   333   55%  1650
 320 Mephisto MM 2  6502 3.7 MHz             1674   48   -47   208   52%  1658
 321 Saitek Turbostar 432  6502 4 MHz        1666   22   -22   975   44%  1708
 322 Fidelity Excellence  6502 3 MHz         1660   22   -23   951   42%  1718
 323 Saitek Kasparov Blitz                   1638   44   -47   239   37%  1728
 324 Novag Super Nova                        1637   37   -38   350   40%  1704
 325 Novag Super Constellation  6502 4 MHz   1633   18   -18  1595   34%  1745
 326 Conchess Glasgow  6502 4 MHz            1621   38   -38   327   50%  1623
 327 Chessplayer 2150 Atari/Amiga            1618   57   -64   146   33%  1740
 328 The Final Chesscard  6502 5 MHz         1602   57   -68   156   27%  1773
 329 Novag Super VIP                         1591   53   -59   174   32%  1719
 330 Chessmaster 2100 Amiga 68000            1589   66   -81   120   25%  1776
 331 Mephisto Europa                         1585   49   -52   190   42%  1643
 332 Saitek Superstar 36K  6502 2 MHz        1582   24   -25   914   30%  1733
 333 Fidelity Elite A/S  6502 3.2 MHz        1580   23   -25  1023   27%  1750
 334 Chess Champion 2175 Atari/Amiga         1577   56   -65   157   30%  1725
 335 Conchess Glasgow  6502 2 MHz            1571   25   -26   829   33%  1692
 336 Novag Quattro  6502 4 MHz               1566   30   -32   560   33%  1693
 337 Fidelity Prestige  6502 4 MHz           1561   63   -66   118   44%  1603
 338 Chessmaster 2000 Atari  68000 8 MHz     1556   42   -48   312   25%  1743
 339 Novag Constellation  6502 3.6 MHz       1548   33   -34   448   37%  1643
 340 Novag Constellation Primo               1541   56   -58   149   44%  1586
 341 Novag Constellation  6502 2 MHz         1490   34   -36   439   32%  1625
 342 CXG Super Enterprise                    1466   38   -42   376   28%  1635
 

Consider also the champions from days gone by.

Here is the SSDF list of champions:

Code: Select all

Rating list year-end leaders Year 	Program 	Hardware 	Rating
1984 	Novag Super Constellation 	6502 4 MHz 	1631
1985 	Mephisto Amsterdam 	68000 12 MHz 	1827
1986 	Mephisto Amsterdam 	68000 12 MHz 	1827
1987 	Mephisto Dallas 	68020 14 MHz 	1923
1988 	Mephisto MM 4 Turbo Kit 	6502 16 MHz 	1993
1989 	Mephisto Portorose 	68020 12 MHz 	2027
1990 	Mephisto Portorose 	68030 36 MHz 	2138
1991 	Mephisto Vancouver 	68030 36 MHz 	2127
1992 	Chess Machine Schröder 3.0 	ARM2 30 MHz 	2174
1993 	Mephisto Genius 2.0 	486/50-66 MHz 	2235
1995 	MChess Pro 5.0 	Pentium 90 MHz 	2306
1996 	Rebel 8.0 	Pentium 90 MHz 	2337
1997 	HIARCS 6.0 	49MB P200 MMX 	2418
1998 	Fritz 5.0 PB29% 	67MB P200 MMX 	2460
1999 	Chess Tiger 12.0 DOS 	128MB K6-2 450 MHz 	2594
2000 	Fritz 6.0 	128MB K6-2 450 MHz 	2607
2001 	Chess Tiger 14.0 CB 	256MB Athlon 1200 	2709
2002 	Deep Fritz 7.0 	256MB Athlon 1200 MHz 	2759
2003 	Shredder 7.04 UCI 	256MB Athlon 1200 MHz 	2791
2004 	Shredder 8.0 CB 	256MB Athlon 1200 MHz 	2800
2005 	Shredder 9.0 UCI 	256MB Athlon 1200 MHz 	2808
2006 	Rybka 1.2 	256MB Athlon 1200 MHz 	2902
2007 	Rybka 2.3.1 Arena 	256MB Athlon 1200 MHz 	2935
2008 	Deep Rybka 3 	2GB Q6600 2.4 GHz 	3238
2009 	Deep Rybka 3 	2GB Q6600 2.4 GHz 	3232
2010 	Deep Rybka 3 	2GB Q6600 2.4 GHz 	3227
2011 	Deep Rybka 4 	2GB Q6600 2.4 GHz 	3216
2012 	Deep Rybka 4 x64 	2GB Q6600 2.4 GHz 	3221
2013 	Komodo 5.1 MP x64 	2GB Q6600 2.4 GHz 	3241
2014 	Komodo 7.0 MP x64 	2GB Q6600 2.4 GHz 	3295

The champions from 2000 and earlier will be absolutely smoked by modern programs on the same hardware today.
Since those programs are still around, you can test it for yourselves.

Consider also lists like CCRL and CEGT. These lists actually use calibrated compute power so that every engine has the same horsepower (as a function of threads, of course) so that single thread programs will have the same power devoted to them whenever they are tested.

Fritz has gained 328 Elo from Fritz 8 to Fritz 14 ON THE SAME Exact hardware. Considering the exponential nature of the Elo scale, that is an enormous increase. I have not done the math, but my guess is that it will be commensurate with the gains from hardware. See:
http://www.computerchess.org.uk/ccrl/40 ... +opponents

[Laskos]

Hi all

As my A.I. lecturer seems to think that advances in chess engine strength are largely due to improvements in hardware, I was wondering if anyone could point me to somewhere that evaluates the relative contribution of search and evaluation vs hardware to improvements in strength.

Thanks

At least since year 2003, definitely more improvement in software than hardware.

[Steve Maughan]

Back in the 1990's the "it's-all-down-to-improvements-in-the-hardware" mantra was not too far from the truth.

However, since 2004 the search algorithm improvements have been huge. This is one reason why a modern iPhone running Stockfish would slaughter Deep Blue.

Steve

[James Constance]

Thanks all for your replies. You've certainly pointed me in the right direction to make some calculations myself.

I'd still be interested in any other articles that address the subject, if you come across any.

Thanks!

[Milos]

Thanks all for your replies. You've certainly pointed me in the right direction to make some calculations myself.

I'd still be interested in any other articles that address the subject, if you come across any.

Thanks!

Just read the thread:
http://talkchess.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=369240

[Engin]

agree, this is my plan too, i want to make the software better not to stick only on the speed of the hardware to become more strength.