That occurred to me as well, except that I'd likely do a small group of 
reference machines (different CPU vendors, processor families and 
operating systems) to average out architecture differences, and to 
minimize the effects if the old one was lost before a new reference 
machine was ready.

The reference machines should be fairly average, not exceptional.

... one machine or six, that's an important detail, but it's a detail.

Here's the rub:

Suddenly, we have a centralized "control point" and at least to date, 
Dr. Anderson has (IMHO wisely) resisted any kind of central control.

I guess it could be voluntary and decentralized so that there isn't some 
sort of "BOINC Administration" but I think that's as important as 
anything else.

[email protected] wrote:
> Every couple of years, you could set up a new reference machine running
> parallel with the old reference machine.  These two machines could be
> dialed in so that the credit on some reference tasks was made to be
> identical.  Then the new reference machine can run solo.  Since this
> machine would not have to be an extremely high powered server, it would be
> easier to get it donated.
> 
> jm7
> 
> 
>                                                                            
>              "Lynn W. Taylor"                                              
>              <[email protected]>                                             
>              Sent by:                                                   To 
>              <boinc_dev-bounce         Martin <[email protected]>       
>              [email protected]                                          cc 
>              u>                        BOINC Developers Mailing List       
>                                        <[email protected]>        
>                                                                    Subject 
>              09/28/2009 05:12          Re: [boinc_dev] [boinc_alpha] Card  
>              PM                        Gflops in BOINC 6.10                
>                                                                            
>                                                                            
>                                                                            
>                                                                            
>                                                                            
>                                                                            
> 
> 
> 
> 
> The problem here is a need to constantly redefine the reference machine.
> 
> According to Wikipedia, BOINC was first released in April 2002.  The
> Pentium 4 2.4 GHz parts were brand new.  There were lots of P3's and
> earlier around (and still are).
> 
> Have you tried to build a new Pentium 4 lately?  It's hard to do.
> 
> Martin wrote:
>> [email protected] wrote:
>>> I was trying to state something similar.  There are computers doing
> useful
>>> work for projects and increasing the burden of time spent on benchmarks
>>> will reduce the availability of those resources to the project.
>> There's no burden of benchmarks when the live work itself is in effect
>> it's own benchmark as referenced back to the performance of a known
>> piece of hardware.
>>
>> You can then waste as much benchmarking time as you like to characterise
>> your reference machine. Meanwhile, the rest of world of Boinc continues
>> with useful work undisturbed.
>>
>>
>> Regards,
>> Martin
>>
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> 
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