Credit change

[vaughan]

Wieferich have changed the credits per task and it has upset some crunchers eg Team Norway, and I agree with them.

The classification - MARCH 2008:
Complete test:
Number of points (actual version of client) 16
Periodic test:
Number of points (actual version of client) 24

The classification - NOW (26 Nov 2008):
Complete test:
Number of points (actual version of client) 10
Periodic test:
Number of points (actual version of client) 34

Complete test has a constant complexity (approximately), but we have more powerful computers in the project now! (big irons...?) Periodic test has an increasing complexity.

[NeoGen]

That could be a measure to try and even things out if the periodic test is that much more complex than the complete test. From 10 to 34.... that means it's 3.4x more complex and/or cpu intensive?

[vaughan]

True it is but the Complete Tests take 1/4 the time so for every Periodic it worked out at:
OLD score: 88 points ((4x16) + (1x24))
NEW score: 74 points ((4x10) + (1x34)

Even if the Periodics took 5 times more than the Completes then it would be 84 points in total until you can say "no more work" and Wieferich goes into red stop lights mode for both Complete and Periodic Tests (else its still crunching).

I can see why Team Norway has basically moved on from this project. :-(

[NeoGen]

If it's a 1:4 ratio between Periodics and Completes, then the best values to give should be 11 (Completes) and 44 (Periodics). That way it would even things out and still make the old 88 points sum in the end. :)