beginner's question about versions of MM IV and MM V

[littbarski]

Hello,

we start playing chess more in our family, me starting again after 25 years (in a club back then) now with the kids. I played as a kid with a Mephisto Modular in the 90s without having an own one, so as many now I can afford it and want an Exclusive .

I can now buy a Mephisto Exclusive with MM IV and MM V but saw additional sales of modules with different Eprom versions of those programs.

So we are beginners / intermediate like 1200-1700 Elo, and we just enjoy that there is this computer opponent for fun.
Especially I like the simple display and options in the MM IV and MM V, more than the later Mephisto modules.

So my question is: is it probably the best choice to choose always the latest versions, meaning 5.1 for MM V and 710 for MM IV?
I read there is no real difference, but somehow there must be , and somewhere I read that 710 was more tactical than 600, perhaps 5.1 is less tactical than 5.0 .

Is there really any play difference?
And is there any difference between the Eprom versions concerning the specifically in the endgame? We don't need a perfect endgame, totally in the opposite I enjoy it more if the computer opponent also makes not everything perfect. So we prefer a more human endgame.

And in addition: for beginners playing Level 0 and maybe Level 1, probably both MM IV and MM V would work that one could win?

thank you.

Peter

[JohnW]

If you have a pc you can play the roms on your computer and try them out

https://fhub.jimdofree.com/

Download cb-emu-pro

[littbarski]

Thank you, but yes I know this and have already some hours under "Play Time" there .
The thing is that we are also in general chess beginners mostly, and don't know how to discover such differences (and the MM can probably not play its normal game against us).
And second, the differences between e.g. 600 and 710 are perhaps really only some very little ones or only technical (hardware-software). So I ask - because then we don't have to look for them and just take what we get as versions.

[Dr.Ex]

You are buying very old used hardware.
Are you talking about a switchable model between MMIV and MMV? Those are modified models. I wouldn't buy them.
I would rather buy one with HG550 opening module included since the MMV has only a 3800 half-moves library.

The MMV plays even a weaker endgame compared to MMIV.
The dedicated computers with Morsch program played a weak endgame too so a Saitek president might be a good alternative.

For longer fun an eboard with wooden pieces in connection with a tablet-PC running CB-emu might be a better choice.
You can play against almost everything ever sold except for Mephisto Atlanta, Magellan and Senator.

[littbarski]

hello, not a switchable module, just a normal of one of both - indeed probably MM IV. The Level 0 in MM V is just thinking much longer and is more difficult than in MM IV. So actually my question can already be reduced to the differences between the 600 and the 710 Eprom?

Yes, this is old hardware and exactly what I want to use .

[towforce]

If you have a pc you can play the roms on your computer and try them out

https://fhub.jimdofree.com/

Download cb-emu-pro

Better yet, try them out on Franz Huber's emulator - link. Most of the great chess computers from the golden age are there.

Hankering after an 8-bit CPU chess computer in 2026 seems odd to me - but then people still put time and dedication into keeping the old steam-powered traction engines running!

[Dr.Ex]

Better yet, try them out on Franz Huber's emulator. Most of the great chess computers from the golden age are there.

It's not the same as playing them directly however.

I stumbled over lots of problems with this emulator.
Last time I played a game against Rebell 5 Turbo and an opponents knight just disappeared visually but it was still there for the program.
I played on and after a few moves I captured the invisible knight and the game went back to normal.

[F.Huber]

I stumbled over lots of problems with this emulator.

I'd rather say: the emulator stumbled over lots of problems with you!

[towforce]

If you have a pc you can play the roms on your computer and try them out

https://fhub.jimdofree.com/

Download cb-emu-pro

Better yet, try them out on Franz Huber's emulator - link. Most of the great chess computers from the golden age are there.

Hankering after an 8-bit CPU chess computer in 2026 seems odd to me - but then people still put time and dedication into keeping the old steam-powered traction engines running!

Oops - just realised that the final end point of the link I gave is actually the same as the one in the text I quoted!

[littbarski]

Thanks everybody.
Yes, the emulator is great indeed and we played a lot there, but it is not helpful in our case (see my answer about the emulator above).

But anyway, I think the 710 version it will be . Seems the best choice, as it is probably more or less the same as the 600, and if there is really any difference, then perhaps that the 710 is a bit more tactical which would be ok.

I just wanted to know if anybody has any knowledge about the versions of those good old modules.

We really enjoy playing with the Mephisto Exclusive (which I know of course from the past and at friends), nothing comes even close to it in any modern chess boards, both for the look & feel of the board but also the absolutely great chess programs of that time . I don't have this feeling of having a "real computer component" when playing chess in an app or modern eboard. And the difficulty levels are just perfect probably in the MM IV.