Mephisto Phoenix Chess Computer System

[JohnW]

Why would anyone buy that? For hundreds less you can just buy a DGT board, connect it to your PC and Arena\Fritz or DGT Pi and play hundreds of free chess engines including the majority of Mephisto ROMS.

I looked at a DGT wooden board and it only has:
bluetooth, usb, rosewood, royal = 750 €
and it doesn't even have "LED" on the board = I must look most of the play time on my PC display and can't concentrate on my game on the wooden board.
I would probably buy a DGT tournament wooden board with LED and all-in stuff.
It will cost probably 1000 € or more and if I buy and connect the Mephisto Phoenix Module 1000 € (later 1200 €) then I will pay at least 2000 (later at least 2200 €)

Another interesting DGT board = 950 € without LED. You can add the +200 € to the 2200 € = 2400 €

The Mephisto Phoenix Board with LED (without Mephisto Phoenix Module) would cost only 500 / 800 €
= 1500 € / 1800 € with the Module.

If someone wants to buy a cheap plastic DGT board, feel free to do it.
If someone wants to buy an even cheaper plastic Mephisto Phoenix board, ask the Mephisto team for development.
If someone wants to buy a very very cheap paper board with open hardware ask me.

If you're using Fritz you can have Fritz verbally announce the moves, no need to look at the screen. That's how I play.

[Werewolf]

This has to be good for chess, so naysayers be gone.

I'm curious to know if the J. de Koning emulations run at full speed, as previous ones didn't. Shredder 13.5 is presumably forerunner to the PC version out soon with NNUE.

[Hai]

If you're using Fritz you can have Fritz verbally announce the moves, no need to look at the screen. That's how I play.

That's always possible.

But when you pay the price and buy the Mephisto Phoenix Chess Computer System, you obviously don't want Fritz, the mother, or a school teacher to verbally announce every move. It would be very irritating.
200 moves for white, 200 moves for black and that's only the first game, hell no.
Hopefully no one will offer a chess tournament where every move needs to be verbally announced.
These are only a few reasons why the Mephisto Phoenix is worth the money.

[gordonr]

I hope the evaluation bar can be hidden. During a game, I don't want to look at the clocks and notice whether my evaluation of the position is correct or not - that would be very unrealistic. I've not yet read whether this is the case or not, e.g. while reading the review below

https://www.schachcomputer.info/forum/s ... tcount=121

[mclane]

This is an interesting new dedicated chesscomputer.
All dedicated chess computer fans are very happy that a new mephisto computer comes out.
I maybe bought my first Mephisto Computer, the Mephisto I in 1980-

https://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/i ... Mephisto_I

so that is 42 years ago.

[Magnum]

This is an interesting new dedicated chesscomputer.
All dedicated chess computer fans are very happy that a new mephisto computer comes out.
I maybe bought my first Mephisto Computer, the Mephisto I in 1980-

https://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/i ... Mephisto_I

so that is 42 years ago.

42 years ago Mephisto I that’s great.

[Magnum]

This has to be good for chess, so naysayers be gone.

I'm curious to know if the J. de Koning emulations run at full speed, as previous ones didn't. Shredder 13.5 is presumably forerunner to the PC version out soon with NNUE.

Probably even faster but you can slow it down or think longer.
I wanted to mention that only some hours are left before the big discount is running out!!!!!!!
If someone wants to have one or make some presents for the family and friends, be quick.

[Magnum]

Mephisto Phoenix manual:
http://s3.chesshouse.com.s3-us-west-2.a ... al_ENG.pdf

[MikeB]

Ruud pretty much sums it up for me on his website

The Phoenix comes with 4 different Top-Class Engines on Board: Shredder 13.5, Komodo 14.1, Hiarcs 14.2 and Stockfish 15 NNUE. Starting from a very simple level, which is also suitable for absolute beginners, the system can reach a maximum performance of over 3400 ELO. In fact, there are countless options to adjust the playing strength to your individual needs. The system covers the widest playing strength range ever provided by a chess computer.

Shredder offers a highly interesting new function with its fully automatic self-adapting playing strength with ELO rating. In this way you can continuously monitor your progress and see how much you have improved through training with the computer.

The evaluation bar beside the chess board tells you at first glance how the engine rates the position. Any blunders are quickly noticed that way and you always have a feeling on how good you do.

The machine comes with some different opening books: The standard one by Mark Uniacke provides you with more than 1.000.000 positions, all from master play. This is the biggest opening book ever provided by a dedicated chess computer.

The system is expanded with 23 classical chess computer emulations running at a high speed. Most remarkable is the “Mephisto Glasgow”, the legendary world championship program of 1984 – which runs on the MEPHISTO PHOENIX system at a speed of approx. 66 times faster than the original machine of the time.

With the speed bar you easily control the emulation speed or set it to the speed of the original chess computer, button and display layout follows the originals.

WiFi System Updates - Updates come via WiFi directly on the unit.

The Phoenix uses a 1.5G 64-Bit Quadcore processor with 4G Ram provided by a Raspberry Pi 4B. It's 7 inch TFT screen with 1024x600 resolution gives you great insights into chess computers thinking processes and makes it easy to control the countless functions.

Looking forward to delivery and my first game. The only difference between men and boys are the price of their toys.

Waiting with bated breath regards.

[Scally]

Hi Michael,

I’m very much looking forward to mine arriving too.

I have emailed you recently, please check your emails …

Al