This isn't a problem, I'm just curious- over the period for which I have records (last couple of months) my Linux machines have received a mixture of a3 and a4 WUs, the Macs (OS X) have received only a4's.
The CPUs in use are similar (Core i5's and Core 2 Duo's), won't a3 WUs run on OS X?
(I've had a quick look through the various FAQs etc, but as I don't really understand the technology I probably wouldn't have understood the answer if it was in there )
FahCore_a3 and FahCore_a4 can run on all supported OS (Windows, Linux, OSX). However, Linux 32-bit isn't supported by FahCore_a3, it can however run FahCore_a4. My guess for this reason is that FahCore_a4 can run from single thread to multiple threads so it is being used on OSX to accommodate all supported CPUs. FahCore_a3 can't run on a single thread, at least, the last time I tested it (viewtopic.php?p=155148#p155148).
Moreover, it is Project assigned that states what FahCore to download. FahCore_a4 is newer than FahCore_a3 and may contain improved/new features required by the researcher, hence, is going to be used more especially in new Projects. Old Projects stated on FahCore_a3 will likely be finished using them.
ETA:
Now ↞ Very Soon ↔ Soon ↔ Soon-ish ↔ Not Soon ↠ End Of Time
Yes, Core_A3 units will run on OS X as SMP only and 2 or more cores. As an example, I currently have one running on my MacBook and turned in another yesterday. For several WU's before that Core_A4 WU's were processed. The Mac Pro in my signature is also alternating between A3 and A4 WU's, but the iMac has been tending to get all of the same core lately. So it may be the luck of the draw as you connect to the AS as to which type your OS X machine is assigned.
Joe_H wrote:So it may be the luck of the draw as you connect to the AS as to which type your OS X machine is assigned.
Yes, that seems likely.
I had a closer look at the HFM log- only about 5% of the WUs that it's logged (out of ~600) have been a3, so chance is quite conceivable.
(Now I've raised the matter here, I wouldn't be in the least surprised if the Macs started getting a3's and the Linux machines didn't get any at all… you can probably tell that I'm a firm believer in Sod's Law )
When A3 was new, it was targeted for OS_X as well as other OSs. A higher percentage of projects had trouble on OS_X than other OSs. When problems were discovered, specific projects were restricted while Development looked into what the problems were.
I don't recall if A3's problems on OS_X were ever fixed or if they were just avoided. In ether case there's probably some residual anti-OS-X bias in the assignments which will probably never be resolved until old projects are replaced by new ones on A4.
So, taking that together with Joe_H's post, where he is getting a3's on OS X, would a reasonable interpretation be that it's the luck of the draw, but the draw may have something of a bias against that particular OS because of past problems?
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