Mephisto Exclusive Polgar 10 MHz
Mephisto Exclusive Polgar 10 MHz 1 20 x 20
Mephisto Exclusive Polgar 10 MHz 3 15 x 15
Mephisto Exclusive Polgar 10 MHz 4 15 x 15

The program in the Mephisto Polgar 10MHz is the same as the standard Polgar (5MHz) but running exactly twice as fast. The Polgar 10MHz modules were only issued by Mephisto in suitably adapted Modular or Exclusive boards. The Modular combination cost £749 in the UK, and the Exclusive £879. They both came with a stern warning not to attempt to use the modules in other boards or to use the adapted boards with other types of module. The orange notice (pictured below) warns that only the enclosed Polgar 10MHz modules work with that board because of changes made in the electrical supply. All other modules which normally run with the board may be destroyed (or words to that effect).

You might question the wisdom of releasing a special board for one set of modules with the potential future compatibility issues this could cause. However the Polgar 10MHz is a significant and special chess computer being by some way the strongest 8 bit machine ever produced. It arrived in mid 1990 and quickly established a reputation for matching some of the strongest chess computers of the day, including some of the 32 bit ones. Once at 2219 Elo on the Selective Search rating list, almost alongside the new World Champion - Portorose 68000, it has now settled down to 2034 Elo on the last published list. The strength of play is matched by the excellent 32-character dot matrix display and all the features for which Ed Schroder’s  Polgar program is well known. The training mode, opening book training and playing to a specified Elo rating are complemented by a 76 page “Improve Your Chess” manual issued with all Polgars.

In Computer Chess Reports Larry Kaufman found the Polgar 10MHz to be better at slower tournament speeds, so how it will fare at Active Chess remains to be seen. I expect it to finish somewhere near the bottom of Strong Group Two.
 

Mephisto Exclusive Polgar 10 MHz 3 25 x 25
Polgar 10MHz warning1

Type

Auto Sensory Tabletop

Programmer

Ed Schroder

Elo Rating

2034

Processor

65C02  8 bit   10 MHz

Memory

64 Kb ROM    8 Kb RAM

Opening Book

16,000 ply

Book Choice

Tournament/All

Mode Choice

Random/Best     Brute Force/Selective

Problem Solving

Mate in 8

Power

7.5V  500mA  positive centre    (eg HGN 5001)

Dimensions

40.0 x 40.0 x 5.0 cm

Chessboard

32.0 x 32.0 cm

King Height

7.0 cm

free counters