Re: [XPM] Working on a GPU miner for Primecoin

Okay, the first GPU-enabled version is ready. Right now it only does the sieving on the GPU. Primality tests are still done on the CPU. The code hasn't been optimized at all yet; the performance is equivalent (+- a few %) on these setups:
1) Phenom x6 1055T, all 6 cores
2) Phenom x6 1055T, all 6 cores, plus a HD6990 using both cores

I don't think the current version is worth releasing. It still needs a bit of work, I want it to be twice as fast. I estimate there is room for a five-fold improvement, especially when I get the primality tests done on the GPU as well.

Tomorrow I will do tests using a slow CPU with lots of GPU power (Sempron 140 with 2x6990).

I think it worth a release... At least we can have pool set up based on the miner.

Yes, I think pool is really important, more than a GPUminer.

I'm not sure that i agree that a pool is more important, but regardless of that, I don't think releasing the code now is a good idea. A fair number of people have donated to this project expecting a GPU miner and releasing this code now will mean opening the source code up to other developers. If they happen to release that code before mtrlt completes the GPU implementation then it negates the donations by those people expecting an early release. In fact, I would go as far as to say that I don't think mtrlt should release anything until the GPU implementation has been optimized up to his anticipated 5 fold increase over CPU, for the same reason. BTW I donated.

What speeds would 2 7870s get combined with an i3 3225 and is it worth it to pay 1BTC for early access?

No one knows at this point. It's your gamble. You can buy a lot of time on a VPS for $100, to me a week of early access isn't worth it.