P95 files

Linux and FreeBSD users should use the standard tar and gzip decompression utilities. Start the program! Linux and FreeBSD users should run the program from the command line with a -m switch, i.

That's all you need to do! The program contacts a central server called PrimeNet to get some work to do. Usually the program and PrimeNet know the best work to assign, but it's up to you! You can administer your account and computers on your userID's account page.

Once you complete a workunit you can track your standings on the competitive stats pages the server updates every hour see Top Producers in the menu, left, for more stats. You can monitor each of your computers' progress, even remote-control the work assignments they request using your userID's CPUs page!

Linux and FreeBSD versions can also be set up to run every time you restart your computer. Ask for help at the Mersenne Forum. From the most recent " stress. Today's computers are not perfect. Even brand new systems from major manufacturers can have hidden flaws. If any of several key components such as CPU, memory, cooling, etc. Typically, overclocking involves pushing a machine past its limits and then backing off just a little bit. For these reasons, both non-overclockers and overclockers need programs that test the stability of their computers.

This is done by running programs that put a heavy load on the computer. Though not originally designed for this purpose, this program is one of a few programs that are excellent at stress testing a computer. The Prime95 Wikipedia page has an excellent overview on using Prime95 to test your system and ensure it is working properly.

The tips presented there should be helpful regarding how long to run the torture test and provide a solid guideline on how long to run the Prime95 stress test. Upgrade the software. Stop and exit your current version, then install the new version overwriting the previous version.

You can upgrade even if you are in the middle of testing an exponent. Please consult the readme. Otherwise, you will need to address your question to one of the two people who wrote the program. Such problems include errors contacting the server, problems with assignments or userids, and errors on the server's statistics page.

All other problems and questions should be sent to George Woltman , but please consult the forums first. However, please do send bug reports and suggestions for improvements. Other than that restriction, you may use this code as you see fit. The source code for the program is highly optimized Intel assembly language. There are many more-readable FFT algorithms available on the web and in textbooks.

The program is also completely non-portable. If you are curious anyway, you can download all the source code This file includes all the version Last updated: Luke Welsh has started a web page that points to Richard Crandall's program and other available source code that you can use to help search for Mersenne primes. At this time, Ernst Mayer's Mlucas program is the best choice for non-Intel architectures.

Luke Welsh has a web page that points to available source code of mostly historical interest you can use to help search for Mersenne primes. Home Get Started Why Join? Download Software Instructions.

Prime numbers have long fascinated amateur and professional mathematicians. An integer greater than one is called a prime number if its only divisors are one and itself. The first prime numbers are 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, etc. For example, the number 10 is not prime because it is divisible by 2 and 5.

A Mersenne prime is a prime of the form 2P The first Mersenne primes are 3, 7, 31, , etc. There are only 40 known Mersenne primes. There are two ways to use this program. The automatic way uses a central server, which we call the PrimeNet server, to get work to do and report your results.

You do not need a permanent connection to the Internet. The second method is the manual method. It requires a little more work and monitoring. Recommended for computers with no Internet access or with some kind of firewall problem that prevents the automatic method from working.