DGT Centaur

[Larry]

These have been around for well over three years now but I never bothered, considering them
more or less a chess software engine built into a plastic frame, not in the spirit of the
traditional chess computers as we know them. The other day, however, on browsing local
eBay offerings there was a Centaur at an irresistible price. I was the only bidder and got it for the
starting bid. $300, in mint condition. It was an easy drive to pick it up in person.
I’m looking for info on it. Regarding clock speed and processor details. Also on the size
of the opening book and size of endgame database. There seems to be a code of secrecy unless
I’m imagining things. Anyone know of any good links with specifications on the Centaur?
Any responses are appreciated…
Regards to all…Larry

[Scally]

Hi Larry,

It has a Raspberry Pi Zero inside.

There are several projects where people have replaced the RPi Zero with a RPi Zero W or a RPi Zero 2 W to get online etc …

Al

[Tibono2]

Hi Larry,
I assume $300 is AUD? Slightly less than €200, very nice catch!
I recently wrote about the Centaur, you can read some insights bottom of this page.
Enjoy!
Eric

[Larry]

Thanks for the fast replies guys….and yes it is $300 Australian. Probably around US$200.
Still putting it through its paces…a fun machine for sure.
Eric’s link makes particularly good reading.
L

[fourthirty]

Larry,

That is a great price for the Centaur. I enjoy mine for quick games, and it is easy to take outside and play a game without the worry about extra cables, modules, or power. I'm still a bit suspicious and confused about the implementation of the adaptive modes (there is conflicting information regarding how the Centaur adapts - within the active game only or if it adapts to past game history).

I do love the form factor - the size, the LED rings, the built in battery, and the e-ink display. I only wish there was the option to play against a variety more traditional chess engines (versus stockfish, or adaptive stockfish only), and online connectivity (without mods) is also desired.

My hope is DGT will one day release a "Centaur 2.0", which would include:
1. Use of DGT auto sensory pieces (as used on their Smart Board)
2. Variety of engines built in (or ability to load UCI engines)
3. Online connectivity (perhaps build on the Pegasus module/apps)
4. Maintain the built-in (and replaceable) battery

I did perform the initial PGN export mod which allows me to export my games for analysis on a USB stick:
https://hiarcs.net/forums/viewtopic.php ... 76#p105576

This was not too difficult to accomplish. I did not accomplish the wireless mod, due to availability of the Raspberry Pi Zero W and my solder skills are a bit rusty.

Enjoy your Centaur!
Greg

[Larry]

Sure will enjoy it Greg…no buyer remorse on this purchase.
And thanks for the link…a good read to be had there. Regarding mods, I’m
an old dog and best leave the Centaur standard.
Regards…

[Murat]

Finally I got around to modding my DGT Centaur.

Now it has many engines including an unlocked Stockfish to play against.
Here is the great part of the mod. It emulates dedicated chess computer engines.
Namely:
Amsterdam, Dallas, London, Roma, Risc 2500, Montreux, Tasc R30,
MM IV, MM V, Rebel, Nigel Short, Polgar,
Sensory 9, Prodigy, CXG Chess, Supercon.

Thanks to Dirk and Ed NeKebno for making this mod possible.
And a big thanks to Bryan Whitby for his guidance.

Happy camper regards
Murat

[jarek]

Hi Murat,

congratulations, that sounds fantastic!
Is there a tutorial on how to do this mod?
Or perhaps you could write some paragraphs about it for the community?

modded regards,
Jarek

[Murat]

Hi Jarek,

There are many versions of this mod. The one I am using is one of the older ones and as far as I know,
the only one with the emulations build in.

Here is a link for the original discussion.
https://groups.google.com/g/picochess/c/QCbzJGeXl8U

This is the latest version of the mod without the emulators. It has the installation instructions.
https://github.com/DGTCentaurMods/DGTCentaurMods

Basic knowledge of Raspberry Pi OS/linux is helpful.
A version 2 of Centaur is required.
A "Pi Zero 2 W" is required to replace the original Pi Zero in the Centaur.
It is best to purchase Pi Zero 2 W without pins and solder 90 degree pins on them.
Bending the presoldered straight pins is not ideal.
https://www.pishop.us/product/raspberry-pi-zero-2-w/
https://www.pishop.us/product/2-54mm-ri ... connector/

It is a high risk adventure. The Centaur screen is very fragile and easy to damage.

All the best

Murat