Setting the analysis to unlimited certainly makes a calculation time difference as it is calculating further and further into a position. As for the number of lines it shows, I believe this is for display purposes.
Self Analysis depth unlimited. Does amount of lines matter?
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yeah, I'm trying to figure out if I should set it to 2-3 lines or 5. To speed things up.
But since I don't know how it works I don't know if it takes extra computer power or not.
Sep 26, 2020
0
#4
My intuition tells me that displaying additional lines does not take processing power since the engine looks at a vast number of lines trying to find the best sequence. Hopefully, someone who is a little more savvy with computer engines can correct me if I am wrong.
I tried it. 1 line is faster than 5.
Less lines are faster.
Confirmed.
When the 5 lines analysis was at depth 33.
The analysis with 1 line was at depth 37.
The difference in speed seems to increase with depth.
Sep 26, 2020
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#7
Gotcha. Thanks for testing that out! I feel good that I learned something today 
When 5 lines finally reached depth 34.
The analysis with 1 line was at depth 41.
I always put on 5. To see the best moves, the engine needs to see all moves, so I think that the time won't be a problem.
Sep 26, 2020
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#10
AKalkainen wrote:
When the 5 lines analysis was at depth 33.
The analysis with 1 line was at depth 37.
The difference in speed seems to increase with depth.
Going deeper intuitively makes sense; the further ahead the computer looks the longer it takes. The number of lines surprises me a little. I would have thought they would be calculated anyway, but just not shown. Interesting that with one line you got to 37, but only to 33 with 5. I guess it does slow the speed.
As a non-playing member, when doing the analysis on Chess.com I am limited to level 18; but that's good enough for me.
I'm wondering if setting the self analysis to unlimited and 1 line or 5 changes the time it takes to compute or if it's just for display purposes only.
Anyone knows?