Hi all. 

Just finished bringing a 10TB IPFS server online just for kicks (216.146.251.8:4001), provide 54TB to ScPrime's network, and run a Tor relay node.  Keeps me from getting bored <smile>.

Obviously, while researching IPFS, Filecoin came up.  I'd like to know more!  In the olden days, coins would have a basic stat page on bitcointalk.org that would provide basic stats like block time (apparently 30 seconds for Filecoin?), Max number of coins/tokens?  Current number of mined coins/tokens, reward method, pre-min amount for PoW coins,  etc.  Is there such a thing for Filecoin?

Basically looking to see where I would be in the project if I invested enough to build a mining machine.

Also curious about if/how hardware requirements are expected to increase as the size of the blockchain increases.  e.g. I'd be pissed to spend $20K+ on a server and have it, or some component, become insufficient in 6 months.  Related, concerned that the current specs are close to the edge with regards to current technology.  For example, pcpartpicker does not even support the Ice Lake CPUs recommended (shame on them, but point is they were only released 2Q21).  Basically want to make sure that such a beast of a machine will continue to function for several years, without hitting something like a GPU memory restriction.

Given that most dual Xeon (my "goto" config for large servers) motherboards support 10 6gbyte/sec SATA connections, I could see having 160-200TB of storage along with a 2TB NVME disk for OS, ZFS cache, and 1TB for sealing cache (although I wonder if that space would be better served in the general ZFS log/cache space).  My understanding is that FIL needs to be purchase to functional "allow" storage space to be used.  How much FIL would I need to purchase to support, say, ~128TB of usable (10x16GB ZFS RaidZ2)?

Thanks in advance for any feedback.

Any word on manufacturer's that will be utilizing the new Intel chips?  The announcement indicates a few large mining firms will be the first to get the chips, but I didn't spot anyone listed that offers home users complete solutions.

https://www.coindesk.com/business/2022/04/04/intel-doubles-down-on-esg-with-launch-of-second-gen-bitcoin-mining-chips/

Agreed.  Just been out of the market for awhile... still running mostly S9s and kicking myself for not upgrading back at $10K BTC.

This seems too good to be true, although prices vary so much I wonder:

https://minersspace.com/products/bitmain-antminer-s19-pro-110th-s-with-psu

I seem to recall S19Pros selling for under $3k back with Bitcoin was struggling around $10K, $15K at $60K BTC.

Rather warry since I found the site embedded in a e-bay ad... (which I'm pretty sure is against e-bay terms and conditions - and if they will violate those, how trustworthy are they?)

Agree with all but the "Direct from manufacture[r]".  For Bitmain gear, that often comes with long lead times, and for us USA folks, a 27% tax.

Also... unsure what the differences are between the S19Pro 110TH I bought back on September 5th for delivery today at $15,400 plus shipping and the S19J 104TH machines Bitmain is telling today at $12064 - my cost $15,393 plus shipping.  One also needs to factor in the potential for a long shipping time due to oversea shipping backlogs in the current environment.

Just to be perfectly clear (highly suggested this a few post back):  NOT a happy customer, all is NOT forgiven.

Per one online calculator, I've lost about $780/month in profit.  Times TWO presuming they shipped at their maximum advertised 14 days.  So ~$1500 in lost profit... no, NOT happy.

They are here and appear to be brand new.  No signs of dust on the fans.  Both have a bit of crud on the bottom exterior of the power supplies and bottom of the cases - maybe from testing?

Both are checking out OK, at least with a few minutes of run time on them.





Final suggestion:  Only buy from Blockforg is they have the items in stock per a verbal confirmation unless your willing to go through what I've gone through, with week+ long support turn around, unanswered ticket responses, etc.

No, a 10 week shipping delay on something that was advertised as shipping in 2-14 days is not acceptable.  I've lost months of planned, very profitable, mining time.

Sales terms were not disclosed during the process, just something like "We only accept Bitcoin or wire transfers for payment" (with a delay for the wire transfers of course vs. near instant for Bitcoin).

I ended up writing the Better Business Bureau to complain.  The BBB never got a response, but the miners shipped a week later.

Big question now is if they are really new or not.  Will find out in a few hours when they finally arrive.

Actually bought something like 50 miners (Avalon 841s) from Blokforge back in 2018 with excellent support back then.  Of course, back then, they actually supplied support for the miners (technical and parts) as well.

Probably should be posted as its own thread, but be VERY cautious of anybody selling miners at 30% current prices.  If your USA based, doubly so if they claim to be paying the Trump China tax.

Got an e-mail last night titled "You BLOKFORGE order is now complete".  Apparently they shipped the original (2) S19 Pro 110s... but I'll believe they are new units when I get them.  I've lost over 2 months of mining time during a peak profit cycle... have to wonder if somebody else was using them.  Is it really a coincidence that they shipped shortly after Bitcoin retreated?

November 18th update:

Two packages were shipped today from Autoline Industries in Mesa, Az.  Expected delivery is the 22nd.  Per Fed Ex, the PO number matches my September 5th order, and each box weighs 32lbs, so it appears miners are being sent.  Which models I'm clueless about - my order on BlokForge is still showing as "Pending (Backordered)" per their website.

I have NOT been advised by Blokforge (or is it Autoline Industries?) about this.

Will keep everyone posted.

Ah, thanks.  I had bought some machines from them back in 2016(ish), so was on their e-mail list.  I recall getting a "we are going out of business" e-mail from around that time, so it makes sense.

I'll summarize:

Blokforge co-Founders Mr. Thomas Fieckl and Mr. Stefan Warecka left during the 1st half of 2021 and formed a new company "Kagis" based out of Vienna, Austria.  What was once a Blokforge office in Austria is no longer associated with Blokforge.  So they have had some shakeups and loss of contacts/resources/relationships.

Per the email:

Mr. Flecki can be found at https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-fleckl-95940bb6/
Mr. Warecka is at https://www.linkedin.com/in/techmagnet/

Looking at those links, both are associated with cryptouniverse which I think was the Blokforge equivalent serving the European market.  If its the same company I'm thinking about, they shutdown back when BTC was having its last dip.  Just wasn't aware that Blokforge (Mesa, Arizona, USA based) was tied in with them, which is implied by the letter.

What truly saddens me is that this entire event could have been solved with reasonable customer support (say, 2-3 day responses) and would have been non-existent with 24 hour responses (presuming previous levels of transparency, not lies like "its another week or two out" (back in September).

They have admitted to me they are short staffed... but still... business should be first-come, first-serve so that we eventually get attention.

Received.  Thank you for the very professional e-mail.  Perhaps you would be kind enough to share your findings here?  Suspect others would be interested, but it is your information to share, not mine.

Now at the end of November for "2-14 day shipping" of items ordered on September 5th.  Orders are still marked "Backordered".  I have reached out to a USA based consumer protection agency for help.

Well... I finally heard back from them.  They are short staffed (should not be my problem), and because of the associated delays, the $10,250 S19J Pro's that I agreed to substitute are now $12,000.  Shipping in a week or so...  They offered me a $200 discount, so the price rise would ONLY be $1,550 a unit, instead of $1750 a unit (over 15%).  The BTC I sent them 6 weeks ago which would have covered (3) of the S19J Pros is now insufficient to cover their new higher price, even though that same BTC is now worth $38,400 - more than enough to cover (3) at their current price.

Bottom line:  Don't trust them on delivery times, if you trust them at all.  Send a wire, not BTC, so that fluctuating prices don't screw you.  I suspect they are going to refund me the cash value when I sent the BTC, $31,286.  If I converted that back to BTC, I'll have lost 0.12 BTC, about $7400, by trusting them.

I've given them two options:  Send me (3) of the S19j Pros, for which my original BTC deposit would have covered under several scenarios (like they actually answered their phone or responded to tickets within days not weeks), or send me back my original BTC.

Presuming they do neither, does anyone know if I have any legal recourse to recover my loss?

Tried about 5 times today, no answer on the phone nor on their "online chat", although I just 4 hours later) saw someone officially join the chat.

It is Columbus day here in the USA.  That normally means banks and courts are closed and no paper mail, but few companies take it off.  Still... Maybe.

I'll monitor the chat window for a few more hours and try the phone again tomorrow.

(and its now "tomorrow")

12 hours after I initiated a chat, someone responded (I was no longer there).  They echoed my concern and that was about it.  Phone is rolling to voice again this morning (and is still rolling instantly a few hours later).

Update:  Phone has been rolling to voice mail on the first ring all day (tried 3 times).  I sent a ticket it today - in the past few weeks its taken a week+ to get a response, and except for one, they have been on the order of "I don't know, let me check with my boss" (and I never hear back), but we will see.

"Due to higher than expected call volume, please either e-mail us or submit a ticket".  (more-or-less)

I know its rare these days not to get that, or something similar, on all support calls - but its frustrating all the same.

Couple of hours later... same thing.

Actually yes.  I've mostly in BTC for equipment for tax reasons (keeps the books cleaner).  All cash received gets declared, so a refund would require taxes be paid on it.