Building an FPGA 800 mh/s Miner from scratch

[legendster]

OK I know nothing about it, i have a little idea on how to start but I'd simply put this question to you guys & would answer and get involved myself with my inputs as you guys (old members) come along with some replies.


Basic question : how to build an FPGA miner using Spartan-6 chip from scratch ?

[StrillO2]

I am interested in it .Can you share some more necessary information about it . I will be very thank full to you .

[Lore]

First question... Have you done the calculation to figure out how long it will take you to break even on your hardware investment?  800MH/s is only slightly better than a high end Radeon 7970 and vastly slower than the ASIC miners out there today already increasing the difficulty with more and more coming.

Remember they don't even really support CPU mining anymore because it isn't cost effective.

[legendster]

I am interested in it .Can you share some more necessary information about it . I will be very thank full to you .

I will/can only share what i have picked up from here i m sure if u spent 2 hrs searching the forum u cud do the same.
The whole point of this question is that  My knowledge isnt sufficient enough, hence the question is to the entire community.

[legendster]

First question... Have you done the calculation to figure out how long it will take you to break even on your hardware investment?  800MH/s is only slightly better than a high end Radeon 7970 and vastly slower than the ASIC miners out there today already increasing the difficulty with more and more coming.

Remember they don't even really support CPU mining anymore because it isn't cost effective.

Yes I have calculated, I wish to raise a farm of 12 FPGA's generating close to 9~10 Gh/s
the total *manufacturing cost* would be around INR 70,000 - this includes the cost of the xilinx spartan 6 chip (box of 50 for $130)

[Lore]

https://github.com/progranism/Open-Source-FPGA-Bitcoin-Miner

Have you seen this?  Not sure if it will work with your specific board though.

[DarkPunk]

http://fpgamining.com/

The board design, and opensource code for their boards are on there.  All the chips and pieces are available on DigiKey.  Go for it.

[Lore]

Wait, is the foreseeable future already over?  I was trying to be more delicate with my math question.


From the site:

Suspending operations

02-02-2013 | by fizzisist

Dear FPGA Mining customers,
Unfortunately, demand for FPGA miners has been too low in recent months to justify continuing to produce new X6500s. For the foreseeable future, FPGA Mining will be suspending operations. It's sad to step away from such an exciting and interesting project, but the time has come.

[DarkPunk]

Wait, is the foreseeable future already over?  I was trying to be more delicate with my math question.


From the site:

Suspending operations

02-02-2013 | by fizzisist

Dear FPGA Mining customers,
Unfortunately, demand for FPGA miners has been too low in recent months to justify continuing to produce new X6500s. For the foreseeable future, FPGA Mining will be suspending operations. It's sad to step away from such an exciting and interesting project, but the time has come.

No, but that doesn't keep you from making them yourself.

[demonmaestro]

but the biggest question is where to get the parts to make your own and also what about software?

[legendster]

I have seen that site and the related the topic on this forum as well. But that serves no good to an absolute noob.

Not stating that I am one, but lets say me and anyone reading this topic IS an absolute noob.

Now to all the experts out there - What do we need first ?

[shibaji]

I have seen that site and the related the topic on this forum as well. But that serves no good to an absolute noob.

Not stating that I am one, but lets say me and anyone reading this topic IS an absolute noob.

Now to all the experts out there - What do we need first ?

Money!

[DarkPunk]

but the biggest question is where to get the parts to make your own and also what about software?

I have seen that site and the related the topic on this forum as well. But that serves no good to an absolute noob.

Not stating that I am one, but lets say me and anyone reading this topic IS an absolute noob.

Now to all the experts out there - What do we need first ?

You would have to get a board schematic made based off the specs given by fpgamining, then export it to a gerber file, and have a few of them made.

Next, your going to want to make a visit to DigiKey, and order XC6SLX150's in sets of two (these would be the Spartans).  There are other parts you will need that are specified on the designs provided by fpgamining, buy them as well.

Next, download and compile the software provided by TheSeven and progranism

Firmware: https://github.com/progranism/Open-Source-FPGA-Bitcoin-Miner/tree/master/projects/X6000_ztex_comm4
Software: https://github.com/TheSeven/Modular-Python-Bitcoin-Miner

HINT: if you can't figure out how to compile it yourself, they have pre-made binaries for you too, but you should probably learn the code so you can tweak it in the future.

[legendster]

but the biggest question is where to get the parts to make your own and also what about software?

I have seen that site and the related the topic on this forum as well. But that serves no good to an absolute noob.

Not stating that I am one, but lets say me and anyone reading this topic IS an absolute noob.

Now to all the experts out there - What do we need first ?

You would have to get a board schematic made based off the specs given by fpgamining, then export it to a gerber file, and have a few of them made.

Next, your going to want to make a visit to DigiKey, and order XC6SLX150's in sets of two (these would be the Spartans).  There are other parts you will need that are specified on the designs provided by fpgamining, buy them as well.

Next, download and compile the software provided by TheSeven and progranism

Firmware: https://github.com/progranism/Open-Source-FPGA-Bitcoin-Miner/tree/master/projects/X6000_ztex_comm4
Software: https://github.com/TheSeven/Modular-Python-Bitcoin-Miner

HINT: if you can't figure out how to compile it yourself, they have pre-made binaries for you too, but you should probably learn the code so you can tweak it in the future.

Much appreciated input.
Guys lets get digging