New R-Box Upgrade Kit

[sidehack]

So we're working on some miner design. It's sort of an awkward time to do so now with new generation hardware on the horizon. The idea was raised last night to work on a board which could be fit into a New R-Box using more efficient chips, and we've been giving it some thought.

If we wanted to push forward with a short batch of those, the design would be based off our concepts already developed for a bigger better miner. What we could do is use the New[er] R-Box as a testbench for this concept, and then retool the design for new-generation chips once they're available.

So, who thinks this is a good idea and would consider purchasing if it existed?

[Mikestang]

I would definitely take a look at them to replace my U3s.  I was going to look to replace my U3s with your sticks, but this path would make more sense.  I would replace my current sticks with a few of yours, replace my U3s with this device, and replace my unused S1 with the board ya'll are working on.

Question: would you need to already have a R-Box to upgrade, or would you be selling a turn-key kit?

[ElGabo]

IMHO the S1 or S3 upgrade would be better.

Maybe make a poll about it?

[-droid-]

I dunno, $100 seems a little high, considering S3's can be had around $85

my vote is maybe

[ElGabo]

I think lots of us have S1-s laying around.

On the other hand in many areas the S3 will be unprofitable in the next months.

I think more Bitmain stuff was sold than R-Box...

[philipma1957]

I sold my R-Boxes.  They were very nice except they were poor on power.


I think you need to see how many are needed.

Say you can sell 25 boards for 25 r-boxes.  How many chips how much money figure the demand and the need.

  Right now you have

1) a working 1 chip stick
2) a planned 2 chip stick--  I think you did get a working one and post I forget
3) an 18 chip board
4) an s-1 /s-3 drop in
5) a stud hub


 That is a lot of stuff on your plate.

Also avalon mini would be a direct competitor to the r-box  So I would consider waiting for the pricing on it to come out.

[quakefiend420]

If the decision is between this and the S1 replacement, I'd vote for the S1 replacement.  A lot of us have S1s laying around(myself included) that we're looking forward to making usable again.

[philipma1957]

I would love to have R-boxes doing 200gh at 70 -80 watts.

  I wonder how many are out and about that could be refitted.

 There are a lot of s-1's sitting idol and s-3's about to go over power costs.

Still the r-box was nice and quiet.


Just playing Devil's advocate.

I guess it comes down to demand.  And chips on hand.

[-droid-]

Yeah I've got a couple R-Boxes as desk pieces at work, if the price is good I would definitely purchase 2 boards

[HerbPean]

I would prioritize S1 and S3 board first.

At least for me.

[sidehack]

This would be board only; you'd need an R-Box to upgrade.

The decision isn't whether to make this or the S1, but whether to make this in the dead time we're waiting to make the S1. We'd need to do a similar build anyway as an initial test, so the question is whether I should work on an S1-precursor with BM1384 that I design to completion but never sell, or if I should make an R-Box with BM1384 that I design to completion and then sell, and which gets me 90% of what I'd have needed for the S1-precursor anyway. The way I figure, if I'm going to design the thing anyway, what's wrong with trying to make it sellable?

By which I mean, I design and prototype this inside a month. It's then sellable. I take two more months to shift the design to a new-gen chip for TypeZero and it's then sellable. Or I design and prototype this inside a month, do not sell it, then spend two more months with pretty good hardware on my shelf not helping anyone while I redesign for a new-gen chip for TypeZero and then sell it. The TypeZero timeline won't really be affected much at all.

[-droid-]

Makes sense. R-Box it is then :-)

[notlist3d]

The biggest thing I don't like is this would make it where I need the R-box to upgrade.  I'm guessing a lot of potential customers do not have a R-box.

I'm sure you will have some sales, but I think a product that does not require a R-box will have higher sales.

[wlefever]

Dang, all I've got are the original R-Boxes sitting at the house. I sold off my "New" R-Box models.

[TheRealSteve]

Just as slight clarification:

	R-Box	New R-Box
	not it	it

[HerbPean]

This would be board only; you'd need an R-Box to upgrade.

The decision isn't whether to make this or the S1, but whether to make this in the dead time we're waiting to make the S1. We'd need to do a similar build anyway as an initial test, so the question is whether I should work on an S1-precursor with BM1384 that I design to completion but never sell, or if I should make an R-Box with BM1384 that I design to completion and then sell, and which gets me 90% of what I'd have needed for the S1-precursor anyway. The way I figure, if I'm going to design the thing anyway, what's wrong with trying to make it sellable?

By which I mean, I design and prototype this inside a month. It's then sellable. I take two more months to shift the design to a new-gen chip for TypeZero and it's then sellable. Or I design and prototype this inside a month, do not sell it, then spend two more months with pretty good hardware on my shelf not helping anyone while I redesign for a new-gen chip for TypeZero and then sell it. The TypeZero timeline won't really be affected much at all.

Make a lot of sens.

The only question is when will Bitmain release a new hardware and if it is with a new chip. ( should be this month .... but still who knows)

For me, the R-Box board doesn't interest me much since I have none R-Box. (This is only me)

If both the bitcoin community and yourself (with the design) will benefit more with that path. I don't see why we would try to convince you to not do it

[Meech]

I found the original Rbox software a little buggy.  Had to reset every few days.  I don't know if that carried on with the new Rbox.  Sure liked the simple design though.  Price would be the factor.

[sidehack]

The biggest thing I don't like is this would make it where I need the R-box to upgrade.  I'm guessing a lot of potential customers do not have a R-box.

I'm sure you will have some sales, but I think a product that does not require a R-box will have higher sales.

If you don't already have a New R-Box, no offense but you're sorta irrelevant to the discussion. Saying "a lot of potential customers don't have R-Box" is saying "a lot of potential customers aren't actually potential customers". I'll probably go ahead and design it, like I said it gets me to about 90% of what I wanted to design anyway. The question is going to be whether or not there's enough demand to try and mass-produce.

[-droid-]

Just as slight clarification:

	R-Box	New R-Box
	not it	it

oh damn, this puts me out then   I have the smaller R-Boxes

[notlist3d]

The biggest thing I don't like is this would make it where I need the R-box to upgrade.  I'm guessing a lot of potential customers do not have a R-box.

I'm sure you will have some sales, but I think a product that does not require a R-box will have higher sales.

If you don't already have a New R-Box, no offense but you're sorta irrelevant to the discussion. Saying "a lot of potential customers don't have R-Box" is saying "a lot of potential customers aren't actually potential customers". I'll probably go ahead and design it, like I said it gets me to about 90% of what I wanted to design anyway. The question is going to be whether or not there's enough demand to try and mass-produce.

I meant no offense or to be irreleant.   I personally would like to have one and be a support, as I appreciate and do like your work.

It's just the R-Box still has a decent price for it on sites such as ebay.  Paying over 1/2 of upgrade kit's cost for me to acquire a R-box makes this version one that you really need to have the new R-Box  to justify.

Either way best of luck with it.