BFL ASICs featured in issue #4 of Bitcoin Magazine

[punin]

With many reports of people getting the november issue of Bitcoin Magazine, and indeed even some scans surfacing, I was wondering if there was any relevant new information to be found in that magazine.

I was under the impression, that the november issue of Bitcoin Magazine would contain more detailed information regarding BFL's ASICs, and stated that issue #4 will answer many questions that people were asking. I've seen scans of this magazine, and it all looks like 6 month old information to me.

Could anyone with access to the full magazine confirm if there indeed is any previously undisclosed detailed technical information on BFL's products?

[PuertoLibre]

With many reports of people getting the november issue of Bitcoin Magazine, and indeed even some scans surfacing, I was wondering if there was any relevant new information to be found in that magazine.

No, none. Already read all the pages.

I think there was a SUSFU/FUBar (or perhaps even a TARFU) moment when people realized it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_military_slang_terms#FUBAR

A BOHICA may soon follow.

I was under the impression, that the november issue of Bitcoin Magazine would contain more detailed information regarding BFL's ASICs, and stated that issue #4 will answer many questions that people were asking. I've seen scans of this magazine, and it all looks like 6 month old information to me.

Could anyone with access to the full magazine confirm if there indeed is any previously undisclosed detailed technical information on BFL's products?

[ElectricMucus]

That's cool, another potential candidate for them to engage in revisionist editing if it blows up, be hit on the fingers by the community and back-peddle.

Didn't work out too well with issue #1 and Bitcoinica did it?

[punin]

No, none. Already read all the pages.

Did you read the actual magazine, or just the scanned pages?

[Cablez]

Wait, so the new information in the mag is not new or just wasn't included when it was hinted it would be? I was under the impression the BFL article contained spoilers.

[Phinnaeus Gage]

Did the article mention Nasser's background? I'm not a hardware/software geek, therefore I don't know if his stated background qualifies to engineer ASICs: http://www.freelancer.com/u/Nasser750gx.html

[Bogart]

I will offer a 20BTC bounty to anybody who posts a measurement of the size of the die used in BFL's "SC" devices...

I will also offer a 20BTC bounty for knowledge of which process node BFL is using...

Hi Elden, the node and method are detailed in the upcoming issue of bitcoin magazine.   (Issue #4).

This is the information that was supposed to be contained.

[SgtSpike]

Bogart - that information is indeed in there.  Punin must've missed it.

[bitcoindaddy]

Bogart - that information is indeed in there.  Punin must've missed it.

No, indeed it isn't. The interview refers to the future direction and processes but says nothing about the current chip.

[MrTeal]

Bogart - that information is indeed in there.  Punin must've missed it.

I didn't see it. Could you please quote it?

[Xfinity]

Bogart - that information is indeed in there.  Punin must've missed it.

No, indeed it isn't. The interview refers to the future direction and processes but says nothing about the current chip.

I was also looking forward in reading about current chip. Grrrr....

[SgtSpike]

Bogart - that information is indeed in there.  Punin must've missed it.

No, indeed it isn't. The interview refers to the future direction and processes but says nothing about the current chip.

I won't quote it - I haven't received the magazine myself yet, and don't want to be responsible for "leaking" the information if you all are lying about having received it.    But look at the last sentence on page 63.

[MrTeal]

Bogart - that information is indeed in there.  Punin must've missed it.

No, indeed it isn't. The interview refers to the future direction and processes but says nothing about the current chip.

I won't quote it - I haven't received the magazine myself yet, and don't want to be responsible for "leaking" the information if you all are lying about having received it.    But look at the last sentence on page 63.

The copy posted on the BFL forums (with Bitcoin Magazine's permission) doesn't have the page numbers, but would the sentence you're talking about be paraphrased "BFL skipped structured ASICs entirely and went to the full custom approach"?

[SgtSpike]

Bogart - that information is indeed in there.  Punin must've missed it.

No, indeed it isn't. The interview refers to the future direction and processes but says nothing about the current chip.

I won't quote it - I haven't received the magazine myself yet, and don't want to be responsible for "leaking" the information if you all are lying about having received it.    But look at the last sentence on page 63.

The copy posted on the BFL forums (with Bitcoin Magazine's permission) doesn't have the page numbers, but would the sentence you're talking about be paraphrased "BFL skipped structured ASICs entirely and went to the full custom approach"?

Oh my... it appears as though I do not have the final revision (though I thought it was the final revision until now), and somehow, between the revision I do have, and the printed copy, the important part was removed.  What the actual f...

[RHA]

I have the magazine. The general article "Fluttering Expectations" is on pages 66 to 69. Than there are two pages of something like Q&A. I found nothing about die size nor exact process size (apart of "the company already plans on reducing the size of their next generation offerings to 45nm or even dipping into the sub 40nm domain").
The new thing is something important for P2Pool - the machine will "send back shares as they are found".

I'm going to examine other pages.

[Jack1Rip1BurnIt]

I've ordered issue #2, 3, and 4 about a month ago and have yet to receive any of them yet. It does not surprise me one bit though because it took around 2 months for me to receive issue #1 and by then they were already advertising issue #3. I don't know why it takes so long, but I'm going to continue to buy them either way.

[MrTeal]

Bogart - that information is indeed in there.  Punin must've missed it.

No, indeed it isn't. The interview refers to the future direction and processes but says nothing about the current chip.

I won't quote it - I haven't received the magazine myself yet, and don't want to be responsible for "leaking" the information if you all are lying about having received it.    But look at the last sentence on page 63.

The copy posted on the BFL forums (with Bitcoin Magazine's permission) doesn't have the page numbers, but would the sentence you're talking about be paraphrased "BFL skipped structured ASICs entirely and went to the full custom approach"?

Oh my... it appears as though I do not have the final revision (though I thought it was the final revision until now), and somehow, between the revision I do have, and the printed copy, the important part was removed.  What the actual f...

Maybe they removed the important bits so that there was room in the interview with Josh to include two full sets of stats; one for the specs with no power figures, and the newly revised specs with the little single and power information.

[SgtSpike]

We'll fix it soon.

[punin]

This is more like it: http://bitcoinmagazine.net/bfl-confirms-65nm-process-for-sc-lineup/

[PuertoLibre]

This is more like it: http://bitcoinmagazine.net/bfl-confirms-65nm-process-for-sc-lineup/

I guessed right, 65nm, big surprise?

The disturbing thing is they are using Full Custom ASIC, at 65nm process node, at 60watts. (@60GH/s)

The competitor (bASIC) is using structured ASIC I believe and is below the 100watt mark on a 90nm process node. (@54GH/s)
Some leaked pictures show that it might be at around 58 to 60watts. But the caption was removed so it is hard to figure out if true or not.

Either way, for a smaller process node...not as efficient as it should be. Perhaps I am missing something....?