Homemade ASIC Miner?

[dlhbit]

So, I was looking into ASIC miners and wanted to know if it would be possible to build one from basic parts (processors, etc.)? What processors would I be able to get ahold of that would work? What programming. Would be needed? I just want to build a machine that will run the SHA256 and be less expensive and more effective than brand name miners. Is this possible?

[achow101]

So, I was looking into ASIC miners and wanted to know if it would be possible to build one from basic parts (processors, etc.)? What processors would I be able to get ahold of that would work? What programming. Would be needed? I just want to build a machine that will run the SHA256 and be less expensive and more effective than brand name miners. Is this possible?

No, this is not possible. An ASIC is Application Specific, meaning that the code to do the hash is literally hard wired. That is what makes it so efficient, but it is not easy to make at home. It cannot be made from off the shelf parts, you need a foundry, clean room, and a bunch of other industrial level stuff that you can't get by yourself. It would definitely not be less expensive and more efficient than other miners. What you are suggesting is like an FPGA, which has already been used and passed. They are not as good as efficient.

[philipma1957]

So, I was looking into ASIC miners and wanted to know if it would be possible to build one from basic parts (processors, etc.)? What processors would I be able to get ahold of that would work? What programming. Would be needed? I just want to build a machine that will run the SHA256 and be less expensive and more effective than brand name miners. Is this possible?

You can get every part except ASIC

Chips


Sidehack made a good usb stick but he needed the chips

[dlhbit]

So, I was looking into ASIC miners and wanted to know if it would be possible to build one from basic parts (processors, etc.)? What processors would I be able to get ahold of that would work? What programming. Would be needed? I just want to build a machine that will run the SHA256 and be less expensive and more effective than brand name miners. Is this possible?

No, this is not possible. An ASIC is Application Specific, meaning that the code to do the hash is literally hard wired. That is what makes it so efficient, but it is not easy to make at home. It cannot be made from off the shelf parts, you need a foundry, clean room, and a bunch of other industrial level stuff that you can't get by yourself. It would definitely not be less expensive and more efficient than other miners. What you are suggesting is like an FPGA, which has already been used and passed. They are not as good as efficient.

So the only real options would be buying a high end ASIC in order to profit?

[ZeroGee]

I think he's talking about taking pre-existing ASIC chips and making a board, controller, and computer interface for it instead of making an ASIC.

Theoretically it's possible. Though, it seems difficult to acquire decent performing ASICs in low volumes for acceptable prices. If you're really just wanting to DIY some stuff arguably cheaper than full rigs, look at buying some preassembled blades and making them work. Keep in mind though cooling solutions and power supplies are non trivial expenses.

[achow101]

So, I was looking into ASIC miners and wanted to know if it would be possible to build one from basic parts (processors, etc.)? What processors would I be able to get ahold of that would work? What programming. Would be needed? I just want to build a machine that will run the SHA256 and be less expensive and more effective than brand name miners. Is this possible?

No, this is not possible. An ASIC is Application Specific, meaning that the code to do the hash is literally hard wired. That is what makes it so efficient, but it is not easy to make at home. It cannot be made from off the shelf parts, you need a foundry, clean room, and a bunch of other industrial level stuff that you can't get by yourself. It would definitely not be less expensive and more efficient than other miners. What you are suggesting is like an FPGA, which has already been used and passed. They are not as good as efficient.

So the only real options would be buying a high end ASIC in order to profit?

Pretty much. Companies invest millions of dollars into chip development and they recover that by selling the chips. The thing is, if you attempt to develop your own chips, you will be investing a ton of money and mining will not recover you that much.

[toptek]

So, I was looking into ASIC miners and wanted to know if it would be possible to build one from basic parts (processors, etc.)? What processors would I be able to get ahold of that would work? What programming. Would be needed? I just want to build a machine that will run the SHA256 and be less expensive and more effective than brand name miners. Is this possible?

You can get every part except ASIC

Chips


Sidehack made a good usb stick but he needed the chips

Side was the first thing that came to mind, hes our best hope, atm  he can't get the chips, here's, to next year, maybe next year .

[rammy2k2]

its impossible to make asic chips at home 

[CrazyGuy]

An integrated circuit is going to be tough to build in your home, but assuming you have the knowledge and plenty of floorspace, you could build an "ASBC" (Application Specific Breadboard Circuit)

[philipma1957]

An integrated circuit is going to be tough to build in your home, but assuming you have the knowledge and plenty of floorspace, you could build an "ASBC" (Application Specific Breadboard Circuit)

Wow A breadboard circuit vs a chip.  yeah it could work.

[Finksy]

So, I was looking into ASIC miners and wanted to know if it would be possible to build one from basic parts (processors, etc.)? What processors would I be able to get ahold of that would work? What programming. Would be needed? I just want to build a machine that will run the SHA256 and be less expensive and more effective than brand name miners. Is this possible?

No, this is not possible. An ASIC is Application Specific, meaning that the code to do the hash is literally hard wired. That is what makes it so efficient, but it is not easy to make at home. It cannot be made from off the shelf parts, you need a foundry, clean room, and a bunch of other industrial level stuff that you can't get by yourself. It would definitely not be less expensive and more efficient than other miners. What you are suggesting is like an FPGA, which has already been used and passed. They are not as good as efficient.

So the only real options would be buying a high end ASIC in order to profit?

Yes, but unfortunately for all the aforementioned reasons, the ASIC is the expensive part.  If I'm not mistaken, the chips themselves (including R&D, the silicon, rejected chips, whatever else goes into getting the ASICs from the foundry) make up upwards of 80-90% of the total cost of the miner. Meaning, even if you could get the chips from the manufacturers (which is easier said than done if you follow sidehack's projects), most of it is done for "fun" or "development" than for any real cost-savings.  Unless you have very deep pockets, in the order of millions, it is not very feasible to get a miner off the ground yourself.

[lovenlifelarge]

An integrated circuit is going to be tough to build in your home, but assuming you have the knowledge and plenty of floorspace, you could build an "ASBC" (Application Specific Breadboard Circuit)

Wow A breadboard circuit vs a chip.  yeah it could work.

Waiting with anticipation for Sidehack to answer...

Brainstorming session needed..

[Mitak]

ASBS it could work but the speed of this thing will be interesting
I remember somebody was calculating a hash with a pencil and piece of paper

[sidehack]

AJRGale was talking about cooking up something like that a few months ago.

[vilain]

I don't think it's that easy to build a thing similar to a chip that compensate the scale gains of chips manufacturers... And that has the same efficiency. It just doesn't make any sense, specially considering the market competition that pushes the chips prices to a fair value.