[Avalon ASIC] Batch #2 pre-Sale Thread

[Korbman]

Let it go guys. Avalon shipped it, Jeff received it, and it appears to works as advertised. The only thing I didn't see is a kill-a-watt readout, but he said he'd prepare a review in the near future and presumably it will  be included.

How about a thanks Jeff for the awesome effort instead of a Jeff yer a scammer based on absolutely nothing?

This. This. This.

I may be a skeptic at times, but damn guys give it a break every once in a while. 

[crazyates]

Who was the guy that was so relieved yesterday that now finally there would be no more conspiracy theories?

Because I want to point at this, chuckle and put on my smugface. 

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=137534.msg1491431#msg1491431

[greyhawk]

Gracias.

Damn, I had hoped it was one of the crazies. I can't smugface this guy, I like him, he's OK. 

[enquirer]

You don't get it. nzang contacted his Triad friends, they located and murdered that Jarzik guy, but not before they used hot iron decryption algorithm to extract all his passwords. Now they are posting from his Twitter account, it's that simple!

[jamesg]

You don't get it. nzang contacted his Triad friends, they located and murdered that Jarzik guy, but not before they used hot iron decryption algorithm to extract all his passwords. Now they are posting from his Twitter account, it's that simple!

That is some serious creativity. Bravo to you sir.

[organofcorti]

You don't get it. nzang contacted his Triad friends, they located and murdered that Jarzik guy, but not before they used hot iron decryption algorithm to extract all his passwords. Now they are posting from his Twitter account, it's that simple!

You and I define "simple" quite differently.

[nbtcminer]

Serious question:

In JGarzik's blog review of the Avalon ASIC miner (http://garzikrants.blogspot.ca/2013/01/avalon-asic-miner-review.html) he mentions that the unit restarted a couple of time due to localized heat issues (I have not idea where in the US Jgarzik lives); what are ideal conditions for the Avalon ASIC miner?

[MrTeal]

Serious question:

In JGarzik's blog review of the Avalon ASIC miner (http://garzikrants.blogspot.ca/2013/01/avalon-asic-miner-review.html) he mentions that the unit restarted a couple of time due to localized heat issues (I have not idea where in the US Jgarzik lives); what are ideal conditions for the Avalon ASIC miner?

He mentioned that it's a possibility, I don't think he confirmed that it's overheating and restarting.

One of the temperature monitors consistently reads close to 50, so it is possible or even likely that temperature is playing a factor in these restarts.  Yifu stated that this machine has several failsafes, where it will restart upon abnormal events.

[regular]

I don't think it's that crazy to expect some bugs in the first batch.  Hmm...should we wait for the kinks to be fully worked out first- mind you these units haven't been stressed tested in real-world conditions yet as they probably just rolled off the factory floor.

[Korbman]

Serious question:

In JGarzik's blog review of the Avalon ASIC miner (http://garzikrants.blogspot.ca/2013/01/avalon-asic-miner-review.html) he mentions that the unit restarted a couple of time due to localized heat issues (I have not idea where in the US Jgarzik lives); what are ideal conditions for the Avalon ASIC miner?

North Carolina, and the temps outside aren't too bad (40s / 50s F, 4-10 C). It was mentioned it could be an external heat issue..but that doesn't bode well for customers who live in hot areas as it is.

I did find some of Jeff's notes a bit disconcerting though. Remember, this unit was supposed to be the perfect one to get everyone on board for the second batch and to show that Avalon had working units. I'd hate to think other paying customers aren't going to get the best units...

[rocks]

I did find some of Jeff's notes a bit disconcerting though.

If that box works for 1 month with periodic restarts and then fries itself into a ball of molten plastic, Jeff will still have seen a very nice ROI that is hard to find anywhere else. He made almost 15BTC in less than a day, it's probably paid for itself already by now...

[MrTeal]

Serious question:

In JGarzik's blog review of the Avalon ASIC miner (http://garzikrants.blogspot.ca/2013/01/avalon-asic-miner-review.html) he mentions that the unit restarted a couple of time due to localized heat issues (I have not idea where in the US Jgarzik lives); what are ideal conditions for the Avalon ASIC miner?

North Carolina, and the temps outside aren't too bad (40s / 50s F, 4-10 C). It was mentioned it could be an external heat issue..but that doesn't bode well for customers who live in hot areas as it is.

I did find some of Jeff's notes a bit disconcerting though. Remember, this unit was supposed to be the perfect one to get everyone on board for the second batch and to show that Avalon had working units. I'd hate to think other paying customers aren't going to get the best units...

Why do you think that? I would guess it's the other way around; this is the unit that was put together in a panicked last minute rush with whatever parts were closest at hand in order to get it out the door. Future versions might be the ones with newer and better tested software, fans that all match, the right cord, the wifi antenna included, etc, etc.

[repentance]

I don't think it's that crazy to expect some bugs in the first batch.  Hmm...should we wait for the kinks to be fully worked out first- mind you these units haven't been stressed tested in real-world conditions yet as they probably just rolled off the factory floor.

These are first generation products.  It's reasonable to expect that both Avalon and BFL's first units will encounter some problems in real-world conditions.  Maybe those issues can be easily addressed and maybe they can't but it's a risk which every early adopter of a new technology takes.

I think one problem the ASIC vendors are going to encounter is unrealistic customer expectations.  The delays is getting these units produced and shipped means that people have had a long time to build up expectations which might not be reasonable and might not be happy with receiving the same product now which they would have been thrilled to receive in October.

[SellingMyGPUs]

If that box works for 1 month with periodic restarts and then fries itself into a ball of molten plastic, Jeff will still have seen a very nice ROI that is hard to find anywhere else. He made almost 15BTC in less than a day, it's probably paid for itself already by now...

Especially as he admits BitSyncom paid him BTC 25 to post a review, so he's up BTC 40. He bought 2 units, probably paid BTC 230 total for them. Give it a week or so...

But as ASICMINER is adding 800 boards for a total for 12TH this month (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=99497.msg1493791#msg1493791), even if Avalon has their entire batch #1 stuck at customs due to CNY and missing paperwork (and BFL keeps up their great track record of shipping late), difficulty will go up and he might only get BTC 7 a day.

Oh the drama... ;-)

[MrTeal]

If that box works for 1 month with periodic restarts and then fries itself into a ball of molten plastic, Jeff will still have seen a very nice ROI that is hard to find anywhere else. He made almost 15BTC in less than a day, it's probably paid for itself already by now...

Especially as he admits BitSyncom paid him BTC 25 to post a review, so he's up BTC 40. He bought 2 units, probably paid BTC 230 total for them. Give it a week or so...

But as ASICMINER is adding 800 boards for a total for 12TH this month (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=99497.msg1493791#msg1493791), even if Avalon has their entire batch #1 stuck at customs due to CNY and missing paperwork (and BFL keeps up their great track record of shipping late), difficulty will go up and he might only get BTC 7 a day.

Oh the drama... ;-)

I really don't know jgarzik and how much he might have stockpiled vs spent, but considering that he wrote cpuminer and has obviously been mining a long time, I think suggesting his reputation could be bought for less than what used to be one block might be a little offensive.

[Beepbop]

It is wrong, and disingenious, to say that he was paid for the review. But it was the right thing to do to disclose that he had received a donation earlier for his dev work. The only thing he was really given for this review, was priority shipping, and it was his own choice if we wanted to review the unit. It's completely normal of that companies *give away* review units and samples to both media and potential customers, or to let them borrow one for as long as they like for review purposes, so to say that he was paid for the review is genuinely - to use a popular phrase - VERY MISLEADING. 

[tvbcof]

If that box works for 1 month with periodic restarts and then fries itself into a ball of molten plastic, Jeff will still have seen a very nice ROI that is hard to find anywhere else. He made almost 15BTC in less than a day, it's probably paid for itself already by now...

Especially as he admits BitSyncom paid him BTC 25 to post a review, so he's up BTC 40. He bought 2 units, probably paid BTC 230 total for them. Give it a week or so...

But as ASICMINER is adding 800 boards for a total for 12TH this month (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=99497.msg1493791#msg1493791), even if Avalon has their entire batch #1 stuck at customs due to CNY and missing paperwork (and BFL keeps up their great track record of shipping late), difficulty will go up and he might only get BTC 7 a day.

Oh the drama... ;-)

I really don't know jgarzik and how much he might have stockpiled vs spent, but considering that he wrote cpuminer and has obviously been mining a long time, I think suggesting his reputation could be bought for less than what used to be one block might be a little offensive.

Garzik mentioned on another thread that he happened to have paid for development on the open source Bitcoin project out of his own BTC stash.  The guy ranks as high as any on my list of people in the community who I find credible, and at least one clearly competent individual came forward to verify that he'd been a beneficiary of this action, so I think it pretty likely that this story is not BS.

On top of that, Jeff did not just produce his story out of the blue.  It came only after receiving a fair amount of abuse from miserable envious individuals in the community (of which there are plenty.)

It's funny (and sad) that so many people simply cannot conceive of believing in a cool thing enough to be at least a little bit selfless in supporting it.  I guess Ms. Rand would not approve or something like that.

[SellingMyGPUs]

I really don't know jgarzik and how much he might have stockpiled vs spent, but considering that he wrote cpuminer and has obviously been mining a long time, I think suggesting his reputation could be bought for less than what used to be one block might be a little offensive.

I guess you are easy to offend...

Jeff clearly as a *disclaimer* posted http://garzikrants.blogspot.be/2013/01/avalon-asic-miner-review.html that he got unsolicited BTC 25 returned. He also got bumped to the front of the queue. And "Yifu requested (but did not insist) that I write a review, in exchange for receiving the first unit."

Yifu also admits on spending $USD 400 on getting the 2 units to Jeff, which is a lot more he is spending on the rest of the units to the rest of miners living in the bottom of the BTC ecosystem as NGzhang puts it.

Now, it's clear Jeff is aware he is being dangled a carrot and I'm glad to see he posted the disclaimer.

(OK I'll agree, stating that just the BTC 25 bought his reputation is over the top. You need to add the other stuff too, like "That is the extent of any special treatment or private communication (though see phone call, below).")

You know what an infomercial is?

I'm glad to see he at least mentions the potential overheating issues, I guess it takes more than BTC 25 to corrupt Jeff

[SellingMyGPUs]

...so to say that he was paid for the review is genuinely - to use a popular phrase - VERY MISLEADING. 

Getting a discount on hardware received, getting bumped to the front of the queue and getting special $400 shipping is not in any way a form of compensation or payment? Just a freebie with no strings attached? Should the other developers who placed an order feel bad of not getting some kind of deal offered?

If it's not payment, what is it? I'm not suggestion we in any way downplay Jeff's credentials or achievements (sorry to drag him personally into this) but you have to stand back and look at the facts. As a consumer/customer you are being plaid.

I have no problem with these marketing tactics, but at least see them for what they are...

This stuff happens all the time, just put on the the sunglasses (Ref They Live, 1988, John Carpenter)

[Beepbop]

You know what an infomercial is?

I'm glad to see he at least mentions the potential overheating issues, I guess it takes more than BTC 25 to corrupt Jeff

Yet you call it an infomercial, SellingMyGPUs, which is something that is totally bought and paid for by the client. This is what is called grasping at straws.