A4 Dominator - Pre-Order Group Buy - 280mh, roughly 1000w, $1800 + shipping

[bclcjunkie]

because:
1. they don't know the root cause and apply "bandage aid" fixes
2. they know and wouldn't like to admit that it's far more serious issue and will require more than just firmware update
3. they just suck at coding

i'd just suggest them to open source and let the community try their hands at it. even KNC didn't suck this bad, with each firmware update my rigs were getting more stable back in the days.

Why does Inno keep putting out firmware releases that don't fix the problem of dropped boards. Are  they not testing the firmware or do they just release it and let the community test? Kind of scary. What if they release a firmware that bricks the A4? Will they take ownership and repair?

[excelerator]

I thought you had protection +\- 10% and you could get redress. Or were they just blowing smoke
And you are stuck?

Well, while nicehash runs at around 230MHs pool-side, other pools do better. When I run on hash-to-coins, I get around 270MHs, similar to litecoinpool, where I also get around 260-270.
I think it's an issue specific to nicehash. By the time I mine some off-brand coin, pay fees to transfer to an exchange, pay trading fees to get it into BTC, and pay more fees to ship back to my wallet, I think it's pretty much a wash. Nicehash pays daily directly in BTC and avoids the headaches of pool swapping and exchanges.
That said, I had added a pool swap feature to the A4 GUI because they really need that...
Without it, you have to either edit on the GUI or update the flat file manually.

What's worse is scrypt returns at Nicehash are down to .04X BTC/GH/day where prior to this influx of A4s, it was closer to .06 - .07 BTC/GH/day.  The hordes of crippled A4s are gutting returns even in their under performing state.  

[wheelz1200]

I just checked with Chloe about the BTC exchange rate and at this time they are still asking for the high premium to use BTC.  So I will be holding off doing anything more unless the exchange rate comes closer in line with the current BTC price.  I can understand asking for a little buffer to take into account price fluctuation, but the huge price difference being asked is more than I am willing to pay. 

I see a couple more batches of S9's are being released. 

Since we are unable to track the highly variable BTC valuation, we have no choice but to provide a BTC valuation that is on the lower end of this range. We recognize that this does not provide a good deal using this currency when the BTC valuation moves higher, however we also accept USD, which is a much more stable currency for us. Our recommendation is that you make your purchases in USD if you can't time your purchases to a low BTC valuation.

Everyone knows BTC is a currency for SPECULATIONS on market. Imposible to use it in busines when price jump from 200$ to 700$ during 6 months, or drop from 1000$ to 200$. Conversly with LTC, its predictable, exchange rate is stable, can be use to make transactions. I use it for transfers not BTC. Why You (BTW LTC miner producers) use BTC not LTC?? Dont know...

There are services that provide an instant exchange from btc to fiat so there is no float risk.....prices dont jump from 200 to 700 in an instant.  Businesses can flip right into fiat.  200 to 700 has been over the long run.  And businesses would need to flip LTC to BTC to fiat via exchanges, MUCH more risk with that

[Master12210]

Everyone is angry about the blade dropping problem and I am too but has anyone noticed the adverage speed with in the first 5 seconds of the unit booting   I started just one unit (2 blades) and at first it was getting 300+ mh/s maybe if the software becomes open sourced we can get much more out of these units than expected...

[firehawk71]

I thought you had protection +\- 10% and you could get redress. Or were they just blowing smoke
And you are stuck?

Well, while nicehash runs at around 230MHs pool-side, other pools do better. When I run on hash-to-coins, I get around 270MHs, similar to litecoinpool, where I also get around 260-270.
I think it's an issue specific to nicehash. By the time I mine some off-brand coin, pay fees to transfer to an exchange, pay trading fees to get it into BTC, and pay more fees to ship back to my wallet, I think it's pretty much a wash. Nicehash pays daily directly in BTC and avoids the headaches of pool swapping and exchanges.
That said, I had added a pool swap feature to the A4 GUI because they really need that...
Without it, you have to either edit on the GUI or update the flat file manually.

I am getting similar results as you. I have a batch 1 set and a single batch 2. Litecoinpool.org does seem to be the most stable. I tried prohash all last night and it is way better but there profits have gone down below litecoinpool since the A4 release

[firehawk71]

I thought you had protection +\- 10% and you could get redress. Or were they just blowing smoke
And you are stuck?

Well, while nicehash runs at around 230MHs pool-side, other pools do better. When I run on hash-to-coins, I get around 270MHs, similar to litecoinpool, where I also get around 260-270.
I think it's an issue specific to nicehash. By the time I mine some off-brand coin, pay fees to transfer to an exchange, pay trading fees to get it into BTC, and pay more fees to ship back to my wallet, I think it's pretty much a wash. Nicehash pays daily directly in BTC and avoids the headaches of pool swapping and exchanges.
That said, I had added a pool swap feature to the A4 GUI because they really need that...
Without it, you have to either edit on the GUI or update the flat file manually.

I am getting similar results as you. I have a batch 1 set and a single batch 2. Litecoinpool.org does seem to be the most stable. I tried prohash.com all last night with this latest software and it is way better but now there profits have gone way down below litecoinpool since the A4 release

[wheelz1200]

I hope the diff stabalizes and doesnt go belly up with these coming online.  Really want some more gear and am afraid profitability will be too low once everything is hashed out with the software.

[Searing]

Everyone is angry about the blade dropping problem and I am too but has anyone noticed the adverage speed with in the first 5 seconds of the unit booting   I started just one unit (2 blades) and at first it was getting 300+ mh/s maybe if the software becomes open sourced we can get much more out of these units than expected...

As an aside. The KNC Titan's that I'd guess 90% plus use the Tarky Titan (gen tarkin) 3rd party firmware...has an energy option that probably reboots my stuff 10x a day
on some rigs...with tweaks/pops/etc to get hash to electric rate and just keeps the hamster wheels inside stable.

IT does not seem to effect the hash rate much on my pool. So if nothing else I ASSUME the case could be made for your A4 stuff if it cycles thru on  its power down or

reset/boot of whatever in the same manner.

Not much ..but with the Titans and the above software it is well worth this happening just to smooth everything out...may be the same deal for you guys IF it say is only
as some people have said 4x or so a day...I'd not sweat it too much...in that the same eff/tweaks/etc are likely going on with the A4's

just my 2c worth from the other side of the fence with the KNC Titan 3rd party firmware

Also they said they were gonna make it 'open source' get them on that gen tarkin probably needs a new Unicorn (A4) to mess with (he is not gonna like that comment)

[dogjunior]

I hope the diff stabalizes and doesnt go belly up with these coming online.  Really want some more gear and am afraid profitability will be too low once everything is hashed out with the software.

Reason why no one built a Altcoin asic for so long. Not enough demand and any major hashrate increase will crater the market. Just hoping Inno doesn't collapse the Alt market. Pretty soon it will take a year or longer to recoup your investment if the A4 doesn't brick with a firmware update. 

[Longsnowsm]

I currently have my Batch 2 A4's running side by side with v1.0.0 and a v1.0.3.  Just monitoring now after a series of problems with the power supply and cables for the second A4.  Finally got that sorted out and running.  I will post my results if anything unusual comes up. 

Hopefully it sorts out the dropped card issues I have with v1.0.0.  With the v1.0.0 many times it will drop the card and not detect it to restart or if it does restart it does not pick up the dropped card.  Not sure which, I only catch it after the fact usually. 

So we will see what happens.  So fingers crossed that this works.

[Searing]

I'm curious...has anyone taken the cover off the PI controller and looked it over? IF you did so does it look like you could build your own controller with a pi and the proper
cables? (admittedly probably only a 1 port ribbon cable would be easy to find on such...but would serve a person's needs of 1 controller per cube for minimal $$$).

Curious...could be a market (not quite now but when the price of an A4 goes down) for folk just getting one A4 unit of 2 cubes and splitting them in the above manner...

I suspect (have not looked inside) that this is the case...but has anyone been curious enough to look? (without actually trying to do the above...just look?)

Don't feel the need to 'tank' your controller to get it apart was just curious.

Later

[usao]

I had a fan fail. Anyone know the CFM? Im looking for a replacement. Best guess, > 200 CFM.
Google search on the part number didnt locate any specs. Also seems difficult to find 2-pin fan connectors.

[excelerator]

I had a fan fail. Anyone know the CFM? Im looking for a replacement. Best guess, > 200 CFM.
Google search on the part number didnt locate any specs. Also seems difficult to find 2-pin fan connectors.

Check out http://www.frozencpu.com/cat/l2/g36/c435/list/p1/Fans-12_Volt_Fans_by_CFM.html for researching

[Hhampuz]

I currently have my Batch 2 A4's running side by side with v1.0.0 and a v1.0.3.  Just monitoring now after a series of problems with the power supply and cables for the second A4.  Finally got that sorted out and running.  I will post my results if anything unusual comes up. 

Hopefully it sorts out the dropped card issues I have with v1.0.0.  With the v1.0.0 many times it will drop the card and not detect it to restart or if it does restart it does not pick up the dropped card.  Not sure which, I only catch it after the fact usually. 

So we will see what happens.  So fingers crossed that this works.

What hashes are you getting on the 2nd batch? Would be interesting if there is any difference between the 1st and 2nd. Or perhaps it is too soon to look for that? As it's been over 12 hours now I thought we should be able to get some information out of it. Also, where are you currently mining with yours?

[Longsnowsm]

Well so far I can say that v1.0.3 restarts a LOT more than v1.0.0.  So far no dropped cards from either v1.0.0 or v1.0.3 during this limited time frame of comparison.  I am still on Litecoinpool.org due to the stability so that I can observe what is going on.  I normally use a multipool, but with all the coin switches you can not really tell what is happening since the hash rate flips all over the place.

Right now my hash rate is averaging around 250 over the last 24hrs on the miner that has been up for 24hrs.  Tonight I willl be able to compare the 24hr figure with the second miner to see how close they are in hash rate.  Hash rate moves around a bit so I am just using a round number that is in the ballpark. 

[Hhampuz]

Well so far I can say that v1.0.3 restarts a LOT more than v1.0.0.  So far no dropped cards from either v1.0.0 or v1.0.3 during this limited time frame of comparison.  I am still on Litecoinpool.org due to the stability so that I can observe what is going on.  I normally use a multipool, but with all the coin switches you can not really tell what is happening since the hash rate flips all over the place.

Right now my hash rate is averaging around 250 over the last 24hrs on the miner that has been up for 24hrs.  Tonight I willl be able to compare the 24hr figure with the second miner to see how close they are in hash rate.  Hash rate moves around a bit so I am just using a round number that is in the ballpark. 

Allright, looking forward to seeing end result. I still think 250Mh/s is way to low when they promise 280. But, perhaps we need this period to figure everything out, and someday very soon we might see it living up to it's name. I'm still very iffy about getting one, as I really want to get one of these, but the problems have just scared me away from it so much.

[firehawk71]

My Batch 1 ver 0.0.3 seems to be better on litecoinpool.. The hash rate is unstable still but no dropped cards yet and it hashes anywhere from 250-270mhs been running for 1day 02h 15m 18 with no re-starts

My batch 2 single unit on 1.0.3 likes to hash right at 130Mhs but sometimes drops to 125mhs.
I dropped the mv to 807-810 on both batches.. I see no improvement at 820mv except they use more energy

[Searing]

My Batch 1 ver 0.0.3 seems to be better on litecoinpool.. The hash rate is unstable still but no dropped cards yet and it hashes anywhere from 250-270mhs been running for 1day 02h 15m 18 with no re-starts

My batch 2 single unit on 1.0.3 likes to hash right at 130Mhs but sometimes drops to 125mhs.
I dropped the mv to 807-810 on both batches.. I see no improvement at 820mv except they use more energy

my Titan's are all on litecoin pool and the 3rd party firmware by gen tarkin...probably reboots the units 8x a day sometimes to get them 'tweaked' just right

(the ways of the baby 'skynet' are mysterious to me)

but anyway www.litecoinpool.org never seems to notice it much and a Titan cycle usually takes a couple minutes to get back up to speed

so yeah....that pool does not flake out and never goes down (have not even had a backup pool set for 2 years lol )

for what it is worth ...may be something a bit more stable with that pool vs others

[bclcjunkie]

Inno does your batch 3 miners also have this issue? Do you actually know the root cause of blades dropping?

For those who have blades dropped and reboot frequently, please update your firmware to v1.0.3. We still have a few cards dropping occasionally and reboots in the test but this is much more stable.
Download link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/fuyz1r7cy4pkeir/G5-20-V1.0.3.rar?dl=0

For the first batch (produced before Oct 17th), we also have a new version firmware v0.0.3.
Download link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/h7vq1ntsxhdxzvh/G5-20-V0.0.3.rar?dl=0

P.S.: You can find the manufacturing date on the tamper proof sticker which is covering one of the rear case screws.

Feel free to send us an email for the update manual or any other issue to: luojm@innosilicon.com.cn and zhangq@innosilicon.com.cn.

[Eyedol-X]

Anyone running 1.0.3 on Batch 2 have an update?

I'm still rocking 1.0.0T because it runs somewhere between 48-72hrs before dropping a board but I'm curious if anyone has had better luck with 1.0.3.