GekkoScience is now dabbling with 16nm ASICs for new designs

[sidehack]

DPOT adds a layer of complexity I would rather avoid for a quick-turn project, since that means tying a microcontroller into the signal path when a CP2102 would handle all the chip comms.

[NotFuzzyWarm]

DPOT adds a layer of complexity I would rather avoid for a quick-turn project, since that means tying a microcontroller into the signal path when a CP2102 would handle all the chip comms.

np. Then the dunkers just have to solder on extension leads to move the pot away from the fluid. Thinking about doing that to my Compac. Got a 1gal sample of Silicon based cooling fluid from Clearco so might spare a few oz to test stick-in-a-jar

[Waldezz]

I would buy a couple 2pac sticks. It is a far better way to support your project. I am a complete bitcoin beginner, I just want to learn how to set up the miner, raspi, pool, etc... Then I would like to wait for a pod or larger miner from you.

[sidehack]

Already talked to vh and I'm checking out some other resources, so hopefully we can find out pretty readily how difficult it'll be to talk to multiple chips.

I'll have to do some digging, but I might also have a handful of original Compacs up for grabs next week.

[Morguk]

Is there no way 4 chip could be usb powered? Dual USB power? Just because a lot of us have hubs.

What kind of costs are we looking at roughly?

[sidehack]

Sure, if you want to rig it up to a USB port for power but then you couldn't super-overclock it to 50W if you wanted. Even a moderate hashrate of, say, 60GH would want 5A at 5V.

[NotFuzzyWarm]

Sure, if you want to rig it up to a USB port for power but then you couldn't super-overclock it to 50W if you wanted. Even a moderate hashrate of, say, 60GH would want 5A at 5V.

Agreed.
Plus as long as the regulator can safely handle say 6-7v on the high side, 5V bricks/wall warts are readily available on Amazon, eBay, etc. to power them.

Not to mention that any little ATX supply like say a 250w will have more than enough 5v power to run several 4-chip boards at respectable speeds...

[sidehack]

The regulator will be able to safely handle at least 12V. There's no reason to build a device capable of drawing 50W and make it run on 5V only, that's foolish. Biggest problem with 5V power will be the fan.

[NotFuzzyWarm]

The regulator will be able to safely handle at least 12V. There's no reason to build a device capable of drawing 50W and make it run on 5V only, that's foolish. Biggest problem with 5V power will be the fan.

Even better then. Dirt simplest is for user to size an ATX supply to fit the max stick farm load using the 12v leads and use the 5v part of the ATX to power the controller.

[sidehack]

I don't know if I'll do a 4-chip right now. It's kind of a tossup; I'd prefer to focus dev on the 2-chip stick, and even that is going to depend on what the coder can do for driver support. I mean I could build a 2-chip stick right now that would run just fine on cgminer, but last I checked both chips got the same work so half the shares were repeats.

If I do a 4-chip, I was figuring on it being more of a quiet desk miner kind of thing (Jalapeno-type product as BaldToasty mentioned, or the U3 is a better comparison) so USB-controlled but not USB-powered given the chips can draw 10W each plus buck losses.

Okay, so here's something. I really want to do the 2-chip Compac. If I shoot for a small standalone (U3 type) thing, what power range do folks think is best? 40W? 60W? 80W? If I do something like a 3x5 of chips clocked at 200MHz and 3.3V to the string you'd see 165GH and it'd run off a 12V5A brick. Bottom clock of 120GH ~40W which puts it close to Avalon6 and 135-chip S7 for efficiency. This is the kind of thing that would have sold really well a year ago.

So what if I made a 2-chip Compac at $35 and a 15-chip pod at $60? Those are just ballpark prices, especially the pod since I'll have to find a heatsink and fan for it. If it's possible, they'd run off cgminer and have hardware-adjustable voltage just like the Compac. Nothing fancy at all, I know.

[JaredKaragen]

I like the 15 chip pod idea.  I'd surely be in for one or a few; already donated almost that amount; so it shows the config and more importantly price bracket to be well in an acceptable range.

I'll power mine off a small Honda car battery and a solar panel I have sitting around.... See if it can get it to be a standalone unit not even in the house.

[gt_addict]

I like both ideas. As for the heatsink I've been looking at 1U passive copper heatsinks to attach my three gekkos too so I don't need the fan aswell. Low form factor, a decent enough heat dissipation and a square/rectangular shape for ease of design.

[in2tactics]

I don't know if I'll do a 4-chip right now. It's kind of a tossup; I'd prefer to focus dev on the 2-chip stick, and even that is going to depend on what the coder can do for driver support. I mean I could build a 2-chip stick right now that would run just fine on cgminer, but last I checked both chips got the same work so half the shares were repeats.

If I do a 4-chip, I was figuring on it being more of a quiet desk miner kind of thing (Jalapeno-type product as BaldToasty mentioned, or the U3 is a better comparison) so USB-controlled but not USB-powered given the chips can draw 10W each plus buck losses.

Okay, so here's something. I really want to do the 2-chip Compac. If I shoot for a small standalone (U3 type) thing, what power range do folks think is best? 40W? 60W? 80W? If I do something like a 3x5 of chips clocked at 200MHz and 3.3V to the string you'd see 165GH and it'd run off a 12V5A brick. Bottom clock of 120GH ~40W which puts it close to Avalon6 and 135-chip S7 for efficiency. This is the kind of thing that would have sold really well a year ago.

So what if I made a 2-chip Compac at $35 and a 15-chip pod at $60? Those are just ballpark prices, especially the pod since I'll have to find a heatsink and fan for it. If it's possible, they'd run off cgminer and have hardware-adjustable voltage just like the Compac. Nothing fancy at all, I know.

I would purchase a 2pac, 4pac, or 15pod. However, I personally feel that the 15pod idea is the better of the three options.

[segaklon1]

Let me know when you have something available and for sale, I'm interested.

[sidehack]

I like the 15pac better than the 4, for sure, but I also like the 2. There are enough stickminer enthusiasts to make it worthwhile.

I'll probably start with the 2 because I know I can make the hardware work. Technically I've already done it just while testing various things last year, I just don't want to promise something will work until I've given the driver guy a chance to figure out if he can make it work.

And even if I do decide to jump on a batch, there's gonna need to be money upfront for materials so I'll have to either let orders stack up or find someone to spot some to be paid back out of the first sales, and the rest of the sales (and sales of other stuff, I make PSU kits and stuff too) would go to keeping the lights on and shoring up the Bitfury project until that gets rolling.

So, right now we're waiting on the coder to let me know what he thinks he can do, and I guess for seed money to start rolling on materials?

[heslo]

I'd also like the 15pac more than anything else as well... but anything you're putting out I'm interested in.

As I mentioned to you earlier, if you need a loan I'm more than willing to help out

[philipma1957]

I don't know if I'll do a 4-chip right now. It's kind of a tossup; I'd prefer to focus dev on the 2-chip stick, and even that is going to depend on what the coder can do for driver support. I mean I could build a 2-chip stick right now that would run just fine on cgminer, but last I checked both chips got the same work so half the shares were repeats.

If I do a 4-chip, I was figuring on it being more of a quiet desk miner kind of thing (Jalapeno-type product as BaldToasty mentioned, or the U3 is a better comparison) so USB-controlled but not USB-powered given the chips can draw 10W each plus buck losses.

Okay, so here's something. I really want to do the 2-chip Compac. If I shoot for a small standalone (U3 type) thing, what power range do folks think is best? 40W? 60W? 80W? If I do something like a 3x5 of chips clocked at 200MHz and 3.3V to the string you'd see 165GH and it'd run off a 12V5A brick. Bottom clock of 120GH ~40W which puts it close to Avalon6 and 135-chip S7 for efficiency. This is the kind of thing that would have sold really well a year ago.

So what if I made a 2-chip Compac at $35 and a 15-chip pod at $60? Those are just ballpark prices, especially the pod since I'll have to find a heatsink and fan for it. If it's possible, they'd run off cgminer and have hardware-adjustable voltage just like the Compac. Nothing fancy at all, I know.

I am in for  a 2 chip  and maybe a 15 chip.

[IntroVert]

In for 2 and 15 chip

[sidehack]

I've got an idea. What if I set up two addresses, one for sales and one for loans. Once I have prices set on whatever gets made and can open up sales, any orders made would be paid into the sales address and you'd get stuff as soon as it's ready. Loans can be made anonymously to the loan address, and as sales money comes in past what's needed to buy materials, it'll pay back transactions from the loan address - same amount returned to the sending address (or a different address if you can prove it's your transaction).

Looks like I already have a good source for chips pretty much donated (cost of shipping only), so that removes a lot of supply chain headache.

I could also point to that transaction activity as evidence of community support for even better products if Bitfury needs more convincing.

[vapourminer]

sounds good.

i like the anonymous part.