[Work in progess] Burnins Avalon Chip to mining board service

[fasmax]

@burnin
Thanks for doing this project. I am going to order 1 complete 20 chip board and 1 complete 10 chip board from my zefir ordered ASIC's.

Question on the PLL VCC input (ASIC lead 7) do you have a series connected inductor like the Avalon boards? Seems like some designers did not notice it.

Thanks:)

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[TheOrri]

Personally, I'd opt for a simple solution. The more features, like overvolting, the more things that can break. Especially with overvolting one could permanently damage you chips. If such a feature would be implemented, it should have a very narrow range.

[Newar]

Personally, I'd opt for a simple solution. The more features, like overvolting, the more things that can break. Especially with overvolting one could permanently damage you chips. If such a feature would be implemented, it should have a very narrow range.

Can somebody link to a post where people overvolt and what (possible) issues they had?

[burnin]

@burnin
Thanks for doing this project. I am going to order 1 complete 20 chip board and 1 complete 10 chip board from my zefir ordered ASIC's.

Question on the PLL VCC input (ASIC lead 7) do you have a series connected inductor like the Avalon boards? Seems like some designers did not notice it.

Thanks:)

The PLL VCC is provided by a linear regulator and is individually ferrite filtered.

Personally, I'd opt for a simple solution. The more features, like overvolting, the more things that can break. Especially with overvolting one could permanently damage you chips. If such a feature would be implemented, it should have a very narrow range.

The Datasheet gives 1.0 to 1.3 Volts as Core voltage, with recommended at 1.2V, putting the capability in doesn't directly reduce the reliability.
Does it makes sense? - only tests can tell.

Personally, I'd opt for a simple solution. The more features, like overvolting, the more things that can break. Especially with overvolting one could permanently damage you chips. If such a feature would be implemented, it should have a very narrow range.

Can somebody link to a post where people overvolt and what (possible) issues they had?

No one has a board with the capabilities (yet), in the original avalons you'd have to solder some resistors to increase the voltage.

[sprint347]

So I can simply order 20x chips, send them directly to burnside, pay ~€100 and I get a working ASIC miner sent out to me?

[Stack]

Personally, I'd opt for a simple solution. The more features, like overvolting, the more things that can break. Especially with overvolting one could permanently damage you chips. If such a feature would be implemented, it should have a very narrow range.

+1

[bitcoinminer42]

hope your business will start soon

[inuyasha]

As i am finishing the hardware design a question popped up i'd like some feedback on:

Would you guys like software controlled over/under-volting?
I am thinking about providing 1.1/1.2/1.3V core voltage selection.

A per-module setting with automatic overclocking by the host software would require
huge changes to the protocol i can't provide in the given time.
But a per-cluster setting with manual overclocking would sure be do-able.
And as the Firmware is user-upgradeable more enhancements could be delivered later in deployment.

I'd go for the solution which will be ready when the chips arrive

Just a remark: if there would be a HW overclocking solution it would be nice if it was accessible when the boards are stacked... (I guess per-cluster means per-board...) So in the case of potentiometer or dip switch a 90deg solution accessible from the side.

Also a temp sensor would be nice for the calm of the mind if/when overclocking.

However if it would mean longer delivery times, I personally would opt-in for non-overclocked modules.

[BenTuras]

IMO if we go for an overclocking option, it should be software controllable and then a temp sensor is mandatory. I like the way Ztex has implemented it for their FPGA boards, the software chooses a balance between hw errors and speed. Likewise we should go for a temp/hw errors controlled overvoltage and maybe also speed?

BUT, al this is nice to have, if it becomes too difficult, risky or fragile, we should KISS.

[Newar]

IMO if we go for an overclocking option, it should be software controllable and then a temp sensor is mandatory. I like the way Ztex has implemented it for there FPGA boards, the software chooses a balance between hw errors and speed. Likewise we should go for a temp/hw errors controlled overvoltage and maybe also speed?

BUT, al this is nice to have, if it becomes too difficult, risky or fragile, we should KISS.

Post 1 says the fan will be temperature controlled, so the sensor should be already there?

[BenTuras]

IMO if we go for an overclocking option, it should be software controllable and then a temp sensor is mandatory. I like the way Ztex has implemented it for there FPGA boards, the software chooses a balance between hw errors and speed. Likewise we should go for a temp/hw errors controlled overvoltage and maybe also speed?

BUT, al this is nice to have, if it becomes too difficult, risky or fragile, we should KISS.

Post 1 says the fan will be temperature controlled, so the sensor should be already there?

True, forgot that due to all the discussion about voltage ;-)

[makngeerwork]

To summarize your answers: yes 

I'll add the components to support voltage changes on the fly.
Its not a big addition that takes a lots of time to do.

I love it, this is what we do with hardware.  Might have to order more chips now.

[Kiders]

Ordering will be done through an dedicated website that is not up yet.
The website will open in mid May.

whats the status on the website?

[unchained]

The website is ready to launch, but I have to wait for a tax registration number from the Finanzamt.
My Company can be found in the Handelsregister Hamburg now.
Full Name:
"Burnin Electronics UG (Haftungsbeschränkt)"

[Schrankwand]

The website is ready to launch, but I have to wait for a tax registration number from the Finanzamt.
My Company can be found in the Handelsregister Hamburg now.
Full Name:
"Burnin Electronics UG (Haftungsbeschränkt)"

That takes between 10 days and one month. We had a U-St. ID Number after 2 months with a tax number far earlier in most projects.

You can, if the Impressum is an issue, state in the Impressum "Steuernummer: Beantragt, erwartet Registrierung."
This is factually right and from the moment you have your "Gewerbeanmeldung" you should be allowed to do business. Don't worry about that. The Steuernummer is NOT necessary for the Impressum before it has been issued.


However, make sure you get everything else right. I would in fact not state much about AGB, if you do want to stray from German law. Most retailers have huge walls of text that in fact do not even fucking differ from BGB and HGB law...

[krasnolud]

I've dissolved my GPU miner and I have one power supply left - Thermaltake Smart M750W 80+ Bronze (modular).
Will it be suitable to power a few Bitburners XX or should I rather get rid of it?

[Schrankwand]

I've dissolved my GPU miner and I have one power supply left - Thermaltake Smart M750W 80+ Bronze (modular).
Will it be suitable to power a few Bitburners XX or should I rather get rid of it?

That should work well. From the drawings, you can use Molex and PCI-e pin settings. That is all you need. Keep it. Or give it to me for ten bucks :D:D:D

[rjez86]

Interesting I have not thought of this. I was planning on running mine off my laptop. Will I be able to run it of my laptops power or will I need a PSU?

Edit: Im only getting one 20 chip board.

[minimin3r]

Interesting I have not thought of this. I was planning on running mine off my laptop. Will I be able to run it of my laptops power or will I need a PSU?

Edit: Im only getting one 20 chip board.

burnin stated in the first post that the 20 chips board will consume ~40Watts @ 12 Volts. So yes, if you have a Laptop PSU thats rated 40+ Watts at 12 Volt, it shouldn't be a problem.

[turtle83]

Interesting I have not thought of this. I was planning on running mine off my laptop. Will I be able to run it of my laptops power or will I need a PSU?

Edit: Im only getting one 20 chip board.

burnin stated in the first post that the 20 chips board will consume ~40Watts @ 12 Volts. So yes, if you have a Laptop PSU thats rated 40+ Watts at 12 Volt, it shouldn't be a problem.

you can re-purpose laptop PSU for this (provided it does 40W), but u cant run it off your laptop's power. USB port provides 0.5A @5V = 2.5W which is slightly below the 40W requirement...