Klondike - 16 chip ASIC Open Source Board - Preliminary

[Nemo1024]

- specify an alternate reg and inductor allowing 3A power (not for USB 2.0 ports)

There have been a number of questions regarding the (not for USB 2.0 ports) reference BKKCoins. Can you explain in a bit more detail, only if you have the time, about this reference? Pardon my ignorance I just want to make sure people are clear about the reference.

A USB 2.0 port only needs to provide a max. of 500mA @ 5V. And sometimes they cannot do even that if all ports are drawing near max.  Good USB hubs like the Anker ones provide enough juice that you may be able to draw more, but it's beyond spec. USB 3.0 hubs seem to be better as their spec has a max of 900mA. Some ports can provide more when operating as battery charger mode, but aren't required to when operating as data ports. And then you have issues regarding the RasPi not working with 3.0 hubs, and cgminer having problems on RasPi with running multiple devices at once. So there is many factors to determine what you can actually do, or get away with, beyond what "should" work. Some threads on this forum discuss these issues but I haven't kept abreast of the latest details.

****

I've been running on RasPi for a couple days non-stop at 330MHz with around 0.6% errors, and no issues at all. I'll be boosting to 340 soon to see how that works. I'm waiting for the new boards to do a full-populate and test. I'll not solder the ASICs by hand this time so it will be all 16 at once in the oven.

Will K1 stay within 0.5A specs of USB 2.0 or will it try to draw more from the port, especially when overclocked? Some (was it Bicknellski?) say that it should be possible to clock them up to do close to 450MHs.

[Beastlymac]

- specify an alternate reg and inductor allowing 3A power (not for USB 2.0 ports)

There have been a number of questions regarding the (not for USB 2.0 ports) reference BKKCoins. Can you explain in a bit more detail, only if you have the time, about this reference? Pardon my ignorance I just want to make sure people are clear about the reference.

A USB 2.0 port only needs to provide a max. of 500mA @ 5V. And sometimes they cannot do even that if all ports are drawing near max.  Good USB hubs like the Anker ones provide enough juice that you may be able to draw more, but it's beyond spec. USB 3.0 hubs seem to be better as their spec has a max of 900mA. Some ports can provide more when operating as battery charger mode, but aren't required to when operating as data ports. And then you have issues regarding the RasPi not working with 3.0 hubs, and cgminer having problems on RasPi with running multiple devices at once. So there is many factors to determine what you can actually do, or get away with, beyond what "should" work. Some threads on this forum discuss these issues but I haven't kept abreast of the latest details.

****

I've been running on RasPi for a couple days non-stop at 330MHz with around 0.6% errors, and no issues at all. I'll be boosting to 340 soon to see how that works. I'm waiting for the new boards to do a full-populate and test. I'll not solder the ASICs by hand this time so it will be all 16 at once in the oven.

Will K1 stay within 0.5A specs of USB 2.0 or will it try to draw more from the port, especially when overclocked? Some (was it Bicknellski?) say that it should be possible to clock them up to do close to 450MHs.

To overclock up to 450mh/s you would need liquid cooling and a USB 3 hub.

[erk]

It looks like some people are getting chips, though it wasn't clear:

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=258231.0

[marto74]

So what's the maximum stable, low error hashing rate anyone has gotten on a K16 to date? I have Terrahah K64s on order and am really hoping they'll be able to do more than the 18 Gh/s advertised.

350 MHz stable
wit about 340-360 Mh/s per chip with good air cooling
Terahash k64 is with 64 chips so You'll get about 21 GH/s

[BkkCoins]

It looks like some people are getting chips, though it wasn't clear:

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=258231.0

I saw that. If it's in China then I guess that means others outside China shouldn't be too far off. Unless some deals have been made to allow the Chinese first priority 

[AtomSea]

Great work as always everyone   

Is there a thread or site to monitor Avalon bulk chip distribution?

[GandalfG]

Is there a thread or site to monitor Avalon bulk chip distribution?

Ech..
Dream of a good thing 

[BkkCoins]

The Web Store is ready. I need someone who wants to do a small trial Paypal order, whether real or pretend (refund after), just to confirm it's going to fly (already did sandbox test). Preferably someone who doesn't mind spending a few minutes communicating via PM and that I've dealt with a bit already. Please PM.

edit: Thanks. Have had several offers to help now. Will see how it goes.

[scyth3]

The Web Store is ready. I need someone who wants to do a small trial Paypal order, whether real or pretend (refund after), just to confirm it's going to fly (already did sandbox test). Preferably someone who doesn't mind spending a few minutes communicating via PM and that I've dealt with a bit already. Please PM.

PMed

[daemondazz]

That latency is going to depend mostly on cgminer. As soon as it sends an Abort cmd to the Klondike it stops work, and a new work unit sent will start immediately. So the timing on that depends mostly on USB xfer time and cgminer to create new work. The actual new work push time for the ASIC is 390uS. When idle (abort state), the Klondike will push the work immediately (390uS) and return status within the USB "W" cmd turnaround. Subsequent "W" work cmds get queued in the PIC so that it should never be without work as long as cgminer provides queued work before a work unit is completed. Currently the "in PIC work queue" is 4 units, but RAM doesn't look to be an issue and potentially 8 is probably doable, though probably offering no gain, as 4 units is about 3.25 seconds (16 chips @ 330MHz) that work can be not provided before idle.

That is excellent - less than 1s of latency on an abort will be fine, the issue is with (eg the Batch 1 Avalons) that take 8-10s to abort.

[BkkCoins]

Hey! Everyone the Klondike Store is open for orders!

Don't slam me too hard - this is just a first take and I'll be moving it to my own server soon so that I can improve it more. But I needed to get this up and going so I can get back to work.

At this time I had to disable Paypal due to their IPN integration having some problem with editing settings. Support contacted but you know how good PP support is.  

Check it out at

http://klondikedesign.com

So far just a small selection of DIY items: bare boards, stencils, programmed PICs and related supplies for your convenience. I'm offering Free Registered Air Mail shipping on orders over $50.

I expect mostly people will be wanting a few boards so I'll be holding items until boards arrive and ship together. My current ETA on K16 Final Beta boards is July 31st. If you order some items I can ship sooner then I will, but may still take a few days as I scramble to get stock on hand. I'll be adding more parts and kits as soon as I can get some on hand.

There is an area for licenses - both End User and Vendors. I hope you'll visit there and "Go Legit". Choosing "Bitcoin - Re-Usable Address" during checkout provides you with a permanent address you can use for "burn in" mining. However, if no payment arrives on the address within an hour it reverts to the pool due to how that plugin functions.

Thanks for taking a look and I welcome feedback. Instead of cluttering up here too much send it to support@klondikedesign.com. That way I test my email too.  

Give me a chance and I'll do my best to serve you well.

****
BTW On the testing front - ran overnight, very stable with very low errors at 340 MHz.

104/(104+17286) = 0.6%

[ik2013]

Congratulations Bkk, great news about the over night testing 

Store sounds cool too

[erk]

Hey! Everyone the Klondike Store is open for orders!

Are you going to eventually sell complete boards ready to go with ASICs as well?

[BkkCoins]

Hey! Everyone the Klondike Store is open for orders!

Are you going to eventually sell complete boards ready to go with ASICs as well?

I may do a very limited run of K1s but I won't be selling assembled K16s. Due to my workload they may be a bit later than others anyway. But hey, I can autograph them. 

I'm debating how many and at what point I can add it to the offering. I have PICs on the way now, but many other parts I'd have to buy according to how many are ordered. I don't have the deep pockets to just stock up on a few thousand sets of parts speculating on how many will sell.

[bcabes]

Thanks for setting this up. Is there any chance you could put together an option for a K1 or K16 board with parts. I am guessing that there will be a lot of people interested in something like that as it would bring down the total cost.

[BkkCoins]

Thanks for setting this up. Is there any chance you could put together an option for a K1 or K16 board with parts. I am guessing that there will be a lot of people interested in something like that as it would bring down the total cost.

I want to do that, and with an assembly guide. The problem is sourcing parts. I'd have to take pre-orders and then use that to do a big order, but at this time some items are completely sold out. I feel uneasy taking money not knowing if I can actually deliver kits for who know show long.

But I do like the idea and would like to offer that. I guess in the end, if I can't get parts then neither can my customers on their own, most likely, so they don't really lose out. How does everyone feel about that? Pre-sell kits and then see where the chips fall?

[WynX]

How does everyone feel about that? Pre-sell kits and then see where the chips fall?

Yes, want that

[notlist3d]

Thanks for setting this up. Is there any chance you could put together an option for a K1 or K16 board with parts. I am guessing that there will be a lot of people interested in something like that as it would bring down the total cost.

I want to do that, and with an assembly guide. The problem is sourcing parts. I'd have to take pre-orders and then use that to do a big order, but at this time some items are completely sold out. I feel uneasy taking money not knowing if I can actually deliver kits for who know show long.

But I do like the idea and would like to offer that. I guess in the end, if I can't get parts then neither can my customers on their own, most likely, so they don't really lose out. How does everyone feel about that? Pre-sell kits and then see where the chips fall?

I think we would love it.  And maybe fully assembled from you.   A person we can trust goes a long ways.

[vs3]

Hey! Everyone the Klondike Store is open for orders!

...

But hey, I can autograph them. 

YES YES YES YES YES YES!!! Can I have mine autographed? :-)

First things first - I just managed to place an order! :-)
(and somehow 144 people already ordered before me!?!)

Aside from that - when I tried paying via paypal I got:

Error Detected
Error Message

The seller accepts encrypted website payments only. You cannot pay the seller through un-encrypted buttons. Please contact your seller for more details.

so the PayPal stuff didn't work. I ended up paying via BTC.

I tried making the url HTTPS but then some other web site showed up at your address. Not to mention that I had to add a security exception since the certificate didn't match.
In case you are not interested in wasting a lot of money on HTTPS certificates - check this site for a free one:
http://www.startssl.com/?app=40

[BitCsByBit]

****
BTW On the testing front - ran overnight, very stable with very low errors at 340 MHz.

104/(104+17286) = 0.6%

Hi BkkCoins, great work so far!  

Just a FYI.

Burnin stated that the error rate for the stable test results posted earlier was lower then 0.01% and the 450mhz test had an error rate of 0.1%.