Klondike - 16 chip ASIC Open Source Board - Preliminary

[zipiju]

Are you using the same power supply design ?

Yes, but I'm messing around with an idea to replace IR3895 for IR3847 (which is an 25A reg), but that would require new footprint for PCB, and new supply design.
So don't know, what are you suggesting?

[fasmax]

I was looking at some power modules with PM bus for controlling the voltage but this would cost more.

[QualitySeeds]

Has anyone tried avalon gen 2 chips on a k16 board?
I saw at one stage Avalon said the chips were pin compatible.

Is anyone interested in helping adapt the K16 design to the new gen 2 Avalon chips?

I'm working on it. Parts with schematics are done, only thing left to do is PCB layout.

That would be a good achievement those gen2 chips are in great numbers 

[scotjam]

Has anyone tried avalon gen 2 chips on a k16 board?
I saw at one stage Avalon said the chips were pin compatible.

Is anyone interested in helping adapt the K16 design to the new gen 2 Avalon chips?

I'm working on it. Parts with schematics are done, only thing left to do is PCB layout.

Awesome - somehow BKKCoins' legacy continues!

[h@shKraker]

Zipiju,

Thanks so much for continuing with BKKCoins’ work.  Once you have the PCB layout done will you be selling the PCBs, solder stencils, Programmed PIC and BOM via https://klondikedesign.com ?  Also, any idea on when you’ll be ready to sell said DIY kit?  Hope all is well.

H@shKraker

[zipiju]

Zipiju,

Thanks so much for continuing with BKKCoins’ work.  Once you have the PCB layout done will you be selling the PCBs, solder stencils, Programmed PIC and BOM via https://klondikedesign.com ?  Also, any idea on when you’ll be ready to sell said DIY kit?  Hope all is well.

H@shKraker

I wont be selling parts or PCB's. It's really expensive to manufacture PCB's here, plus the agenda around shipping etc. Klondikedesign is BKK's site and I don't know if he will be selling stuff there.
About the ETA, I really want to have it completed ASAP. The layout will be done, hopefully, at the end of this week (it's basically just a small mod to the original design). PCB manu + stencil should take about a week, assembly and testing about 2 days.

[h@shKraker]

Zipiju,

That sounds cool.  Will you be uploading your finalized work to the github (including the finalized GERBER files for the board and finalized BOM)?  On the BOM thing, about 3 weeks ago I downloaded and then updated the one that was on the GitHub for the K16 boards with recent digikey pricing in a handy dandy excel spreadsheet with cost calc formulas based on board volume from 1 and up to 500 boards.  Would you like to get your hands on my spreadsheet?  Thanks for your quick reply.

H@shKraker

[h@shKraker]

Zipiju,

Speaking of the Excel BOM I did with mouser part numbers and recent mouser pricing, I've updated the "Mandatory Changes" *AND* "Optional Changes" parts you mention on your "How To Build" page.  Let me know if you want a copy.

H@shKraker

[h@shKraker]

I just ran over to the avalon-asics site and noticed the 55nm chips they have on reels are purported to do 1.2 to 1.4 Ghash each.  If I do some quick math on this that implies each K16 board using the Avalon Gen2 chips should be fully capable of 19.2Ghash and a assembly of 4 K16 boards (making a K64) should achieve 76.8Ghash.  Does this sound correct?

H@shKraker.

[zipiju]

Yes that's about right.
About the spreadsheet, you can send it to drop@projectklondike.org.
And the design, when finished, will be of course available on Git.

[driksson]

Zipiju,

Thanks so much for continuing with BKKCoins’ work.  Once you have the PCB layout done will you be selling the PCBs, solder stencils, Programmed PIC and BOM via https://klondikedesign.com ?  Also, any idea on when you’ll be ready to sell said DIY kit?  Hope all is well.

H@shKraker

I wont be selling parts or PCB's. It's really expensive to manufacture PCB's here, plus the agenda around shipping etc. Klondikedesign is BKK's site and I don't know if he will be selling stuff there.
About the ETA, I really want to have it completed ASAP. The layout will be done, hopefully, at the end of this week (it's basically just a small mod to the original design). PCB manu + stencil should take about a week, assembly and testing about 2 days.

Please look on ebay for psus, there are incredibly cheap $5-$50 hp server psu's around 600w. that would work great for these boards. Why in the world go for standard computer psus..
http://www.ebay.com/itm/HP-Proliant-ML570-G2-Server-Power-Supply-600W-ESP117-DPS-600CB-/170761556966

or the dps-600
http://www.ebay.com/itm/HP-Hewlett-Packard-DPS-600PB-B-Power-Supply-575W-Used-Condition-/390698876500?pt=US_Server_Power_Supplies&hash=item5af777be54

dirt cheap!

[h@shKraker]

Zipiju,

Excel BOM sent to the email address you specified.  if I've missed parts please let me know and I'll add them to the spreadsheet with Mouser part numbers and Mouser pricing.

H@shKraker

[h@shKraker]

driksson,

Why in the world go for standard computer psus

Because some times wives don't like the sound of PSUs that imitate jet engines :-)

H@shKraker

[juggalodarkclow]

I apologize if I missed this somewhere but does anybody know what the point of the i2c headers is and if the 4pin wires are needed for them?

EDIT: I see this is for daisy chaining. Has anyone done this and could you please provide some pics?

[zipiju]

I apologize if I missed this somewhere but does anybody know what the point of the i2c headers is and if the 4pin wires are needed for them?

EDIT: I see this is for daisy chaining. Has anyone done this and could you please provide some pics?

It's not implemented in FW yet.

[scotjam]

Please look on ebay for psus, there are incredibly cheap $5-$50 hp server psu's around 600w. that would work great for these boards. Why in the world go for standard computer psus..
http://www.ebay.com/itm/HP-Proliant-ML570-G2-Server-Power-Supply-600W-ESP117-DPS-600CB-/170761556966

or the dps-600
http://www.ebay.com/itm/HP-Hewlett-Packard-DPS-600PB-B-Power-Supply-575W-Used-Condition-/390698876500?pt=US_Server_Power_Supplies&hash=item5af777be54

dirt cheap!

The issue is often that the quality of the power provided is much lower. There is so much variation between different PSUs in terms of electrical characteristics. Having said that, with HP server PSUs, one should be ok (in theory at least) as they should be better than the consumer-grade junk that you normally find for cheap.

scotjam

[h@shKraker]

Be forewarned ..... the chances of you getting an earful from wifey when you spin up one of those HP PSUs is GREATLY increased.

H@shKraker

[zipiju]

The PCB mod (SSOP version) is completed.
I'll upload modified BOM and Kicad files to the Github (probably tomorrow, I want to check it one more time, it's late here and BOM isn't ready).
As of now, the mod is UNTESTED! I've ordered all the components needed (from Mouser), but I'm now looking for some cheap PCB fab. Here, one 4 layer PCB costs about 120€ with shipping, which I'm not willing to pay (I can't afford it to be honest). So if anyone knows some cheap PCB fab in EU, let me know. Otherwise, I'll have to order it from US.
And the mod is still using IR3895, so the board will be probably about 4 times faster than the original one.

[fasmax]

The PCB mod (SSOP version) is completed.
I'll upload modified BOM and Kicad files to the Github (probably tomorrow, I want to check it one more time, it's late here and BOM isn't ready).
As of now, the mod is UNTESTED! I've ordered all the components needed (from Mouser), but I'm now looking for some cheap PCB fab. Here, one 4 layer PCB costs about 120€ with shipping, which I'm not willing to pay (I can't afford it to be honest). So if anyone knows some cheap PCB fab in EU, let me know. Otherwise, I'll have to order it from US.
And the mod is still using IR3895, so the board will be probably about 4 times faster than the original one.

This is the change for the 55nm Avalon chips right?
How many parts got changed ?

[h@shKraker]

Zipiju,

Hey boss man, when you update the BOM please update the XLS and send an update OR send me the updates and I can do it with pricing info.  Thanks for your hard work.

H@shKraker