[Group Buy] BFL ASICs, + Board Design Underway.

[MrTeal]

Similar situation, I have 32 codes that I would be willing to put forward to the group buy if there is a real chance (as in "99%") assembly that provides "ready to run" rigs/boards/blades.

Cheers

PMed

[MrTeal]

Last thread hijack I promise but have you priced out the BOM yet? Some pricey support componentsit looks like. 

Looks like about $200 for the PCB, assembly and components. That isn't set in stone yet, but should be close.

[mtbitcoin]

Last thread hijack I promise but have you priced out the BOM yet? Some pricey support componentsit looks like. 

Looks like about $200 for the PCB, assembly and components. That isn't set in stone yet, but should be close.

Hi

May I know how many chips will fit on the estimated $200 board? 8 chips?

I am trying to price this out

[Arrta]

Last thread hijack I promise but have you priced out the BOM yet? Some pricey support componentsit looks like. 

Looks like about $200 for the PCB, assembly and components. That isn't set in stone yet, but should be close.

Are you still looking at 4 chips per board? Or considering more?
I ended up with 96 chip codes, so I might buy on my own now and wait for a good board design to come about.

[babcoccl]

BFL released just the PCB for the 5Gh jalapeno

Its in Altrium format.

The problem is you can only mount two chips on it (it has pads for 8 I think) otherwise it will get to hot and fry.

They are 10 Layer boards and they are NOT cheap to have manufactured even in 1000 lots they are like $30 a pop

I have already converted the Altrium files to Gerber files, pick files and Bill of materials files.

Yea, BFL also released the gerbers on their forum. I was surprised at the amount of layers. And bypass capacitors.

Those 0201 capacitors aren't actually populated I don't believe, although I'm just going off memory and I don't have a Jalapeno board here to check. It would be pretty strange to have a bunch of actual capacitors under the back plate though.

Well they might be on the back plane. They are listed on the BOM. All 450 ish of them. Also, I believe that there are only 6 layers on the board.

[minerpumpkin]

Wouldn't it be feasible to mount these chips on some ASICMiner Block Eruptor-like USB Stick?
Power consumption should be manageable (< 15 Watts!?)  heat dissipation... maybe?

[Arrta]

BFL released just the PCB for the 5Gh jalapeno

Its in Altrium format.

The problem is you can only mount two chips on it (it has pads for 8 I think) otherwise it will get to hot and fry.

They are 10 Layer boards and they are NOT cheap to have manufactured even in 1000 lots they are like $30 a pop

I have already converted the Altrium files to Gerber files, pick files and Bill of materials files.

Yea, BFL also released the gerbers on their forum. I was surprised at the amount of layers. And bypass capacitors.

Those 0201 capacitors aren't actually populated I don't believe, although I'm just going off memory and I don't have a Jalapeno board here to check. It would be pretty strange to have a bunch of actual capacitors under the back plate though.

It has also been stated that you could run 8 chips,on it with proper cooling, and word has it the design they released has the mosfet's that generate too much heat. The same ones that they swapped out when designing the longboard.

[babcoccl]

Wouldn't it be feasible to mount these chips on some ASICMiner Block Eruptor-like USB Stick?
Power downsumption should be manageable (< 15watts!?)  heat dissipation... maybe?

Perhaps but there's currently a lot of "larger" support chips required in the BFL design to manage communication and queueing with all 16 engines. These could probably be designed down or out if only using one chip. The current spec doesn't even come close to using all the pin outse.

[crazyates]

BFL released just the PCB for the 5Gh jalapeno

Its in Altrium format.

The problem is you can only mount two chips on it (it has pads for 8 I think) otherwise it will get to hot and fry.

They are 10 Layer boards and they are NOT cheap to have manufactured even in 1000 lots they are like $30 a pop

I have already converted the Altrium files to Gerber files, pick files and Bill of materials files.

Yea, BFL also released the gerbers on their forum. I was surprised at the amount of layers. And bypass capacitors.

Those 0201 capacitors aren't actually populated I don't believe, although I'm just going off memory and I don't have a Jalapeno board here to check. It would be pretty strange to have a bunch of actual capacitors under the back plate though.

It has also been stated that you could run 8 chips,on it with proper cooling, and word has it the design they released has the mosfet's that generate too much heat. The same ones that they swapped out when designing the longboard.

IIRC, cooling was not the issue with putting 8 chips on the board. The issue was that the board couldn't give enough power without frying itself. The board was only originally designed for 60W, and the current Jalapenos are pulling 30-35W. You could throw all the giant heatsinks you want at that board, and it won't handle the 250-300W it would take to power 8 chips without frying itself.

[aboron]

I'm interested on getting in for 4 chips, and I have 2 chip codes, let me know details via PM if there is still room.

[JakeTri]

I'm would like to get on board for some chips if it is not to late ...

[dentldir]

Count me in.  I've got 4 chip codes I'd like to put towards a finished 4 chip unit.

Let me know where to send them.

Thanks.

[kosmokramer]

I have BFL chips ordered. What's the word on assembly options/costs? Would love to get some opinions from other buyers on the best way to use these chips!

[minerpumpkin]

Could these, apart from the power supply, be operated with an (almost) passive cooling solution? <15 watts/chip... open boards, huge heatsinks??

[warhawk187]

I have 32 vouchers I'd be willing to put into this effort. Are there any plans to make boards that can hold more chips? Any rough idea on what assembly would cost? I can't commit to 32 chips worth in BTC right now, especially since board design isn't set in stone, but I would be interested further down the line.

[hephaist0s]

I'd like to buy in for 8 chips; I do have codes to go with them.

[af_newbie]

IIRC, cooling was not the issue with putting 8 chips on the board. The issue was that the board couldn't give enough power without frying itself. The board was only originally designed for 60W, and the current Jalapenos are pulling 30-35W. You could throw all the giant heatsinks you want at that board, and it won't handle the 250-300W it would take to power 8 chips without frying itself.

crazyates,

So the PCB that BFL_Nassar released is for Jalapeno?
https://forums.butterflylabs.com/announcements/3295-bitforce-sc-pcb-schematics.html

[mightycount]

Put me down for 32 chips with codes.

[Dagger75]

Got 160 Chip discount codes only 0.05 BTC each as many as you need.  Also accept LTC/NMC/$$

[jmh9072]

I'm interested in 2 chips, and I have 2 coupons to go with them.