Experimenting with Jalapeno firmware...

[Atroxes]

Oh god... experiencing problem after flash:

[2013-07-04 12:31:24] Started cgminer 3.3.1
[2013-07-04 12:31:27] BitForceSC detect (2:3) 2nd init failed (0:-7) - retrying

[2013-07-04 12:31:28] BitForceSC detect (2:3) init failed 3 times 3.31s
[2013-07-04 12:31:28] BitForceSC detect (2:3) error identify reply (0:-7)
[2013-07-04 12:31:28] Disabling extra threads due to dynamic mode.

 :[

The red light is flashing on/off 2-3 times a second. When I hook up JTAG (AVR DRAGON) it flashed quietly like normal and I can still re-program it.

I flashed with the untouched firmware 1.2.5. Anyone know whats wrong? :/

EDIT: Alright, after very quick trial and error, this has to do with the "#define __ASIC_FREQUENCY_ACTUAL_INDEX   7".

Apparently 7 doesn't work on mine. I got 5 working fine, will try and adjust with 6-8-9

[danattacker]

It usually takes ~10-15 seconds for my jalapeno to start responding.

If you can't get it to start, I would try decreasing the frequency factor by changing the value of __ASIC_FREQUENCY_ACTUAL_INDEX in std_defs.h (line 101) from 7 to something like 5.

[bitpop]

Are there any changes but speed with a newer firmware?

[jelin1984]

does exist
new firmware???

[philips]

EDIT: Alright, after very quick trial and error, this has to do with the "#define __ASIC_FREQUENCY_ACTUAL_INDEX   7".

Apparently 7 doesn't work on mine. I got 5 working fine, will try and adjust with 6-8-9

If 7 doesn't work, I doubt 8&9 will
Is your Jala a 5 or a 7GH unit?

[Atroxes]

I've been testing different frequency settings now, and im getting about way too many HW errors at 9.

Setting it to 8 give me about 1 HW error per 100 shares (diff 1), im guessing that's too much aswell?

Philips: it's a 5.6GH/s normally.

[danattacker]

1 HW error per 100 shares is around what I'm running right now.

Edit: Correction, about 0.7 per 100 (diff 1) shares. Probably because I removed the thermal pads and using arctic silver now.

[philips]

I've been testing different frequency settings now, and im getting about way too many HW errors at 9.

Setting it to 8 give me about 1 HW error per 100 shares (diff 1), im guessing that's too much aswell?

Philips: it's a 5.6GH/s normally.

Since you are in a testing frenzy have you tried the firmware modified by ckolivas?
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=242667.msg2642923#msg2642923

[Atroxes]

1 HW error per 100 shares is around what I'm running right now

Alright... How long have that been running for you? And has it run without issues?

[danattacker]

Alright... How long have that been running for you? And has it run without issues?

Running without issue for over a week.

I actually just finished building a custom peltier assembly that I'm going to try out soon.

[Atroxes]

Alright... How long have that been running for you? And has it run without issues?

Running without issue for over a week.

I actually just finished building a custom peltier assembly that I'm going to try out soon.

I'll set mine to 8 (1hw error/100 shares @ diff1) and see what happens over night. Speed is up to 8.1GH/s or so, that's okay with me

Thanks a bunch!

[kano]

1 HW error per 100 shares is around what I'm running right now.

Edit: Correction, about 0.7 per 100 (diff 1) shares. Probably because I removed the thermal pads and using arctic silver now.

I presume you mean that's higher than it could be?
From my understanding of the pads, their thermal transfer properties are supposed to be much higher than even expensive thermal paste.

[kano]

Just got my AVR dragon, connected it to to AVR studio and did an upgrade for the Dragon. All good so far. Then erased my Jalapeno, also good. Then tried to flash it using Kano's settings...ERROR. Something about not being able to execute a command. I had a mini-heartattack . Then i tried reading info from the Jalapeno atmel chip. Turned out i have a different model chip on my Jalapeno then Kano. Mine was a AT32UC3A1256 instead of a AT32UC3A1128. After i selected the correct chip in AVR studio it flashed perfectly.

Went from 5.2Gh/s to 7.5Gh/s with same error count!

I managed to break 2 blades from the BFL fan (cheap quality plastic) while doing this. Be careful with removing it or powering it while not mounted on the heatsink.

Some Jal got AT32UC3A1128 or AT32UC3A1256 and both are same but ram size 128K and 256K.

Ah OK - did that make a difference to the compile? I would have thought the compiled result would be the same for both chips.
The default debug compile fits into 128k (just)
When I tried a release compile it failed coz it was above 128k - so I went back to the default debug compile.

[Atroxes]

Strange, on newest cgminer for windows, I got no visible text errors when mining.

Now I'm getting this on MinePeon (cgminer 3.2.1):
[2013-07-04 13:11:17] BAJ0: incorrect data count (3) will use -6 instead from (INPROCESS:10x00)
 [2013-07-04 13:11:17] BAJ0: invalid nonce (INPROCESS:10x00) will try to process anyway
 [2013-07-04 13:11:17] hex2bin str truncated
 [2013-07-04 13:11:17] BAJ0: invalid nonce - HW error
 [2013-07-04 13:11:17] BAJ0: incorrect data count (7) will use -6 instead from (COUNT:20x00)
 [2013-07-04 13:11:17] BAJ0: invalid nonce (COUNT:20x00) will try to process anyway
 [2013-07-04 13:11:17] hex2bin str truncated

Tons of HW errors now.

Mysterious.

Solved: Needed to update MinePeon to get a newer cgminer.

Read here for more information: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?PHPSESSID=ri7gap7378k7nj53su6eh48fo1&topic=236875.msg2525699#msg2525699

[jelin1984]

Final what is better thermal pad or thermal paste?

[Atroxes]

Final what is better thermal pad or thermal paste?

Thermal paste.

Pads are an easier solution, but they are also slightly worse at transfering heat from the chip to the heatsink.

Paste gets "in there" in the small grooves on the heatsink and transfer heat better.

However, often pads are more than enough. The only reason to change to a thermal paste, would be to try and squeeze the temperature down by a few degrees.

[kano]

Strange, on newest cgminer for windows, I got no visible text errors when mining.

Now I'm getting this on MinePeon (cgminer 3.2.1):
[2013-07-04 13:11:17] BAJ0: incorrect data count (3) will use -6 instead from (INPROCESS:10x00)
 [2013-07-04 13:11:17] BAJ0: invalid nonce (INPROCESS:10x00) will try to process anyway
 [2013-07-04 13:11:17] hex2bin str truncated
 [2013-07-04 13:11:17] BAJ0: invalid nonce - HW error
 [2013-07-04 13:11:17] BAJ0: incorrect data count (7) will use -6 instead from (COUNT:20x00)
 [2013-07-04 13:11:17] BAJ0: invalid nonce (COUNT:20x00) will try to process anyway
 [2013-07-04 13:11:17] hex2bin str truncated

Mysterious.

3.2.1 isn't the newest cgminer.

3.3.1 is.

2013-06-18 Was when I added the 1.2.* firmware support.

3.3.0 was even after that.

[kano]

Final what is better thermal pad or thermal paste?

Thermal paste.

Pads are an easier solution, but they are also slightly worse at transfering heat from the chip to the heatsink.

Paste gets "in there" in the small grooves on the heatsink and transfer heat better.

However, often pads are more than enough. The only reason to change to a thermal paste, would be to try and squeeze the temperature down by a few degrees.

The pads used have a thermal transfer figure in the teens (14?) paste is rarely even 10 ...

Edit: from BFL when I was there, the pads heat dissipation number was '14' (whatever that means) where as thermal grease is like 7, 8 or 9 (9 is really expensive)
That is of course information told to me by BFL, but it was a topic of discussion one night at dinner and I'm sure it's correct.

[Atroxes]

Strange, on newest cgminer for windows, I got no visible text errors when mining.

Now I'm getting this on MinePeon (cgminer 3.2.1):
[2013-07-04 13:11:17] BAJ0: incorrect data count (3) will use -6 instead from (INPROCESS:10x00)
 [2013-07-04 13:11:17] BAJ0: invalid nonce (INPROCESS:10x00) will try to process anyway
 [2013-07-04 13:11:17] hex2bin str truncated
 [2013-07-04 13:11:17] BAJ0: invalid nonce - HW error
 [2013-07-04 13:11:17] BAJ0: incorrect data count (7) will use -6 instead from (COUNT:20x00)
 [2013-07-04 13:11:17] BAJ0: invalid nonce (COUNT:20x00) will try to process anyway
 [2013-07-04 13:11:17] hex2bin str truncated

Mysterious.

3.2.1 isn't the newest cgminer.

3.3.1 is.

2013-06-18 Was when I added the 1.2.* firmware support.

3.3.0 was even after that.

Yes, I was being slightly too hasty Thanks for responding.

[KNK]

The pads used have a thermal transfer figure in the teens (14?) paste is rarely even 10 ...

Don't forget the thickness - pads are thicker, so even with higher thermal transfer figure, they are worse than a few microns of paste.
In the Jalapeno case, the pads are preferable, because you may damage the chips when tightening the heatsink with just paste and if the two chips are not perfectly aligned the paste may even not be enough to make good contact with the heatsink