The Chili – 30+GH/s BFL based Bitcoin Miner Assembly

[i3luefire]

I was trying BFG miner and all it does is crash with an error about locating the com  "FT_GetComPortNumber"  I can get the Chili's to hash great (well low to mid 30's) in cgminer..

I have installed the required BFGminer drivers ( I installed the VCP drivers at the bottom of this page, and I made sure the connected device was using those drivers http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP.htm).  but all I get is instant crash.

Any ideas?

Win 8.1 64bit,  BFG Miner 64bit 3.8.1 and I tried 3.8.0

I have never been able to get anything to hash on win8x64

win7x86 works all the time with all my gadgets.

i have used windows 7 64bit , and windows 8.1 64bit with bfgminer 3.8.0 and 3.8.1 and all seem to work fine for me.

[i3luefire]

i have 14 chilis and 10 of them have been running for weeks and weeks without problems. the other 4 are new. 1 of the new ones runs fine for about 1-2 minutes then starts showing an error messages then it goes sick. in the midst of starting and stopping bfgminer a million times while trying to get that one working 1 of the 10 that had been running fine stopped working and now it never shows up in bfgminer even after power cycling it and switching usb ports and switching power supplies.

What do the LED lights on the chili that has the issue look like.

Remember when you power cycle, etc.. you should wait until all of the LED lights on the chili stop blinking before starting the mining software. This can cause it to hang and not be found.

What error messages are you seeing with your other chili? Have you tried switching it to a different USB port/running it solo to see if it continues with those same issues?

Hopefully we can help you out!

the one that never shows up in bfgminer goes through the normal led bootup sequence but after the leds go out and i start bfgminer nothing happens. i have not tried that one by itself yet but i did change usb ports and cables. i am trying the one that goes sick by itself right now and am waiting on it to fail to copy the error message. but it always runs at ~41-42gh with 10-15% hw.

Edit: the message is

Code:

BFL 0: Received unexpected queue result response:
BFL 0: Error: Get temp returned empty string/timed out

Edit2: the miner that does not get recognized by bfgminer shows up as an unknown device on windows. does that mean the ftdi chip is toast? because i have never had this problem before. my normal mining machine is xubuntu but i have mined with these on windows before. and i am currently mining with the other problem child on windows currently so i dont think it is a driver issue. also the one that was getting sick before has not gotten sick for over an hour. so... i am not sure what the problem was there. but eventually i will need to move it back to the mining room and out of my living room.

I have one of mine that has been giving me issues lately, and it sounds very similar to your problem. A little debugging of the VRM to read the logged faults show that it's hitting a current limit fault and the DC/DC is tripping off. It's also a great performer, 16 engines on all 8 chips. The problem was that my cooling was good enough that the temperatures stayed under the limits, and with every engine enabled and ramping up to the full voltage (1.15V) I was pulling more than 160A out of the power supply. It was hashing over 40GH/s, but it would trip the protections on the DC/DC and shut down. Limiting the voltage to 1.1V has dropped the hashrate to 39GH/s, but it also runs stable now.

I'll email you the file I used.

Ok I performed the test and it still came up as an unrecognized device. So that means it is the ftdi chip correct? And if so what is the mfg part number?

It sounds like it. You could try opening it up in FTDI's FT Prog utility to see if it's detected there as well.

The file you emailed to me seems to have made the problem much better. the miner got sick once since the upload but that may have been pc related. is the file you uploaded "https://www.dropbox.com/s/i4rj2k1m9vrj00e/Chili14e1V1.hex" the same as the one you emailed?

Also i tried the FT_Prog utility http://www.ftdichip.com/Support/Utilities/FT_Prog_v2.8.2.0.zip and it was not able to find that miners usb chip either so i am going to order a replacement for the ftdi chip today or tomorrow from digikey or mouser. which part number is the correct one "FT232HL" or something else?

[MrTeal]

The file you emailed to me seems to have made the problem much better. the miner got sick once since the upload but that may have been pc related. is the file you uploaded "https://www.dropbox.com/s/i4rj2k1m9vrj00e/Chili14e1V1.hex" the same as the one you emailed?

Also i tried the FT_Prog utility http://www.ftdichip.com/Support/Utilities/FT_Prog_v2.8.2.0.zip and it was not able to find that miners usb chip either so i am going to order a replacement for the ftdi chip today or tomorrow from digikey or mouser. which part number is the correct one "FT232HL" or something else?

It is, I just renamed it to avoid confusion when I posted it here.
That's the correct part number.

[jelin1984]

Mr teal you make any new firmware for chilli??

[MrTeal]

Mr teal you make any new firmware for chilli??

I don't think I even know how to answer that.

[Hands]

I have an odd card and was wondering on some feedback on it.

The card takes a VERY long time to self test (2 or 3 minutes, where as the other cards take 10 or 20 seconds)... Also the card will lock up.. And lastly, I just bounded the card and it tested then went to LEDs 5,6,7,8 all being on.. I rebooted it and then it made it thru the self-test ok.

The card seems to hash for about 20 minutes before failing out.

I am using cgminer 3.8.5 compiles for the raspberry pi (this morning),  What additional information would be useful for debugging this card?

EDIT : I just watched the card.. It ran for about 2 minutes, then said ZOMBIE and now its at 33c, 0.85v and zero hash.

Thanks

[twib2]

This happens to me sometimes and unplugging power for a few seconds helps.

That was the second thing I tried after resetting the USB bus.  But thanks anyway.  ;-)

The only thing that seems to work (mostly) reliably is to blow compressed air towards the contact between the hashing chips and the cooler.  So, somethiing is horked with the temperature sensor that lets it get into the boot sequence - either it's got too much leftover thermal paste on it or it has an offset of some sort.  I did make it almost spotless when I cleaned up the paste and converted to thermal pad, but...

[asjfdlksfd]

BTW- Not super useful for most people since you can't use it while hashing since the mining software has the port open, but the ZlX command (lowercase "L") will return the temperature of all the chips. If you're compiling your own cgminer, you might want to add in a way to read that.

I found ZcX which adds the internal chip temperatures behind the processor output:

PROCESSOR 0: 9 engines @ 137 MHz -- MAP: E07E 27 C
PROCESSOR 1: 14 engines @ 198 MHz -- MAP: DFF7 26 C
PROCESSOR 2: 7 engines @ 188 MHz -- MAP: 0BF0 27 C
PROCESSOR 3: 15 engines @ 201 MHz -- MAP: FF7F 29 C
PROCESSOR 4: 13 engines @ 159 MHz -- MAP: E7FE 27 C
PROCESSOR 5: 8 engines @ 168 MHz -- MAP: 0FF0 27 C
PROCESSOR 6: 8 engines @ 179 MHz -- MAP: 0FF0 26 C
PROCESSOR 7: 15 engines @ 179 MHz -- MAP: F7FF 32 C

[Hands]

BTW- Not super useful for most people since you can't use it while hashing since the mining software has the port open, but the ZlX command (lowercase "L") will return the temperature of all the chips. If you're compiling your own cgminer, you might want to add in a way to read that.

I found ZcX which adds the internal chip temperatures behind the processor output:

PROCESSOR 0: 9 engines @ 137 MHz -- MAP: E07E 27 C
PROCESSOR 1: 14 engines @ 198 MHz -- MAP: DFF7 26 C
PROCESSOR 2: 7 engines @ 188 MHz -- MAP: 0BF0 27 C
PROCESSOR 3: 15 engines @ 201 MHz -- MAP: FF7F 29 C
PROCESSOR 4: 13 engines @ 159 MHz -- MAP: E7FE 27 C
PROCESSOR 5: 8 engines @ 168 MHz -- MAP: 0FF0 27 C
PROCESSOR 6: 8 engines @ 179 MHz -- MAP: 0FF0 26 C
PROCESSOR 7: 15 engines @ 179 MHz -- MAP: F7FF 32 C

are these commandline flags?

[hephaist0s]

Spotswood made me this excellent Chili rack (apologies for the poor photo):



I love this rack for many reasons:
• It holds up to 7 Chilis (I'm just waiting on a few more -- come on, Lucko!).
• Entirely configurable -- adjust everything so it fits just how you want, space them as close or as far apart as you like.
• Everyone has their own cooling solution, I went with the Accelero Mono, and Spotswood configured this to my needs (awesome).
• Holds everything together and lets me move it around, reining in the Chili octopus.
• Came with extra bolts, brackets, even tools.
• Great price! He probably has different prices for different needs, but especially considering he made this custom and it only took ~ 1 week, I think it was a great price (less than $100).

So, if you've got a bunch of stuff that needs to be bolted down: http://richchomiczewski.wordpress.com/

(I do not know Spotswood, nor do I get any kickbacks here -- I just think he's doing great work and wanted to share it.)

[asjfdlksfd]

I found ZcX which adds the internal chip temperatures behind the processor output:

PROCESSOR 0: 9 engines @ 137 MHz -- MAP: E07E 27 C
PROCESSOR 1: 14 engines @ 198 MHz -- MAP: DFF7 26 C
PROCESSOR 2: 7 engines @ 188 MHz -- MAP: 0BF0 27 C
PROCESSOR 3: 15 engines @ 201 MHz -- MAP: FF7F 29 C
PROCESSOR 4: 13 engines @ 159 MHz -- MAP: E7FE 27 C
PROCESSOR 5: 8 engines @ 168 MHz -- MAP: 0FF0 27 C
PROCESSOR 6: 8 engines @ 179 MHz -- MAP: 0FF0 26 C
PROCESSOR 7: 15 engines @ 179 MHz -- MAP: F7FF 32 C

are these commandline flags?

No, you can use Z-Commands by connecting a terminal program to the serial port.
I tried to use minicom but it never works for me so I used tail -f /dev/ttyUSB0 on one console and echo -n ZcX >/dev/ttyUSB0 on another console to get the result on my linux box.

I found only working 5 commands: ZCX, ZcX, ZLX, ZlX and ZGX. Maybe the're more available...

[lightfoot]

Quick heat question: My Chili is expected tomorrow, but my heat sink is not coming till Tuesday. Would it be suicide to put an older IBM X series big copper heat sink on top of it and try it out? Will the chips burn out, or take damage?

C

[MrTeal]

Quick heat question: My Chili is expected tomorrow, but my heat sink is not coming till Tuesday. Would it be suicide to put an older IBM X series big copper heat sink on top of it and try it out? Will the chips burn out, or take damage?

C

They should throttle down if contact is crappy, but I still wouldn't. Up to you though.

[MrTeal]

I found ZcX which adds the internal chip temperatures behind the processor output:

PROCESSOR 0: 9 engines @ 137 MHz -- MAP: E07E 27 C
PROCESSOR 1: 14 engines @ 198 MHz -- MAP: DFF7 26 C
PROCESSOR 2: 7 engines @ 188 MHz -- MAP: 0BF0 27 C
PROCESSOR 3: 15 engines @ 201 MHz -- MAP: FF7F 29 C
PROCESSOR 4: 13 engines @ 159 MHz -- MAP: E7FE 27 C
PROCESSOR 5: 8 engines @ 168 MHz -- MAP: 0FF0 27 C
PROCESSOR 6: 8 engines @ 179 MHz -- MAP: 0FF0 26 C
PROCESSOR 7: 15 engines @ 179 MHz -- MAP: F7FF 32 C

are these commandline flags?

No, you can use Z-Commands by connecting a terminal program to the serial port.
I tried to use minicom but it never works for me so I used tail -f /dev/ttyUSB0 on one console and echo -n ZcX >/dev/ttyUSB0 on another console to get the result on my linux box.

I found only working 5 commands: ZCX, ZcX, ZLX, ZlX and ZGX. Maybe the're more available...

That's pretty much it.

[Hands]

So the only room I could find in the house right this second is our "wreck" room so ignore the mess and dust on the desk... But I got 9 of my 10 cards going in there Quesos




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The mosfet heatsinks I am using are kind of crappy so the extra 120mm fan on them helps ALOT.. going to have to upgrade that..

Running the H80 water coolers at their lowest settings still sees 33GH per card with some cards as high as 37GH.

Once I have more space I can lay them out a bit better... I think right now there is a fair bit of hot air co-mingling rather than nice fresh air.

[miaviator]

Holy crap Hands.

You love those chilis.  What model is that corsair water block?  What hashrate are you getting?

[miaviator]

I'm debating selling my Chili farm.  10 Chili's at 340Ghash total.

[Hands]

Holy crap Hands.

You love those chilis.  What model is that corsair water block?  What hashrate are you getting?

Getting 33 to 35 ghash per card on low fan.  37+ on high.

H80 waterblocks

Cases were about $5.00/piece in raw material ( I have my own laser cutter) and the coolers were refurbished so I picked them up for a song.  Power supplies are just 500 watts so only 2 cards per supply. But they were pretty cheap too.

The slowest par of the setup was the cases took an hour each to burn on the cutter. It was a nice weekend project.

[SosDk]

Got the Chili + Evo 212 cooler. But I cant seem to make the cooler fit.....did anyone make a Youtube video on how to Mount ? Or pics ?

[Mudbankkeith]

Got the Chili + Evo 212 cooler. But I cant seem to make the cooler fit.....did anyone make a Youtube video on how to Mount ? Or pics ?

Lots of posts early in this thread

Edit:-   https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=304250.msg3355048#msg3355048

The feet do not work(holes in the board are too small)