Hacking The KNC Firmware: Overclocking

[crashoveride54902]

Is it possible to peal of the yellow sticker from the VRMs ?
Is it safe the put aluminum or cooper heatsinks directly on the VRMs with only thermal paste (link) and not thermal adhesive pads (link) ? As VRMs convert electricity and heatsinks are electrical conductors.

Yes. I pealed the yellow sticker from the VRM, and put the heatsink on top.  See pictures in next posts....

is it even necessary to peal the yellow stickers off?

on neppy probably...on nov...not so much as they don't heat up as bad as neppys do

[greghawk]

Is it possible to peal of the yellow sticker from the VRMs ?
Is it safe the put aluminum or cooper heatsinks directly on the VRMs with only thermal paste (link) and not thermal adhesive pads (link) ? As VRMs convert electricity and heatsinks are electrical conductors.

Yes. I pealed the yellow sticker from the VRM, and put the heatsink on top.  See pictures in next posts....

is it even necessary to peal the yellow stickers off?

on neppy probably...on nov...not so much as they don't heat up as bad as neppys do

yes I meant neppy. But than I assume, warranty is gone...hm

[Elenelen]

Is it possible to peal of the yellow sticker from the VRMs ?
Is it safe the put aluminum or cooper heatsinks directly on the VRMs with only thermal paste (link) and not thermal adhesive pads (link) ? As VRMs convert electricity and heatsinks are electrical conductors.

Yes. I pealed the yellow sticker from the VRM, and put the heatsink on top.  See pictures in next posts....

is it even necessary to peal the yellow stickers off?

Don't know...I just did

[Elenelen]

Is it possible to peal of the yellow sticker from the VRMs ?
Is it safe the put aluminum or cooper heatsinks directly on the VRMs with only thermal paste (link) and not thermal adhesive pads (link) ? As VRMs convert electricity and heatsinks are electrical conductors.

Yes. I pealed the yellow sticker from the VRM, and put the heatsink on top.  See pictures in next posts....

is it even necessary to peal the yellow stickers off?

on neppy probably...on nov...not so much as they don't heat up as bad as neppys do

yes I meant neppy. But than I assume, warranty is gone...hm

warranty is gone anyway... but I guess my modifications make it more lasting than the original 107 degrees box...

[crashoveride54902]

if you did what elen did then yes warrenty gone..but taking off yeller sticker n putting yer own heatsink on it...something that can be made back to original shouldn't void yer warrenty i don't think upto you

[proclivity]

And this is the result: 20 degrees lower on the VRM's :

Very impressive mods! wish you lived close by..

[mikewirth]

I have removed the Neptune aluminum plate. Now I can see the Ericsson VRM's..... this is bad: they are the BMR4641002 (max 40A) instead of the BMR4641008 (max 50A).    ...... no OC possible !

The 1002 has a OverCurrentProtection of 48A and looking to my Advanced-page: nearly all the VRMs are already around 46-47A (and this is KnC's default setting).
They should have used the 1008 instead, which has 50A and an OCP of 62A.

Can't we just desolder the 1002 and remove them to be replaced by soldering some 1008s in their place?  Doesn't that mod seem like a good solution?  What do you think?

[Elenelen]

I have removed the Neptune aluminum plate. Now I can see the Ericsson VRM's..... this is bad: they are the BMR4641002 (max 40A) instead of the BMR4641008 (max 50A).    ...... no OC possible !

The 1002 has a OverCurrentProtection of 48A and looking to my Advanced-page: nearly all the VRMs are already around 46-47A (and this is KnC's default setting).
They should have used the 1008 instead, which has 50A and an OCP of 62A.

Can't we just desolder the 1002 and remove them to be replaced by soldering some 1008s in their place?  Doesn't that mod seem like a good solution?  What do you think?

Did some Google search but cannot find any place where I can buy these 1008s (I found 1002s, but those aren't cheap as well...)

[crashoveride54902]

I have removed the Neptune aluminum plate. Now I can see the Ericsson VRM's..... this is bad: they are the BMR4641002 (max 40A) instead of the BMR4641008 (max 50A).    ...... no OC possible !

The 1002 has a OverCurrentProtection of 48A and looking to my Advanced-page: nearly all the VRMs are already around 46-47A (and this is KnC's default setting).
They should have used the 1008 instead, which has 50A and an OCP of 62A.

Can't we just desolder the 1002 and remove them to be replaced by soldering some 1008s in their place?  Doesn't that mod seem like a good solution?  What do you think?

if you can surface mount then go for it...but that would add alotta cost onto the unit...and also why stop at the 50a model...why not go higher if yer gona do it? hehe more room for oc'in

[xhomerx10]

I have removed the Neptune aluminum plate. Now I can see the Ericsson VRM's..... this is bad: they are the BMR4641002 (max 40A) instead of the BMR4641008 (max 50A).    ...... no OC possible !

The 1002 has a OverCurrentProtection of 48A and looking to my Advanced-page: nearly all the VRMs are already around 46-47A (and this is KnC's default setting).
They should have used the 1008 instead, which has 50A and an OCP of 62A.

Can't we just desolder the 1002 and remove them to be replaced by soldering some 1008s in their place?  Doesn't that mod seem like a good solution?  What do you think?

 You have 5 boards with 8 VRMs on each.  Let's say you can get them for $30USD each (and I believe the cost is higher).  You're going to spend another 1200 dollars to get what?
I think you'd be better off buying two Bitcoins and mining with the OEM boards using inexpensive cooling modifications. 

 OR we crowd-fund an experiment and get one lucky miner to test your theory on just one of their 5 boxes.  Everyone not interested take a step back!

[xhomerx10]

I have removed the Neptune aluminum plate. Now I can see the Ericsson VRM's..... this is bad: they are the BMR4641002 (max 40A) instead of the BMR4641008 (max 50A).    ...... no OC possible !

The 1002 has a OverCurrentProtection of 48A and looking to my Advanced-page: nearly all the VRMs are already around 46-47A (and this is KnC's default setting).
They should have used the 1008 instead, which has 50A and an OCP of 62A.

Can't we just desolder the 1002 and remove them to be replaced by soldering some 1008s in their place?  Doesn't that mod seem like a good solution?  What do you think?

if you can surface mount then go for it...but that would add alotta cost onto the unit...and also why stop at the 50a model...why not go higher if yer gona do it? hehe more room for oc'in

 You have no choice but to stop at the 50A module - that's the end of the BMR464 line.

[crashoveride54902]

I have removed the Neptune aluminum plate. Now I can see the Ericsson VRM's..... this is bad: they are the BMR4641002 (max 40A) instead of the BMR4641008 (max 50A).    ...... no OC possible !

The 1002 has a OverCurrentProtection of 48A and looking to my Advanced-page: nearly all the VRMs are already around 46-47A (and this is KnC's default setting).
They should have used the 1008 instead, which has 50A and an OCP of 62A.

Can't we just desolder the 1002 and remove them to be replaced by soldering some 1008s in their place?  Doesn't that mod seem like a good solution?  What do you think?

if you can surface mount then go for it...but that would add alotta cost onto the unit...and also why stop at the 50a model...why not go higher if yer gona do it? hehe more room for oc'in

 You have no choice but to stop at the 50A module - that's the end of the BMR464 line.

well that sucks and it would have to depend on the 50a model having the same layout as the 40a model wouldn't it? i don't see why they would be different but ya never know

[xhomerx10]

I have removed the Neptune aluminum plate. Now I can see the Ericsson VRM's..... this is bad: they are the BMR4641002 (max 40A) instead of the BMR4641008 (max 50A).    ...... no OC possible !

The 1002 has a OverCurrentProtection of 48A and looking to my Advanced-page: nearly all the VRMs are already around 46-47A (and this is KnC's default setting).
They should have used the 1008 instead, which has 50A and an OCP of 62A.

Can't we just desolder the 1002 and remove them to be replaced by soldering some 1008s in their place?  Doesn't that mod seem like a good solution?  What do you think?

if you can surface mount then go for it...but that would add alotta cost onto the unit...and also why stop at the 50a model...why not go higher if yer gona do it? hehe more room for oc'in

 You have no choice but to stop at the 50A module - that's the end of the BMR464 line.

well that sucks and it would have to depend on the 50a model having the same layout as the 40a model wouldn't it? i don't see why they would be different but ya never know

 AFAIK the modules work exactly the same way but the 50a model has three extra settings on the PM Bus to control dynamic loop compensation which is not available on the lower rated modules.

[jelin1984]

what option i must put at padrino firmware for have it 900 gh hashing speed?

[crashoveride54902]

what option i must put at padrino firmware for have it 900 gh hashing speed?

for nov. unit? 0.000 for volts and 0x335 for the oc...make sure you have extra cooling as the vrms will get hot

[tolip_wen]

what option i must put at padrino firmware for have it 900 gh hashing speed?

for nov. unit? 0.000 for volts and 0x335 for the oc...make sure you have extra cooling as the vrms will get hot

335 is a wierd clock setting, did you try 331?

The last digit is a divisor and you are probably not dividing a clock by 5 and still reach 900MHz on a 28nm ASIC.
The PLL won't go that fast.
But if the field is only 2 bits wide 5 and 1 would be the same.
2 bit divisor is typical of many PLL.

YMMV

[CryptKeeper]

what option i must put at padrino firmware for have it 900 gh hashing speed?

You can try setting a lower voltage like -0.0366 and watch if some cores throw hardware errors. If you get hw errs and disabled cores, try increasing the voltage one step at a time. Lower voltage gives you lower power draw and lower vrm temperatures. This guy achieved to gain 100 watts with that: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=313978.msg5796532%23msg5796532 (read post #898)

If you have good cooling, you can even try to go up with the frequency. I have some dies running with 0x361 (this is max setting) on my nov jupiter without errors.

[tolip_wen]

I think I have an easy (to fabricate) way to watercool the VRMs.

Aluminum plates on the VRMs and a copper U attached to the plates with JB Weld.
(JB weld is strong high temp CONDUCTIVE  epoxy, also OK thermal properties)

I'll never get the investment in cooling back, but radiators and WBs are reusable forever if water is treated correctly.
Gonna look into cheap car radiators for the next nep, possibly even used.

Can anyone think of something else that is kinda easy and not involve 15 @ USD$100 ram waterblocks.

Luckily pit stops only involve a 20% reduction in hashrate with nep.

I DID get a nep so I could meddle with the workings after all

For those who may be wondering WTF FOR, easy way to move the HEAT elsewhere via hose.
The ASIC are quite happy with the air cooled heatsinks, just add fans if needed.

The VRMs are a bad dream though.
A good ASIC surrounded by mediocrity.


YMMV

[jelin1984]

also what watt from wall
for nov and october jupiter

at 940gh and 680  gh hahsing speed?

[padrino]

what option i must put at padrino firmware for have it 900 gh hashing speed?

As of late I've settled on 0x361 in my firmware, Ive have great luck with all boards running at 250Gh/s each and all units I've put together with 6 boards maintain 1.5Th/s.

The guide I wrote that has been distributed to many of the donators explains the fan configuration needed to keep them cool, it's a minimal investment for a huge difference in temperate, on the stock fans you can't go more than 750-800Gh/s before things start shutting down for thermal reasons..