Cube Power Supplies (or any PCIe 6-pin devices)

[sidehack]

I'm working on some power supplies, basically customized Dell server supplies, for powering AM Cubes or other standalone miners that use PCIe 6-pin power connectors, or to supplement 12V rails on ATX supplies for GPU rigs or whatever. Basically, here's what's gonna happen:

 - 750W of output power at 12VDC
 - 87-91% efficiency (from the wall) for loads between 150 and 750W (89% for >250W)
 - 4x PCIe 6-pin cables built in
 - Manual adjustable fan speed (from "low" to "very loud")
 - Manual rocker "on/off" switch
 - Molex-in active-high automatic on/off (3-12V signals)
 - Additional 12V molex output

With the auto-on molex input, you can actually plug these into a standard ATX, such that when the computer powers on, the 12V supply kicks on as well and provides an extra 60A of 12V for GPUs and whatnot. You can also daisychain them together using one's 12V molex output tied into the next one's molex in, so turning on the first supply in the chain will turn them all on together.

If anyone's interested in something like this, let me know. Still a prototype/working model right now, got it driving two Cubes at full clock without any issues yet.

[sidehack]

The prototype has been running solid pushing two Cubes at full clock for 24 hours without a hitch. Tomorrow I'm gonna see about clocking Cubes farther and seeing how it runs a pair of them. Should have results before the weekend.

[Sy]

Why did you pick such a small PSU? The 2000W PSU is sold on ebay for around 30-40$

I mean, kudos - but 750W seems wasted, you should aim for PSUs that can power 4 7950 aka provide 8 pciE 6 Pin (possibly 4 6+2). You will surely have an audience if you achieve that.

Go for 1200W+

[sidehack]

Gotta start somewhere, man. 1000W+ PSUs typically only run that hot if you give them 220V, and I don't have 220 at my workbench right now - nor do I have load enough to fully test one. So the first round is working up 500W and 750W and I'll move on from there if everything works how I like and I can set up what engineering is required to do it right.

[sidehack]

The prototype is solid. I should have four of these available in the next day or so if anyone's wanting.

[Cheshyr]

I was just thinking about designing some mining support equipment when I stumbled across your thread.  This is a really good idea.  It will be interesting to see where if goes, and where you go with it after the first round.  Nice work!

[sidehack]

There's a few things that I really like - solid equipment, niche markets and fair prices. Happy to use what skills I have to support the Bitcoin economy.

[klondike_bar]

would love to see this! what would be the price? last week i got a corsair 600M (modular) for only $44 brand new to cannibalize, bu its a shame to be paying for 5v and 3.3v rails that are not needed

[sidehack]

Probably looking around 0.06BTC shipped. I'm sending a pair to a guy to test out and review right now.

[klondike_bar]

Probably looking around 0.06BTC shipped. I'm sending a pair to a guy to test out and review right now.

~$60? not too bad, but i was hoping it might be a bit less. but if that includes shipping and >87% efficiency and pci-e cabling, then its fairly appealing

just a suggestion, i would prefer if the included PCI cables were connected by ring terminals rather than soldered directly. This way they can be saved if just a 12V connection is needed without the pci power format

[sidehack]

That would be handy, but it makes everything more complex for wiring and assembly. I was planning on shipping each one with a pair of extensions, those can be cut up just fine. Kinda the goal was a closed solution for powering Cubes, GPUs and the like without requiring any splicing of wires.

I'll look more into just how much harder it'll be to rig up a terminal block for connecting to, but remember this isn't a machine product, it's a custom build so everything takes time. I might make that standard on higher-power supplies, 1000+ watts.

[klondike_bar]

That would be handy, but it makes everything more complex for wiring and assembly. I was planning on shipping each one with a pair of extensions, those can be cut up just fine. Kinda the goal was a closed solution for powering Cubes, GPUs and the like without requiring any splicing of wires.

I'll look more into just how much harder it'll be to rig up a terminal block for connecting to, but remember this isn't a machine product, it's a custom build so everything takes time. I might make that standard on higher-power supplies, 1000+ watts.

okay, makes sense. I know some equipment chooses to use screw terminals for the 12V line, which means using PCI extenders or cutting up the cables. a terminal on the PSU would allow easy wiring for these units, especially if only 4-6" of wire is desired

[sidehack]

The concern is, what I have to tie into is thru-holes on a PCB. I might be able to rig up a simple bus-bar that solders to the surface pads and wraps over to tie into screw terminals slid on top. Would be two different models I reckon, or just ship everything with a screw block and 6-pins crimped onto terminal ends. Eh, two different models is probably best so the people that don't want to mess with it won't have to mess with it - one with 6-pins built in, and the other with just a terminal block and you supply the wires.