Bitmain launches the Z9 Equihash miner

[bones261]

Can someone clarify this for me since I was so gravely misinformed? I thought Equihash uses a great deal of memory and that it was supposed to deter ASIC manufacturing since the ram requirements would make the machine uneconomically. Did Zooko lie to us, or just didn't really think this through?

Ethash is the most mem heavy afaik. I think it's a heavier one, but I would assume they've figured out a workaround of some sort...

Are we even sure the new Z9 miner is really an ASIC and not a FPGA? If it is an FPGA, this would thwart any efforts that coins made to slightly modify the algorithm. All Bitmain would need to do is update the firmware.

[activatorwmw]

zcash ASIC vote
https://forum.z.cash/t/let-s-talk-about-asic-mining/27353/1142?u=activator

[greyday]

Can someone clarify this for me since I was so gravely misinformed? I thought Equihash uses a great deal of memory and that it was supposed to deter ASIC manufacturing since the ram requirements would make the machine uneconomically. Did Zooko lie to us, or just didn't really think this through?

Ethash is the most mem heavy afaik. I think it's a heavier one, but I would assume they've figured out a workaround of some sort...

Are we even sure the new Z9 miner is really an ASIC and not a FPGA? If it is an FPGA, this would thwart any efforts that coins made to slightly modify the algorithm. All Bitmain would need to do is update the firmware.

The adverts called it "The Antminer Z9 mini, an Equihash ASIC miner!". That was the subject of the announcement email. So I'm going to go ahead and guess it's an ASIC.

[zbutterfly]

Can someone clarify this for me since I was so gravely misinformed? I thought Equihash uses a great deal of memory and that it was supposed to deter ASIC manufacturing since the ram requirements would make the machine uneconomically. Did Zooko lie to us, or just didn't really think this through?

Ethash is the most mem heavy afaik. I think it's a heavier one, but I would assume they've figured out a workaround of some sort...

Are we even sure the new Z9 miner is really an ASIC and not a FPGA? If it is an FPGA, this would thwart any efforts that coins made to slightly modify the algorithm. All Bitmain would need to do is update the firmware.

I think they do not use FPGA but ASIC, because FPGA board speed is not like that, maybe they use FPGA to control the performance of ASIC and IO structure.

[Eyedol-X]

Can someone clarify this for me since I was so gravely misinformed? I thought Equihash uses a great deal of memory and that it was supposed to deter ASIC manufacturing since the ram requirements would make the machine uneconomically. Did Zooko lie to us, or just didn't really think this through?

Ethash is the most mem heavy afaik. I think it's a heavier one, but I would assume they've figured out a workaround of some sort...

Are we even sure the new Z9 miner is really an ASIC and not a FPGA? If it is an FPGA, this would thwart any efforts that coins made to slightly modify the algorithm. All Bitmain would need to do is update the firmware.

I think they do not use FPGA but ASIC, because FPGA board speed is not like that, maybe they use FPGA to control the performance of ASIC and IO structure.

Bitmain now has partnerships with a semiconductor manufacturer and a GDDR5 memory manufacturer in Taiwan so it's possible they have made their own custom chips for this with their own spec GDDR5 memory.

Notice one place you can't ship a Z3? Taiwan.

[whoismoses]

I dont get what u mean by out of touch. Innovation occurs. Things change. Cant do much about it.
GPU is the past.  Horses were used in the past. Then, cars came. The problem with mining is that it is getting harder to breakeven these days.
I understand your pain. Buyers gotta hope no competitor comes up with a similar asic.

I won't have pain. I broke even on my gpus long ago. Don't worry about me.

He is out of touch of touch related to...

1 - What shifting gpus off of ETH will do to other crypto. He has stated he doesn't think asic represents a significant portion of the network.
2 - If you have read about how they plan on implementing ETH PoS... On a scale of decentralization to centralization you have....
Decentralization---CPUs----GPUs----Asics----ETH PoS---Centralization

Bitcoin litecoin dash etc are all mined via asics and they are decentralized fine, without issues.
GPUs are unfortunately the past. U should sell them.

They are not worth selling. I'll make more over the next 12-18 months mining than I would selling them. Even at $300 ETH, $100 XMR I can do that. (I pay my own taxes and electricity)

I'm not arguing against Asics. I own several. I also purchased a few of these. (Different email, BTC addresses, physical address [of friends])

I'm saying PoS is the most ETH centralized of them all.

[QuintLeo]

Can someone clarify this for me since I was so gravely misinformed? I thought Equihash uses a great deal of memory and that it was supposed to deter ASIC manufacturing since the ram requirements would make the machine uneconomically. Did Zooko lie to us, or just didn't really think this through?

ASIC "resistant" is not "ASIC proof" is what it means.
But a lot of folks that claim their algorithm is resistant to ASIC don't really understand the capabilities of an ASIC.

equihash does NOT use all that much memory or access it a lot, unlike ethash (which is probably why the E3 for ethash is no better than GPUs on efficiency, VERY hard memory limited algorithm).

[Xelpherpolis]

Hi guys! Someone has already received in the hands of these wonderful device? Write a review, is it worth buying them or not?

[whitrzac]

Hi guys! Someone has already received in the hands of these wonderful device? Write a review, is it worth buying them or not?

Total scam, do not buy

[boxalex]

Hi guys! Someone has already received in the hands of these wonderful device? Write a review, is it worth buying them or not?

Total scam, do not buy

I doubt someone will give a fu.k while it's clear where you are coming from ....

[Riptide_NVN]

Decentralization---CPUs----GPUs----Asics----ETH PoS---Centralization

Ideally in order to achieve the most decentralization possible.  All of these devices/methods of securing the network would be useful to secure the network.  In a perfect world.

[martyroz]

So why hasn't this sold out yet?

They must have a lot available.

[Kalyst69]

Decentralization---CPUs----GPUs----Asics----ETH PoS---Centralization

Ideally in order to achieve the most decentralization possible.  All of these devices/methods of securing the network would be useful to secure the network.  In a perfect world.

I agree, decentralisation depends on which pool you choose and not if you use GPU, CPU, FPGA or ASIC. Ethermine has 28% of the ETH network, it's not due to ASICs.
https://etherscan.io/stat/miner?range=7&blocktype=blocks

[Kalyst69]

So why hasn't this sold out yet?

They must have a lot available.

I think that a lot of users are afraid about a fork and they will wait the last minute or the second batch.

[Riptide_NVN]

I agree, decentralisation depends on which pool you choose and not if you use GPU, CPU, FPGA or ASIC. Ethermine has 28% of the ETH network, it's not due to ASICs.
https://etherscan.io/stat/miner?range=7&blocktype=blocks

I agree that is also another part of the picture.  It isn't good to concentrate a majority of hash in one location.  Nor is it good to have the vast majority if not all of your hash produced by a singular type of device that is produced in fewer quantity and by a single entity.

Hash spread into multiple locations/pools and produced by as many individual devices of different type and origin is optimal.

[martyroz]

So why hasn't this sold out yet?

They must have a lot available.

I think that a lot of users are afraid about a fork and they will wait the last minute or the second batch.

Even though ZEC is 50-60% of equihash revenue, this is a very diverse algo. I think it is inevitable that some coins simply will not fork or will not fork in time.
If ZEC so happens to be one of them, then this is a great buy?

[Kalyst69]

Even though ZEC is 50-60% of equihash revenue, this is a very diverse algo. I think it is inevitable that some coins simply will not fork or will not fork in time.
If ZEC so happens to be one of them, then this is a great buy?

Monero's team prepared their fork before release of the ASICs and even it was possible to ROI the Giant N, Electroneum not and their hashrate is huge now. Not sure that BTG and other coins developers are prepared for that (they still didn't give a date for the fork), i think if you buy the first batch, you will ROI easily even if all coins fork. Z9, it's only 300W so all shitcoins can help you to ROI.

[greyday]

Even though ZEC is 50-60% of equihash revenue, this is a very diverse algo. I think it is inevitable that some coins simply will not fork or will not fork in time.
If ZEC so happens to be one of them, then this is a great buy?

Monero's team prepared their fork before release of the ASICs and even it was possible to ROI the Giant N, Electroneum not and their hashrate is huge now. Not sure that BTG and other coins developers are prepared for that (they still didn't give a date for the fork), i think if you buy the first batch, you will ROI easily even if all coins fork. Z9, it's only 300W so all shitcoins can help you to ROI.

Plus, you know, it's just 300W. If you have any need for heat (grow room, office space heater, etc), it is ALWAYS worth using since even if it loses money it still loses less than just a heater. I still use my S5 when it gets cold enough.

[Kryptowolf512]

Anyone already ordered one or more of these miners? If yes, any problems with the order?

[Kalyst69]

Anyone already ordered one or more of these miners? If yes, any problems with the order?

to order not, but delivery will be at the end of June