X6500 Custom FPGA Miner

[fizzisist]

In the description it says to use a wal-wart power adapter.  Does anyone have a direct link to the one that will work. 

This one works well: http://cablesaurus.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=50

To be clear, though, you can use either a wall-wart adapter or a 4-pin Molex connector from a standard ATX power supply. The wall-wart should work well for running a single board, but I recommend using a standard PSU if you have more than one because they are so much more efficient. You can run a lot of X6500s on this one, for example, with great efficiency: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371033

If the PSU isn't also powering a computer, you'll need to modify it or pick up one of the dummy connectors from Cablesaurus: http://cablesaurus.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=45

Can I just plug the molex adapter from the psu in or does it need to be modified.

No modification needed to the connector itself, but the PSU needs to have the ENABLE pin pulled to ground. This is what a motherboard will do, to turn on the PSU when it wants it on (when you press the power switch) but if you're using the PSU standalone, you need to do that yourself. This is what the dummy plug from Cablesaurus does for you. The molex connector itself can be used as is.

By the way, the original (rev 2) X6500 used the 5V rail from the Molex connector, but the new X6500s (rev 3) take power from the 12V connector.

[P_Shep]

If the PSU isn't also powering a computer, you'll need to modify it or pick up one of the dummy connectors from Cablesaurus: http://cablesaurus.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=45

Holy crap! $17 for a connector with a whole 2 pins connected? People pay for that!?
Yeah, think I'll make do with a paperclip and some electrical tape.
Sheesh.

[hashking]

In the description it says to use a wal-wart power adapter.  Does anyone have a direct link to the one that will work. 

This one works well: http://cablesaurus.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=50

To be clear, though, you can use either a wall-wart adapter or a 4-pin Molex connector from a standard ATX power supply. The wall-wart should work well for running a single board, but I recommend using a standard PSU if you have more than one because they are so much more efficient. You can run a lot of X6500s on this one, for example, with great efficiency: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371033

If the PSU isn't also powering a computer, you'll need to modify it or pick up one of the dummy connectors from Cablesaurus: http://cablesaurus.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=45

Can I just plug the molex adapter from the psu in or does it need to be modified.

No modification needed to the connector itself, but the PSU needs to have the ENABLE pin pulled to ground. This is what a motherboard will do, to turn on the PSU when it wants it on (when you press the power switch) but if you're using the PSU standalone, you need to do that yourself. This is what the dummy plug from Cablesaurus does for you. The molex connector itself can be used as is.

By the way, the original (rev 2) X6500 used the 5V rail from the Molex connector, but the new X6500s (rev 3) take power from the 12V connector.

Ok that clears it up,  I was reading your first post and it was talking about modifying a molex connector to make it work.  I have a bunch psu's so power won't be a problem.  Thanks.

[TheHarbinger]

In the description it says to use a wal-wart power adapter.  Does anyone have a direct link to the one that will work. 

This one works well: http://cablesaurus.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=50

To be clear, though, you can use either a wall-wart adapter or a 4-pin Molex connector from a standard ATX power supply. The wall-wart should work well for running a single board, but I recommend using a standard PSU if you have more than one because they are so much more efficient. You can run a lot of X6500s on this one, for example, with great efficiency: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371033

If the PSU isn't also powering a computer, you'll need to modify it or pick up one of the dummy connectors from Cablesaurus: http://cablesaurus.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=45

Can I just plug the molex adapter from the psu in or does it need to be modified.

No modification needed to the connector itself, but the PSU needs to have the ENABLE pin pulled to ground. This is what a motherboard will do, to turn on the PSU when it wants it on (when you press the power switch) but if you're using the PSU standalone, you need to do that yourself. This is what the dummy plug from Cablesaurus does for you. The molex connector itself can be used as is.

By the way, the original (rev 2) X6500 used the 5V rail from the Molex connector, but the new X6500s (rev 3) take power from the 12V connector.

Ok that clears it up,  I was reading your first post and it was talking about modifying a molex connector to make it work.  I have a bunch psu's so power won't be a problem.  Thanks.

It wasn't to "make it work".  The Rev. 2 boards pulled power from the 5v rail as designed.  The molex mod was to switch the power feed from the 5v rail to the 12v rail.  This was done because most of the modern PSUs can supply far more power on the 12v rail than the 5v rail.  They will work on either the 5v or 12v supply.

[fizzisist]

It wasn't to "make it work".  The Rev. 2 boards pulled power from the 5v rail as designed.  The molex mod was to switch the power feed from the 5v rail to the 12v rail.  This was done because most of the modern PSUs can supply far more power on the 12v rail than the 5v rail.  They will work on either the 5v or 12v supply.

Yes, exactly. Thanks for adding this clarification.

[TheHarbinger]

It wasn't to "make it work".  The Rev. 2 boards pulled power from the 5v rail as designed.  The molex mod was to switch the power feed from the 5v rail to the 12v rail.  This was done because most of the modern PSUs can supply far more power on the 12v rail than the 5v rail.  They will work on either the 5v or 12v supply.

Yes, exactly. Thanks for adding this clarification.

Well, if you dig back through the thread, I was the one who wanted it on the 12v rail not the 5v.  Causing the molex mod post, causing his confusion.  So I just figured I would clarify it.   

To bad every time I get some cash together to buy these damn things, something else eats my money up.  It's seriously starting to piss me off.   

[bitcowok]

Skimming through the thread, I see photos from:
...
bitcowok (and here)
....
Would you folks be ok with your pics posted on fpgamining.com? If so, and you want to have a little blurb or some other info about it you would like to share, please let me know!

Yep no probs. go for it.

[99Percent]

I have no problems using my photos either.

[coretechs]

Much better.  I might make a hood for it out of cardboard or something, but there is good airflow over the top and bottom of all the boards as it sits.  I used 1 1/8 in. standoffs ($6 for a pack of 25 on Amazon, might be cheaper elsewhere) that seem to be almost the perfect height for using 2x 80mm fans.

edit: +1 piece of card stock

[tgmarks]

Simple and effective, I like it.  The standoffs didn't brake on you?  I got a set of the plastic ones also, but I think I over tightened them or something cause I broke the threads off of two.

[fizzisist]

The boards are here!

I'll take a couple pics and start some basic tests tonight!

[hashking]

How's the deadline looking on completion of the next batch of boards.

[fizzisist]

As promised, pics:





And, they're mining!



Those heatsinks are just for testing. Hopefully we'll have a decision on what heatsinks to use very soon. If that takes too long, the first boards available will be without heatsinks, letting you supply your own.

[hashking]

Nice, thanks for the quick responce, your customer service skills are great.  Unlike some of your other competitors.  I won't say their name.   

[fizzisist]

Nice, thanks for the quick responce, your customer service skills are great.  Unlike some of your other competitors.  I won't say their name.   

Heh, just a coincidence really. I was writing that when you posted. My best estimate? Heatsink-less in about a week, with heatsinks in two weeks. We'll do our best to make that happen!

[O_Shovah]

Hi fizzisist,

might you please tell me how the black heatsinks with fans are called and who sells them ?

Would be interested in this profile for another experiment.

[fizzisist]

Hi fizzisist,

might you please tell me how the black heatsinks with fans are called and who sells them ?

Would be interested in this profile for another experiment.

No problem! They're these, or some knockoff of that: http://www.deepcool-us.com/Product/NBRIDGE2/

You'll see them everywhere when searching for "chipset" or "northbridge" heatsinks.

[N.Olmos]

Newegg has them in red:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835999020


LOGISYS CORPORATION is North American Source
Website: www.elogisys.com
http://www.deepcool-us.com/Where_to_Buy/#map_show

[Pipesnake]

Unlike some of your other competitors.  I won't say their name.   

Nor are they 4 months behind....

[coretechs]

The original blue heatsinks seem to work pretty well, do you have any remaining?  What brand are they?