Technobit HEX8A1 260GH/s Coincraft based miner reviewed

[2GOOD]

OP updated with latest patch for cgminer 4.0.0 and build for Ubuntu 12.04 x64:

cgminer-4.0.0 HEX8A1 only
cgminer-4.0.0 ALL HEX Boards + nano

You can download tp-link images from here:
http://www.megafileupload.com/en/file/505202/0-2-2-rar.html

With the latest image I have no problem running 3 boards on one MR-3020


CPU usage is around 36% according to Technobit you can run up to 9 boards.

[marto74]

Technobit HEX boards family simple setup guide
http://www.megafileupload.com/en/file/506573/TECHNOBIT-HEX16--Setup-pdf.html

[QuiveringGibbage]

More pics can be found here: http://imgur.com/a/mRbMZ#bmfxPCC

Unfortunately only 3 of the 5 HEX8A1 from TechnoBit were hashing. 2 have been returned to TechnoBit for replacement costing me just under $500AUD to DHL it to Bulgaria from Sydney, Australia.

Units were well packed when received on Monday, 10th March 2014 (End Feb. Batch). 3 days of fine tuning have resulted in the following hashing rates and settings.

Code:

Freq. Voltage    Avg. Hash/s 
220    860       222GHs 
250    950       235GHs
250    960       251GHs
*ozbot* | bunnyhopping | 29763160 shares (129 stales; 0.0%) | avg 732163 MH/s |

Each unit has it's own behaviour and I found I had to use separate instances of cgminer to apply the correct freq. and voltage to each unit to maximise efficiency. My target HW error rate was under 3%. Power consumed is unknown at this stage but I'll see if I can get some readings.

I hope really hope TechnoBit compensates somehow for a 40% DOA result for me. Not to mention the $500 DHL fee to ship back.

Hash wild, with lasers!! pew pew!!
QG

[Gator-hex]

Sometimes DOA can just mean the USB leaks power and your power protected USB hub wont let your PC talk to it.

It's always worth trying it directly plugged into a TP-Link TL-3020 (running the Technobit firmware), bypassing the USB hub, to check if it works. (risky to do this with a PC/Laptop! but TP-Link no bug issues)

If it does work, you can solve it by taping out the ground or +5v connector in the USB cable, then it should work back on the power protected hub.
USB1 hubs/PC ports can cause problems too as they are not fast enough and some power supplies have issues if there is nothing plugged into the 5V line.

[QuiveringGibbage]

no usb hub used. I have a dedicated PC (mATX MB) as the control box running cgminer. All 5 unit were plugged directly into the MB and tested individually. I even went to the trouble of trying the two DOA units with another PSU and Laptop.

Actually, maybe DOA is not the right term. sorry, I can detect the units in cgminer but nothing seems to get it to hash. Tried all the settings described by 2Good's review.

Anyhow the unit are already on their way back to Bulgaria. I did ask TechnoBit for additional support but was directed to submit RMA. They responded promptly

Cheers,
QG

[2GOOD]

cgminer for Windows here:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/8082585/cg/cgminer_technobit_win/cgminer.rar

You need Zadig:
http://zadig.akeo.ie/downloads/zadig_2.1.0.exe

just edit config file and run it

tested with HEX16A2/B/A1

not tested on mixed boards on one host

[Zich]

cgminer for Windows here:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/8082585/cg/cgminer_technobit_win/cgminer.rar

You need Zadig:
http://zadig.akeo.ie/downloads/zadig_2.1.0.exe

just edit config file and run it

tested with HEX16A2/B/A1

not tested on mixed boards on one host

Great achievement, thanks 

[faxfan2002]

2 BTC seems expensive for 260GH/s, the cost of 2 S1's (including shipping and VAT / customs to UK) running 400GH/s

[mastahofdesastah]

But S1 needs about 2W per GH...

[faxfan2002]

Fair point, but still quite some difference in price and it looks like these need a controlling computer of some description adding to the power overhead unless we talking pi of course

[Pentium100]

Fair point, but still quite some difference in price and it looks like these need a controlling computer of some description adding to the power overhead unless we talking pi of course

Depending on the number of miners. I have 3x HEX8A1, 3xHEXB and 1xBFL60, combined they use about 1.3kW, a 100W or so for the control PC is not that much in context. OTOH, for a single HEXB the PC  would use too much power.

[Zich]

Fair point, but still quite some difference in price and it looks like these need a controlling computer of some description adding to the power overhead unless we talking pi of course

No, we are talking about TPLINK TL-MR3020  which is half of Rpi price 

[Gator-hex]

2 BTC seems expensive for 260GH/s, the cost of 2 S1's (including shipping and VAT / customs to UK) running 400GH/s

You need to add 25% for VAT+Customs then add the cost of an extra power supply.

UK electricity just rose to 15p(25c)/kWh! and the Ants will use 25% more power at 2W/GH. Not sure why Marto's A1's are not as efficient as the Chinese A1's claim to be though. Mine were 1.5W/GH @ 260GH and 1.2W/GH @ 215GH. It's not any better than my Hex16Bitfury miners really, but it will beat an Antminer!

[marto74]

0.3.0 Milestone release http://technobit.eu/0_3_0.rar
- GET WORK cgminer support is depreciated. !!!USE STRATUM ONLY!!!!
* cgminer patch to cgminer 4.2.1 rev df7dcab4677a9fea1e1b7ac7b756d72e2e9c6f46.patch
* cgminer bug fixes: thread locking, memleaks, stage work buffer length adjustments and many more. All hex drivers were rewritten
* cgminer the most stable release! We encourage all to upgrade!
* openwrt updated to r40295

[2GOOD]

Here is the updated Price Chart

The board is now listed as 240GH

[marto74]

Something to be cleared.
The 240 Ghs is the same miner as previous sold by us 260 Ghs, the difference is the bottom heat sink witch is now 35 mm thick (was 70)
This way the cost is down and can be run near the sweet spot of W/GHs ratio.

[Borpf]

Hello,

I now got a HEX8A1 too, and have some HW problems.
It seems, that my Miner got much HW´s if i set the voltage below 900mV.
If I try the 8:230 / 860 settings (best ghs/watt) the HW´s grow up.
At the Moment i use 8:220 / 900. Thats about 225Ghs.

I replaced the Original 48Watt Fan to 2x Sunon from HEX16B because of noise.
Can anybody tell me best ghs/watt Settings that are not lower than 900mV and not more?
(because of the other fans)
Can I damage anything by testing other frequency than 220Mhz?

For example 230/900?
(Sorry about my english... )

Thank you!

[2GOOD]

Hello,

I now got a HEX8A1 too, and have some HW problems.
It seems, that my Miner got much HW´s if i set the voltage below 900mV.
If I try the 8:230 / 860 settings (best ghs/watt) the HW´s grow up.
At the Moment i use 8:220 / 900. Thats about 225Ghs.

I replaced the Original 48Watt Fan to 2x Sunon from HEX16B because of noise.
Can anybody tell me best ghs/watt Settings that are not lower than 900mV and not more?
(because of the other fans)
Can I damage anything by testing other frequency than 220Mhz?

For example 230/900?
(Sorry about my english... )

Thank you!

IMO you are ok at 220/900 you can try it at 230/900 it wont hurt, just be careful about the temperature of the heatsink.
You can also try 220/880

[Borpf]

Thank´s for you help.
I "extend" the cooling now and use the settings 8:240 / 930.
I add a big cooling block with thermal glue on the bottom side an it works fine.

Here´s the picture of it (posted in german forum too):

[wareck]

hello
Is there someone have a windows version of this cgminer ?
I'tried to build in windows but not working as it must...

best regards

Olivier