[GUIDE] GridSeed 5-Chip USB, Blade & Black Miner Support/Tuning

[podizzle]

hey guys just want to update i switched to bfgminer and now im running sweet! just have one thats spewing out hw errors.
im over 6MH/s actual nonce (3rd hashrate) in bfgminer. thats with 18 running at 850mhz.

if anyone is having trouble with cgminer i suggest installing these st virtualcomport drivers windows 8 64bit (im using them on windows 7). they seem to work nicely.

http://microco.sm/out/xJs

[jamieb81]

hey guys just want to update i switched to bfgminer and now im running sweet! just have one thats spewing out hw errors.
im over 6MH/s actual nonce (3rd hashrate) in bfgminer. thats with 18 running at 850mhz.

if anyone is having trouble with cgminer i suggest installing these st virtualcomport drivers windows 8 64bit (im using them on windows 7). they seem to work nicely.

http://microco.sm/out/xJs

bfg miner looks nice, you dont need any driver replacement right? just the driver you have to install that comes with the GS's ?

Better to use BFG instread of CPUminer if I'm only runing a small amount of gridseeds?

[podizzle]

i think its better period. i have much better results

[usao]

i think its better period. i have much better results

Does BFGminer work with cgwatcher/cgremote?
Thats how I currently maintain my farm of GPU's and was hoping to put my GSDs under that as well.

[squall1066]

I just noticed this thread LOL Please don't think I am double posting but here 

I am using win 7 64bit with the cpuminer fixed power usage (running through a 49 port BE hub), I am running core at 800MHz (some are wobbly on 850)

My question is I can only get between 275-305KHs with each unit? I thought stock was this speed and clocking to 800 should yeald 380+

Is there something I can change? Is this right? I just want to get the most out of a stable unit.

[usao]

I just noticed this thread LOL Please don't think I am double posting but here 

I am using win 7 64bit with the cpuminer fixed power usage (running through a 49 port BE hub), I am running core at 800MHz (some are wobbly on 850)

My question is I can only get between 275-305KHs with each unit? I thought stock was this speed and clocking to 800 should yeald 380+

Is there something I can change? Is this right? I just want to get the most out of a stable unit.

Im getting 361KH @ 850MHZ. Higher than that and I get HW errors cropping up.

[squall1066]

I just noticed this thread LOL Please don't think I am double posting but here 

I am using win 7 64bit with the cpuminer fixed power usage (running through a 49 port BE hub), I am running core at 800MHz (some are wobbly on 850)

My question is I can only get between 275-305KHs with each unit? I thought stock was this speed and clocking to 800 should yeald 380+

Is there something I can change? Is this right? I just want to get the most out of a stable unit.

Im getting 361KH @ 850MHZ. Higher than that and I get HW errors cropping up.

This is about ball park I guess, I have gone down to 800 for your reason precicely, My HW err are little now,
I have been told that it fluctuates drastically in hashing speed, But I struggle to peek at 300@800
Other people are peeking at 380@850 I did not think 50core would make that much impact.

[podizzle]

hey guys theoretically i should be getting 360-362kh/s per seed but im only getting around 316-338kh/s in the pool........ any ideas? more importantly is this typical?

[geetash]

i saw some guy posted a script to monitor usb ports on windows+cgminer and reset them if one of miner dropped. but i cant find the post now, someone please help me to find the post.
thanks.

This .....?

For those of you running Windows and CGminer for Gridseed ASICs:

Long time lurker, but new member here.  I usually just sit back and read to solve my problems. I registered here today just to make this post.

I noticed when using Gridseed 5 chip miners with Windows/CGminer that miners would randomly drop off. When you close CGminer or reboot, this was especially true. The fix? Unplug the USB cable to your miner or hub and set hotplug to a higher number than 0 (most seem to like 5).

Great, but I have a job/life/kids/wife/car/hobbies/etc and can't always be next to the computer waiting to unplug/plug a USB connector.

I did a little experimenting and found out that disabling/enabling them in device manager brought them back without having to physically unplug them. This got me thinking...

I was able to use devcon.exe (from Microsoft) and write a quick batch file that enables/disables the miners. Then I scheduled the batch file to run ever 60 seconds (maybe overkill). The good part is that devcon.exe does not disable devices if they are in use, it waits for a reboot. So, your active miners never go down they just get "flagged" to be disabled on next boot and your inactive miners get disabled/enabled and start working again. This also requires hotplug to be greater than 0 (I used --hotplug=10)

It's quick and dirty and by no means a great solution. But it works. If someone wants to take this and expand on it, be my guest.

To make sure its working:
Run CGMiner, make sure it works and miners start.
Close CGMiner.
Run CGMiner, no miners (or less miners) are found.
Close CGMiner.
Run batch found below.
Run CGMiner, all miners working again.

You may need to edit the batch file to include match your miners hardware ID (*5740* is wildcard-part_of_hardware_ID-wildcard). I'm not sure if all hardware IDs are all the same, but all mine are. I just shoved it in the root of my C:\ drive. It's very basic and self explanatory.

Zip contains:
devcon.exe
resetusb.bat
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ih0eszwbf6bucl4/resetusb.zip

I hope this helps some usb plugging, nail-biting, BCTer get out and grab a little sunlight instead of hiding in the basement waiting for that inevitable USB failure.  

yeah thats it
thank yo so much!
can you send me the original post link as well. thanks again

[podizzle]

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=482352.msg5650273#msg5650273 is the resetusb link

[geetash]

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=482352.msg5650273#msg5650273 is the resetusb link

thanks!

[CartmanSPC]

w2k ********************** And I 'para-quote'.  

We have decided form now on to give free shipping with all our orders, we want to make it as simple as possible to order from us.

There have been some major developments the last couple of days and well, cannot say much about it but we had to put the price at $165.

Sorry for making you look bad, wish I could tell you everything that is going on right now, I'm sure over the coming days things will become clear.
Kind Regards
Simon

And, this just in, too! And I para-quote again

Hi Wolfey2014
I can explain all in a few days… sorry this was not our choice.
Confusing, we agree.
One plus point is that from now on we will always offer free shipping worldwide.

Simon
www.Hashra.com

This looks like the manufacture forcing them to increase their price to keep other resellers happy or dictating a minimum sale price. We now know that they can be sold for as cheap as $150/unit and still be profitable for the reseller. I'm betting the cost to resellers is now around $135/unit. That gives them a profit margin of just under 23% not taking into consideration operating expenses. Would guess most resellers are pulling in 16-20% margins after operating expenses.

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=474017.msg5905253#msg5905253
As I said in the link above: "at $165 these miners are about the same price to performance ratio of a 290x not factoring in electricity cost. The electricity savings is what sold me."

[DarkKnight]

Are GridSeeds really this fragile, I purchase 10 and 6 are defective do to a PSU short ? ( is this possible)

Hello Gridseed users.

I purchase a 10 unit GridSeed package that came with a Raspberry PI and 10 port USB hub and two 10A 120 to 12 VDC PSU'.

I connected all the 10 GridSeeds to a the USB hub and powered it up,  then I connected a 1 group of 5 gridseed to a 10A 12 PSU (XHY PV-12012000) using a fan out 1 to 5 power cable supplied with the kit. The other 5 GridSeeds were connected in the same way.  I powered up one group of 5, and when I plugged the second PSU I huge spark was seen on the 12 VD DC line of the 1 to 5 fanout cable all the fans started and then stopped.

I unpluged the PSU and tried it on only one GridSeed and the PSU was dead. It's green LED was no logner on and my voltmeter showed no 12 volt reading.  I then tested each of the 5 Gridseeds and not one would power on, Could they all have died, I though impossible but I got out a better quality 120 to 12V transformer made for CB radio and the 5 devices no longer powered on, and when directly conntected to a USB port no led.  The continuity tester on my volt meter shows a short on all of them !.   

So I powered-up the other 5 Gridseeds left the room for a few minitues, when I returned all of the units has stopped and the fans where vibrating a making a whining noise.  I noticed that the PSU's green LED was flickering.  So the second PSU was no longer able to power the load of 5 Gridseeds not even mining.  I later discovered that the second PSU was only have to operate a Gridseed for a few minutes before apparently dieing out. 

I purchase this kit from Zoomhash.com, and I opened a support ticket.  I've played with electrical gadgets for a while and have seen my fare share of cheap made in china power supplies die. But never have I seen damage on this scale occur so fast; Out of my 10 GridSeeds only 4 work after this "incident", 5 don't even power-on and the 6th powers on but the USB circuit appears dead and the internal LED never come on.

I am really regretting that I did not take the time to test each unit one at a time on my PC to determine that each was working properly as I was so excited to and wanted to get the devices working fast.

I'm still at a lose as to what might have cause this chain of events ?  Could a short in one of Gridseed has caused a leak of the 12V dc in the USB circuit and back in the USB Hub and back in the other GridSeed's ? The USB hub also is dead.
 

Picture of PSU that I suspect was the cause of all this destruction.

Dude, use IMG Width= tag please.

Also this just in:

Important USB HUB Warning From Zoomhash.com
View this email in your browser
Dear Customer,

All USB Hubs must be powered by 5 volts. Please double check and make sure you do not make a mistake and accidentally power your USB hub with any other sources other than a 5 volt source.

Make sure you do not power your hub with the same source as your Gridseed Miner. (Do not use the gridseed miner's 12 volt power source).

Especially if you are cutting wires from another ATX PSU.

Thank you.
Zoomhash
Copyright © 2014 Zoomhash Inc, All rights reserved.
You have bought something from ZoomHash.com

Our mailing address is:
Zoomhash Inc
14840 E Valley Blvd
South Pasadena, CA 91746

In short, pay attention to your wiring.

[Firetripper]

So many functional gridseed users. I've yet to see one work and we've been through 5 of them.

Installed everything, worked with Cgminer, got the config right. Run it and it's never seen by the mining app. Got the com drivers installed, used that WinUSB app, power is correct and USB is solid. Tried on Windows (Xp, 7, 8, 8.1) and no love. Using 12v Regular PC supply with molex and micro usb. Power cable and USB cables both tested for crosstalk and continuity.

5 Hashers received, I tried this last week and nothing works. Gave them to my friend who does BTC mining and all that and all 5 did the exact same thing.

Same thing every damn time: CGminer does not detect hardware. Cpuminer does not detect hardware. 5 gridseeds. No warranty or support. Awesome.

So what gives? Why is this such a garage tech item that is poorly made and non-functional (to me in person, I've never seen a working gridseed outside of youtube, screen shots and here-say).

[suchmoon]

So many functional gridseed users. I've yet to see one work and we've been through 5 of them.

Installed everything, worked with Cgminer, got the config right. Run it and it's never seen by the mining app. Got the com drivers installed, used that WinUSB app, power is correct and USB is solid. Tried on Windows (Xp, 7, 8, 8.1) and no love. Using 12v Regular PC supply with molex and micro usb. Power cable and USB cables both tested for crosstalk and continuity.

5 Hashers received, I tried this last week and nothing works. Gave them to my friend who does BTC mining and all that and all 5 did the exact same thing.

Same thing every damn time: CGminer does not detect hardware. Cpuminer does not detect hardware. 5 gridseeds. No warranty or support. Awesome.

So what gives? Why is this such a garage tech item that is poorly made and non-functional (to me in person, I've never seen a working gridseed outside of youtube, screen shots and here-say).

cgminer on Windows is glitchy, not easy to get working. cpuminer works if you set the parameters right (careful with the COM port number, it will happily connect to any port, whether it has a Gridseed on it or not). It looks like you may have "that WinUSB app" (I'm assuming that's Zadig) installed and cpuminer will not work with that. You have to reinstall the regular COM port driver. If you could describe the issue in more detail - does the greed LED light up, does the red one flash, are you trying LTC/BTC/both, have you tried hotplugging with cgminer, does cpuminer open the port and send work to the miner, etc - I'm sure many posters here will help you.

I would disagree with the "poorly made" statement. For a technology so new, these little miners are holding up quite well. Out of 50+ I've only got one defective so far and one noisy fan. I seriously doubt that all 5 of yours would be defective.

[Firetripper]

I'm familiar with virtual com ports and all that from phone flashing.

I was able to get it working on a custom clean installed Windows 8.1 64 bit computer.  I used the WinUSB and a copy of CGminer.  I could NOT get this thing to work on Usb 3 and on any laptop I had.   

Now I can only get two on, the rest are not detected.   Does BAMT with a modified cgminer work for this asic

[suchmoon]

I'm familiar with virtual com ports and all that from phone flashing.

I was able to get it working on a custom clean installed Windows 8.1 64 bit computer.  I used the WinUSB and a copy of CGminer.  I could NOT get this thing to work on Usb 3 and on any laptop I had.   

Now I can only get two on, the rest are not detected.   Does BAMT with a modified cgminer work for this asic

For me it didn't work connected directly to an USB 3 port but worked on a USB 2 hub connected to a USB 3 port. Not sure what would be an issue with a laptop.

BAMT is a bit of an overkill for this, since it has all that AMD crud installed. But yes, you can compile a modified cgminer version on it and it would work. I don't know if it would help with USB 3 though.

[lielianjie]

Hi guys,

I have an issue with my setup. I followed the first page instructions and it seems that eveything is working correctly:

http://img11.hostingpics.net/pics/738489Snap20140330at154102.png

Scripta :

http://img11.hostingpics.net/pics/289583Snap20140330at154201.png

I am hashing at 4.2 Mh/s approximatly but my pool account, indicate me a very low hashrate (arround 250 Kh/s):

http://img11.hostingpics.net/pics/915375Snap20140330at155237.png

And here all the stats:

http://img11.hostingpics.net/pics/754823Snap20140330at155434.png

I tried different share diff (512, 64) but nothing changed.

Do anyone knows what's going on here ?

Thanks guys ! 

[jamieb81]

I'm familiar with virtual com ports and all that from phone flashing.

I was able to get it working on a custom clean installed Windows 8.1 64 bit computer.  I used the WinUSB and a copy of CGminer.  I could NOT get this thing to work on Usb 3 and on any laptop I had.   

Now I can only get two on, the rest are not detected.   Does BAMT with a modified cgminer work for this asic

For me it didn't work connected directly to an USB 3 port but worked on a USB 2 hub connected to a USB 3 port. Not sure what would be an issue with a laptop.

BAMT is a bit of an overkill for this, since it has all that AMD crud installed. But yes, you can compile a modified cgminer version on it and it would work. I don't know if it would help with USB 3 though.

I think it's still a minority that cannot make the Gridseed's work, there has been hundreds of thousands sold, and you see very few people with problems. As for USB3 we all know they only work well on UB2 port and hub

[suchmoon]

Do anyone knows what's going on here ?

Thanks guys ! 

As was explained in the other thread, 1000 MHz is too optimistic. Start at 800-850, and for most Gridseds frequencies higher than 850 rarely produce higher hashrates.