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

[lajz99]

Just an FYI for those of you using a Rasp Pi...I've had 6 running on a Pi using HASHRA for over a week now with 0 restarts and 0 down time.  Use HASHRA.

[usao]

Just an FYI for those of you using a Rasp Pi...I've had 6 running on a Pi using HASHRA for over a week now with 0 restarts and 0 down time.  Use HASHRA.

Yea, my HASHRA image works great, but does restart periodically. I just look at the web page and it shows how long it's been running, and I see the number reset periodically.
Running 10 GSDs each on 2 PIs.
Even with the restart, I don't see any gaps in the charts at the pool, so the restart is very quick.

[CartmanSPC]

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

I've had my gridseeds for two weeks now. the first week I was running 20 off a Pi Rasberry with cpuminer and they'd run great for about 8 to 10 hours then they'd just slow down and my pool stats would start off showing them as running at about 7,200 Kh/s and then they'd start to slow down to abut 3,500 Khs and I'd reboot the Pi and they'd run fine again.

I got tired of this after about 5 days so last saturday I put Ubuntu server 13.04 on an old PC I had laying around and downloaded and compiled cgminer for gridseed and for about about 100 hours now and they've been perfect - non stop.

I had the same experience on the Pi with 20 Gridseeds using cgminer. I ended up returning it to the store. Fortunately they gave me a complete refund

[CartmanSPC]

Ya i also tried to get ubunto 13.1 running but i get compiling errors and then the system don't fully work. i be trying it again today. i  would even pay .1 btc for a good guide for a fresh install. the one i found in the other main gridseed discussion thread worked ok until i had compiling errors and did not know what to do.

Install Ubuntu Server 12.04.4 LTS: ubuntu-12.04.4-server-amd64.iso

Update Ubuntu and install git

Code:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade
sudo apt-get install git

Install dependencies, compile then run dtbartle cgminer

Code:

cd ~
sudo apt-get install build-essential autoconf automake pkg-config libtool libcurl4-openssl-dev libncurses5-dev libudev-dev
sudo git clone git://github.com/dtbartle/cgminer-gc3355.git
cd cgminer-gc3355
sudo CFLAGS="-O2 -Wall" ./configure --enable-scrypt --enable-gridseed
sudo make

sudo ./cgminer --scrypt -o stratum+tcp://xpool.net:8820 -u x -p x --gridseed-options=baud=115200,freq=850,chips=5 --hotplug 0

That is all! Seems so simple but it took a lot of effort to get here.


Useful options

Code:

sudo apt-get install openssh-server	#if not installed during setup
sudo apt-get install screen             #to run cgminer in the background

[wolfey2014]

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

I've had my gridseeds for two weeks now. the first week I was running 20 off a Pi Rasberry with cpuminer and they'd run great for about 8 to 10 hours then they'd just slow down and my pool stats would start off showing them as running at about 7,200 Kh/s and then they'd start to slow down to abut 3,500 Khs and I'd reboot the Pi and they'd run fine again.

I got tired of this after about 5 days so last saturday I put Ubuntu server 13.04 on an old PC I had laying around and downloaded and compiled cgminer for gridseed and for about about 100 hours now and they've been perfect - non stop.

Wow! That's great! Please keep us informed on your system setup stability. I'd be very interested in learning how you set that all up and duplicate your successful conf-rig-uration

[wolfey2014]

Just an FYI for those of you using a Rasp Pi...I've had 6 running on a Pi using HASHRA for over a week now with 0 restarts and 0 down time.  Use HASHRA.

Yea, my HASHRA image works great, but does restart periodically. I just look at the web page and it shows how long it's been running, and I see the number reset periodically.
Running 10 GSDs each on 2 PIs.
Even with the restart, I don't see any gaps in the charts at the pool, so the restart is very quick.

I should have a couple Green Pi's coming soon. I gonna learn this shit....easy!

[rob1313]

Ya i also tried to get ubunto 13.1 running but i get compiling errors and then the system don't fully work. i be trying it again today. i  would even pay .1 btc for a good guide for a fresh install. the one i found in the other main gridseed discussion thread worked ok until i had compiling errors and did not know what to do.

Install Ubuntu Server 12.04.4 LTS: ubuntu-12.04.4-server-amd64.iso

Update Ubuntu and install git

Code:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade
sudo apt-get install git

Install dependencies, compile then run dtbartle cgminer

Code:

cd ~
sudo apt-get install build-essential autoconf automake pkg-config libtool libcurl4-openssl-dev libncurses5-dev libudev-dev
sudo git clone git://github.com/dtbartle/cgminer-gc3355.git
cd cgminer-gc3355
sudo CFLAGS="-O2 -Wall" ./configure --enable-scrypt --enable-gridseed
sudo make

sudo ./cgminer --scrypt -o stratum+tcp://xpool.net:8820 -u x -p x --gridseed-options=baud=115200,freq=850,chips=5 --hotplug 0

That is all! Seems so simple but it took a lot of effort to get here.


Useful options

Code:

sudo apt-get install openssh-server	#if not installed during setup
sudo apt-get install screen             #to run cgminer in the background

That made it nice and easy to get running thanks. on ubunto 13.1.0 it worked.
BTC sent.

[rob1313]

A link on how to use

""Useful options
Code:
sudo apt-get install openssh-server   #if not installed during setup
sudo apt-get install screen             #to run cgminer in the background
""


The option of ssh to check on miners? a link at least i had no luck.

It tried to do it via remote desktop with a vnc viewer and it would load the desktop but when i click on any thing it woudl not show the windows that were open on the remote machine. and i tried x11vnc instead and that would only show a gray window.

[CartmanSPC]

The option of ssh to check on miners? a link at least i had no luck.

This was posted by someone else...edited for clarity:

How to use screen:

screen -S ScreenName        #starts a new screen session

"ScreenName" can be anything, it's just a name that you can use later to get back to it. This will give you a new shell. Start cgminer there.
Ctrl-A, then Ctrl-D will exit the new shell and will keep cgminer running.

You can now disconnect/exit SSH etc.
To get back to your cgminer:
screen -r ScreenName

To verify that it's indeed running in the background use this:
ps auxwww | grep cgminer

I have noticed that after you exit cgminer the screen session occasionally does not display new commands. I usually just exit and start a new screen session.

[wasubii]

Never use psu (adapter) from China .. blown a few already.. use PC's psu.

Not sure what's the startup amp .. but your psu is 12v 10a? it can only support max 2 GS in dual mine mode.

Anyone know of a source for the ATX PCIe (and molex) to barrel plug adapters?
Seems CabelZ is no longer making them...

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=523101.msg6009254#msg6009254

[favelle75]

My first order of Gridseeds a while back from ZoomHash came with a Pi controller box. I never used it because I have set all my miners on an older Windows netbook. Anyways, I wanted to fool around with the Pi (ha!) and I can't get ANY video display. HDMI, DVI to HDMI, composite....nothing. Pi turns on (single red light).....but absolutely zero display. 

Any ideas?

[maxzilla]

My first order of Gridseeds a while back from ZoomHash came with a Pi controller box. I never used it because I have set all my miners on an older Windows netbook. Anyways, I wanted to fool around with the Pi (ha!) and I can't get ANY video display. HDMI, DVI to HDMI, composite....nothing. Pi turns on (single red light).....but absolutely zero display. 

Any ideas?

SDCard is corrupt or not inserted

[WTParker2]

My first order of Gridseeds a while back from ZoomHash came with a Pi controller box. I never used it because I have set all my miners on an older Windows netbook. Anyways, I wanted to fool around with the Pi (ha!) and I can't get ANY video display. HDMI, DVI to HDMI, composite....nothing. Pi turns on (single red light).....but absolutely zero display. 

Any ideas?

Zoomhash as already addressed this in their threads and on their website.
Contact them for the new SD image and there is an instruction sheet on how to fix it.
You will need a Windows computer with an SD card reader.

[favelle75]

My first order of Gridseeds a while back from ZoomHash came with a Pi controller box. I never used it because I have set all my miners on an older Windows netbook. Anyways, I wanted to fool around with the Pi (ha!) and I can't get ANY video display. HDMI, DVI to HDMI, composite....nothing. Pi turns on (single red light).....but absolutely zero display. 

Any ideas?

SDCard is corrupt or not inserted

Thanks Maxzilla, I will try another one!

[favelle75]

My first order of Gridseeds a while back from ZoomHash came with a Pi controller box. I never used it because I have set all my miners on an older Windows netbook. Anyways, I wanted to fool around with the Pi (ha!) and I can't get ANY video display. HDMI, DVI to HDMI, composite....nothing. Pi turns on (single red light).....but absolutely zero display. 

Any ideas?

Zoomhash as already addressed this in their threads and on their website.
Contact them for the new SD image and there is an instruction sheet on how to fix it.
You will need a Windows computer with an SD card reader.

Sweet, I'll do that right now. I have a few spare 16GB SD cards so I'll just start with a brand new one.  :-)

[sandor111]

The new LightningAsic controller firmware is released, please see: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=554542.0

[favelle75]

Thanks WTParker2 and Maxzilla, reformatted the SD card, put the new IMG on it and it worked like a hot cake! 

[twittmann]

A simple method to overclock Gridseeds upto 1050 MHz: Thermal Paste!
Check out my Blog entry on that topic:
http://gridseed-blog.com/gridseed-overclocking-1000-mhz-without-voltmod/

[jamieb81]

A simple method to overclock Gridseeds upto 1050 MHz: Thermal Paste!
Check out my Blog entry on that topic:
http://gridseed-blog.com/gridseed-overclocking-1000-mhz-without-voltmod/

you should really make some pictures.

Also you should mentions to keep or not keep the "blue" stock thermal pad or not etc..

Most people here want to see "pictures or it did not happen" hehe

thanks anyway

[suchmoon]

A simple method to overclock Gridseeds upto 1050 MHz: Thermal Paste!
Check out my Blog entry on that topic:
http://gridseed-blog.com/gridseed-overclocking-1000-mhz-without-voltmod/

you should really make some pictures.

Also you should mentions to keep or not keep the "blue" stock thermal pad or not etc..

Most people here want to see "pictures or it did not happen" hehe

thanks anyway

No pictures needed. It's been proven long ago that these chips are not thermally challenged at all. I had one running without heatsink at 850 and then overvolted at 950. But you can't push past 850-900 just by smearing some paste on it, it needs the voltage mod.