ZTEX USB-FPGA Modules 1.15x and 1.15y: 215 MH/s and 860 MH/s FPGA BoardZTEX USB-FPGA Modules 1.15x and 1.15y are a FPGA Board which are designed for bitcoin mining and similar applications. They have an USB interface and on-board voltage regulators. Low cost clusters can be build using standard components (USB hubs, USB cables).
USB-FPGA Modules 1.15x have a single Xilinx XC6SLX150 FPGA and USB-FPGA Modules 1.15y contain four FPGA's of the same type.
On both boards the FPGA variant in CSG484 package with small thermal conductivity (2.2 K/W) is used. For comparison, the FGG484 package used on most other FPGA board is 3.7 K/W.
Detailed descriptions can be found on the homepage of
USB-FPGA Modules 1.15x and
USB-FPGA Modules 1.15y With the current version of the BTCMiner -- the Open Source Bitcoin Miner for FPGA Boards -- these FPGA Boards achieve an average hashrate of about 215 MH/s per FPGA. The actual hash rate varies from batch to batch and from board to board. The following table contains performance measurements from the particular batches
| FPGA Board | Delivery date | Speed grade | Frequncies | Average hash rate per FPGA | Notes |
| 1.15x | 2011 | -3C | 212 MHz to 220 MHz | 215MH/s | Estimation based on measurements with older Bitstreams |
| 1.15x | 01/2012 | -N3C | 200 MHz to 212 MHz | 205MH/s | Estimation based on measurements with older Bitstreams |
| 1.15x | 02-03/2012 | -N3C | 208 MHz to 224 MHz (!) | 214MH/s | Long time measurement with 20 FPGA boards |
| 1.15x | 03-06/2012 | -N3C | 208 MHz to 220 MHz | 214MH/s | Long time measurement with 15 FPGA boards |
| 1.15y | 04-05/2012 | -N3C | 196 MHz to 240 MHz (!!) | 212MH/s | Long time measurement with 6 FPGA boards (24 FPGA's), batch contains FPGA from many different lots |
| 1.15y | 05-06/2012 | -N3C | 212 MHz to 240 MHz (!!) | 221MH/s | Long time measurement with 3 FPGA boards (12 FPGA's) |
| 1.15y | 06-07/2012 | -N3C | 216 MHz to 240 MHz (!!) | 227MH/s | Long time measurement with 8 FPGA boards (32 FPGA's) |
| 1.15y | 08/2012 | -N3C | 208 MHz to 228 MHz | 218MH/s | Long time measurement with 10 FPGA boards (40 FPGA's) |
| 1.15x | 08-11/2012 | -N3C | 220 MHz to 228 MHz | 222MH/s | Long time measurement with 5 FPGA boards |
| 1.15y | 09/2012 | -N3C | 212 MHz to 228 MHz | 221MH/s | Long time measurement with 7 FPGA boards (28 FPGA's) |
| 1.15y | 09-10/2012 | -N3C | 216 MHz to 232 MHz | 222MH/s | Rev. 2 boards, long time measurement with 5 FPGA boards (20 FPGA's) |
| 1.15y | 10/2012-03/2013 | -N3C | 216 MHz to 236 MHz | 227MH/s | Rev. 2 boards, long time measurement with 5 FPGA boards (20 FPGA's) |
| 1.15x | 12/2012-03/2013 | -3C | 224 MHz to 232 MHz | 227MH/s | Long time measurement with 3 FPGA boards |
| 1.15y | 04/2013 | -N3C | 220 MHz to 232 MHz | 224MH/s | Rev. 2 boards, long time measurement with 5 FPGA boards (20 FPGA's) |
If the hash rate is less than stated above the cooling / heat sink installation should be revised.
Power dissipation (without the fan) at 216MHz is typically 9.7W per FPGA. More details can be found on the
BTCMiner homepage.
OrderingSample quantities of USB-FPGA Modules 1.15y can be ordered in the
Shop. Further order details can be found on the
order info page for USB-FPGA Modules 1.15y and
USB-FPGA Modules 1.15xA license production program is offered for USB-FPGA Modules 1.15y. Details can be found on
Order info page.
Suggestions for power supplySuggestions for cluster power supplies can be found on the
ZTEX WikiCoolingUSB-FPGA-Modules 1.15x and 1.15y are delivered with a large 40x40x35mm heat sinks with fan which make cooling easy. In order to ensure optimal heat transfer between the FPGA and the heat sink thermal grease and the push pins should be used (i.e. not the adhesive pad which is included in the cooler kit).
Due to its size the heat sink only requires a little bit airflow. In a cluster installation the 40mm fans of the heat sink can be replaced by a few large case fans. In this case the board should be densely stacked in order to optimize the airflow. (The air should be forced to flow through the heat sinks, not above or around them.)
Images
USB-FPGA Module 1.15y with coolers.
USB-FPGA Module 1.15x with cooler.
Page historyUPDATE Nov 03 2011: section "Suggestions for power supply" added
UPDATE Dec 02 2011: USD prices updated
UPDATE Dec 14 2011: Prices updated, new BTCMiner version with improved performance.
UPDATE Feb 09 2012:
UPDATE Feb 21 2012: Performance data for the new batch added
UPDATE Apr 24 2012:
USB-FPGA Modules 1.15y added
UPDATE Jun 08 2012: Performance data of the last batch and BTC / MTGox USD code payment methods added.
UPDATE Jun 15 2012: USD prices updated
UPDATE Jul 05 2012: Performance data of the last batch added. Typical hash rate updated to 215 MHs per XC6SLX150.
UPDATE Jul 16 2012: USD prices updated
UPDATE Aug 09 2012: Performance data of the last batch added.
UPDATE Aug 27 2012: Performance data of the last USB-FPGA Module 1.15x batch added, price for this FPGA board updated
UPDATE Sep 07 2012: Performance data of the last USB-FPGA Module 1.15y batch added
UPDATE Oct 17 2012:
UPDATE Nov 26 2012: Prices updated
UPDATE Dec 18 2012: Performance data of the last USB-FPGA Module 1.15x batch added
UPDATE Apr 22 2013: Performance data and order information updated
UPDATE Jun 18 2013: Order information updated
