GekkoScience NewPac / Terminus R606 (BM1387) Official Support Thread

[sidehack]

The title says NewPac, but everything below it references 2Pacs and BM1384 ASICs and all the performance data is 2Pac info.

Check the first post of this thread for NewPac-specific data.

[1714771962]

1714771962

[mstrozier]

Also if you are looking for detailed Raspberry Pi instructions I have a set on this page of this thread https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5053833.msg50968875#msg50968875.

I may do a video at some point.  Since the Raspberry Pi 4 has now been released, I'm curious if the newer enhancements resolved some of the issues some of us ran into when running R606's on them.    Also I haven't updated those instructions yet, but if you wanted to run both newpac and R606 on the Pi, the Future Technology Devices International that you will see in my instructions for the newpacs are the same for the R606.  The only difference is when you do the lsusb command, the newpacs will always be on Bus 1 the R606 for me have been on Bus 4.  So for the --usb in the actual script you would then add the R606's as 4:1. 4:2 (or whatever the device # is for them)  etc.  And if running together then add --gekko-r606-freq 550  (or whatever freq you are running at).

** Edit**

The raspberry pi instructions has now been updated.   And of course today since I haven't tested the 3 b+ since the last few updates from vh, decided to try today.  And potential record a vid on it to help others.  And this happens:

Code:

mstrozier@raspberrypi:~ $ lsusb
Bus 001 Device 006: ID 0403:6015 Future Technology Devices International, Ltd Bridge(I2C/SPI/UART/FIFO)
Bus 001 Device 013: ID 0403:6015 Future Technology Devices International, Ltd Bridge(I2C/SPI/UART/FIFO)
Bus 001 Device 012: ID 0403:6015 Future Technology Devices International, Ltd Bridge(I2C/SPI/UART/FIFO)
Bus 001 Device 011: ID 10c4:ea60 Cygnal Integrated Products, Inc. CP210x UART Bridge / myAVR mySmartUSB light
Bus 001 Device 010: ID 0403:6015 Future Technology Devices International, Ltd Bridge(I2C/SPI/UART/FIFO)
Bus 001 Device 009: ID 0403:6015 Future Technology Devices International, Ltd Bridge(I2C/SPI/UART/FIFO)
Bus 001 Device 007: ID 10c4:ea60 Cygnal Integrated Products, Inc. CP210x UART Bridge / myAVR mySmartUSB light
Bus 001 Device 004: ID 1a40:0201 Terminus Technology Inc. FE 2.1 7-port Hub
Bus 001 Device 005: ID 0403:6015 Future Technology Devices International, Ltd Bridge(I2C/SPI/UART/FIFO)
Bus 001 Device 008: ID 0424:7800 Standard Microsystems Corp. 
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0424:2514 Standard Microsystems Corp. USB 2.0 Hub
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 0424:2514 Standard Microsystems Corp. USB 2.0 Hub
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
mstrozier@raspberrypi:~ $ 

The pi has to prove me wrong about the Bus #'s    So if this happens, basically good luck figuring out which is newpac and which is the r606 lol.  Will have to test them one at a time with a script to determine what's what.


Ok, retested the Raspberry Pi 3 b+ with all latest software and updates on the Pi.   It runs stable, not locking up as I ran into before.  However the r606's just will not run at 700+ Mhz on the pi.  Maybe the new Pi 4 but at least on the 3 b+ and prior models I don't see it happening.

I have a screen shot here: https://ibb.co/wdHtTbq

I had them set to 725Mhz and it detuned down to 588Mhz running stable.  Hashing an average of 745Gh/s per unit.  Which is not bad and if you are going to run these at near stock freq / speeds then the Pi would be ideal.  However from my experience if you are wanting to take full advantage of overclocking and running at higher speeds then putting this on a dedicated Linux box will be far better.  Or another small board computer but with a better processor and at least DDR 3 or better memory, 2GB or better.  My pi unit only has 1gb of ram and is DDR 2 memory.

And the newpacs, run perfectly on the pi.  They achieved their overclock of 425 and hold stable.

[ZimbaCardi]

Also if you are looking for detailed Raspberry Pi instructions I have a set on this page of this thread  https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5053833.msg50968875#msg50968875

Worked like a charm on a new Pi3 I got for Father's day, gave merit to mstrozier and my thank you from a very happy "4 Newpack solo lotto" miner.

[hersh9]

Thanks for the update! I did buy a Pi 3 to use as a controller -guess I'll just let it sit on the shelf. As a n00b, I have found that the controller is the most difficult (important) part of my R606 journey.

I tried a new windows 10 laptop and an old windows 7 laptop and could not get the R606 up to speed. Forget using my iMac -I failed misurably trying to make that happen. Thankfully, I had two other laptops, one with windows 7 and the other with windows 10 -I spent several hours tweaking both for mining. (killing the bloat on the 10 was a must to get it going) Now, I have my 2 R606 both averaging 900+ GH/s at 700 Mhz (ish) on 2 seperate controllers!

Lastly, the freakout the other day about data -yes, true story, I used over 1,000 GB of data in a few days -I still have no clue how that is even possible. I discovered it was the new windows 10 machine I originnaly purchased as a controller -I wiped it clean and now it sits collecting dust.

Thanks for the great R606's and all the info here! Now I'm looking forward to learning what I'm actually doing -still no clue, but it's fun!

https://ibb.co/xCPLRSL

[nuanicaj]

Sounds like the text UI library is not installed by default in Ubuntu 18.

Code:

sudo apt-get install libncurses5-dev

clone and build again afterwards.

I'll update the first post accordingly.

Linux update?

Yes, linux only.
Windows support has recently been discontinued upstream.   
I'll continue to post a link to the binary so long as it's still build-able.

Was using Raspian.

[ZimbaCardi]

7 Newpacks running fine @ freq. 200, 320-355 GH/s. Using Raspbian, Pi3 B+

Just added the other 3 thanks to outstanding customer service from GekkoScience and minefarmbuy, in the time it took me to figure out the Raspberry Pi they replaced the 3  "faulty" miners!

I had 4 running well @150 for a day and a bit, then went to freq 200 for another day, when the warrantied 3 Newpacks arrived I just added them and started all 7 straight at 200, no issues so far after a day+

Oh, I run 2 USB fans pointed at them and the Heatsink temps run from 36 to 40C; What temp should this run at?

This weekend I add the R-606 to the Rasp and see if I can have my ultimate "BTC Solo/Lotto" self sufficient machine!

Thanks again Sidehack

[Macca911]

For anyone who's interested, threw this NewPac rig together last night on a laptop cooling pad.

• 1 x Raspberry Pi 3b+
• 1 x 7-Port Hub with 60W Power Adapter
• 4 x NewPacs @ 318.75MHz  - Averaging a stable 71.80Gh/s each
• 4 x 'Extra Power' USB Splitters
• 1 x 2TB HDD

Solid little setup, not the most rock-solid active cooling solution, however the heat seems to be dispersed rather evenly.
Special Thanks to 419Mining for sorting out terrible USPS service.

Picture below:
https://i.ibb.co/HV2wpWN/thumbnail-image1.jpg

[419mining]

Very nice looking professional setup you have there!

[Gems41]

Hi there,

Does anyone know what the optimal thread-concurrency setting is for the Newpac and 2pac? and how to change the thread-concurrency setting on a Raspberry Pi running Raspien?

Cheers  

[shrimplomein]

Noob question:

If I solo mine my R606 to solo.ckpool.org, I generally get around 900Gh/s.

If I solo mine to my own bitcoind node (http://localhost:8332) I only get around 730 Gh/s.

Does anyone know why?  Is the code in cgminer that optimizes R606 only working when used with a pool or something?

[os2sam]

The pool is optimized for mining in code, server hardware and internet connection.  The default bitcoind is not.  Also the Bitcoin client doesn't support ASIC Boost where that pool does.

[shrimplomein]

Thanks os2sam. 

[sidehack]

ASICBoost is probably the biggest factor in that. It's basically impossible to push past 800GH on a single pod without it due to USB packet limitations.

[shrimplomein]

Regarding ASIC Boost, when I run cgminer, I always specify "lowboost" anyway (cause I use Windows), even when going through a pool, so are you positive that's the biggest factor?  I should probably test it with no-boost.

[philipma1957]

Solo mine it to solo.ckpool

[Gems41]

Hey guys,

So I keep getting HW errors on my Newpac, and every few hours cgminer reads: missing nonces, Toggling ASIC nRST to reset.

My Newpac then resets, however I've noticed this is effecting my hashrate.

This issue is exclusive to my Newpac, I'm running two 2pacs on the same usb hub and they are performing very well with no issues. (I've been running the  Newpac at 300MHz the last few days, and last night I  lowered it to 275MHz but its still producing HW errors.) (The 2Pacs are both running at 150MHz)

Can anyone help me out with this? I have no idea how to get rid of these HW errors.

Has anyone else had this issue with their Newpac?

Cheers

[gt_addict]

What revision of cgminer are you using? What hub are you using? What type of pc is it connected to? HW errors themselves arent a big issue, the missing nonces is an irritation when it affects hashrate though.

[Gems41]

CGminer version 4.11.1

USB Hub: ORICO 36W 10-Port Aluminium USB 3.0 Hub https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00KBT8KE8

Raspberry Pi (Raspien)

[sidehack]

And a fan? If you're running sticks that high you need a fan.

[Gems41]

And a fan? If you're running sticks that high you need a fan.

Yes I've got the Arctic Breeze USB fan cooling all three Gekko's