GekkoScience NewPac / Terminus R606 (BM1387) Official Support Thread

[sidehack]

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=Basic Q&A / Troubleshooting=
===============

Q. How can I set a different frequency for the R606 vs NewPac vs 2Pac vs the Compac?

cgminer will accept a custom frequency per device type.
--gekko-r606-freq 600 --gekko-newpac-freq 200 --gekko-compac-freq 200 --gekko-2pac-freq 150

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[bluudz]

Should I just start it with 500 freq? Will it not burn?

[sidehack]

=================
=Expected Performance=
=================
The expected performance of the NewPac is about 0.228 * MHz = GH.  
At the default frequency of 100MHz, the NewPac runs at 22.8 GH.

Rough power usage and efficiency of a NewPac:


...

=================
=Cooling=
=================
If you run a stick miner, use a cooling fan.  
 
Increased cooling can reduce the chip's overall power usage.

Non cooled sticks are subject to thermal runaway where heat will trigger increased amperage draw increasing heat in a cycle until the unit fails.

[bluudz]

The miner seem to be acting a bit weird. It is mining fine for a while and then it restart itself, WU gets lower and the hashrate drops also. I have it on default clocks 100Mhz on Linux Mint connected directly to laptop now. Any suggestions why is this happening? Is there any setting to make it more stable?

[mstrozier]

The miner seem to be acting a bit weird. It is mining fine for a while and then it restart itself, WU gets lower and the hashrate drops also. I have it on default clocks 100Mhz on Linux Mint connected directly to laptop now. Any suggestions why is this happening? Is there any setting to make it more stable?

It is possibly a power issue.  Better to run them using a powered hub such as the Gekko Science 7 port hub.  Instead of directly plugged into laptop/desktop/SBC  etc.

[WilcoWi]

@Sidehack
i notice newpacks are sold out everywhere, i this a vacation pause?

[minefarmbuy]

Should be another week out I think. We're hoping to have more orders to send their way and still have handful on hand.

[sidehack]

No, production's at record numbers. Mostly we've been working on whittling down a large pre-paid order but some sellers have been getting chunks off the small queue so not everyone is sold out. Technically. Sorta.

Shortly after that big order was paid for, I got stock requests from every other reseller on Earth in the span of 48 hours so here directly the floodgates will be wide open.

[minefarmbuy]

Sounds good, let us know what timing to expect and I'l have the listings updated asap.

[gt_addict]

I’m eager to get my hands on one soon. Been holding out until i sold off my old pc and now ive got money waiting. Cant wait to get it sitting next to my 6xnewpacs and gekko copperplate usb hub.

[bluudz]

So my NewPac seem to be working fine with active fan cooling it. Its running smooth on 200 Mhz. Do I need to worry about anything if I want to increase the clocks even more? Or should I just start increasing gradually and see whether its stable?

[gt_addict]

So my NewPac seem to be working fine with active fan cooling it. Its running smooth on 200 Mhz. Do I need to worry about anything if I want to increase the clocks even more? Or should I just start increasing gradually and see whether its stable?

If you have still got it plugged directly into your laptop usb port then I would stop there. These sticks really do need a powered usb hub to run at higher speeds.

[bluudz]

At the moment I'm connected to the powered docker station before I bring my powered hubs. Not sure how exactly the docker works or what its power tho.
Its model Dell D3100.

https://www.laptopmag.com/reviews/accessories/dell-d3100-docking-station

I have there only one miner for the moment, so was hoping the power would be enough.

[evade_57]

Get a Gekkoscience hub and a good power supply to be future proof
I'm using four of them to run 18 Newpacs and two 2-Pacs 24/7 on one Pi3b+
My Newpac's are very comfortable at 250Mhz and 2 USB fans per hub
Hashing at the same rate as an Antminer S5 at 1/4 the power use  

[sidehack]

Dear people emailing me (the designer and manufacturer) for customer support:

Don't.

Seriously, don't.

I have my customers, that I support as best I can. There are about 7 of them, total, doing business right now all over the world. You would know if you were one of them. Everyone else is a customer of one of them. If you need help, talk to them first. The reseller got your money, not me. The reseller got a pretty decent amount of money, quite possibly more than I got. The reseller owes you customer service and will provide this customer service or risk losing access to my products in the future. That's the deal I make with resellers - they get the profits that I could keep for myself, and in trade I get to not hold strangers' hands all day so I can design and build cool stuff instead.

If you contact me for help, the first thing I will do is direct you to this thread, and to the reseller from whom you bought the product.

If for some reason the seller is not communicating or not helping you, you need to lead with this information. You also need to tell me who the seller is so I can have a chat with him about why he's not holding up his end of the bargain.

If the seller is not providing service, then I will help you. Otherwise I'll direct you to this thread, and to the reseller from whom you bought the product.

Maybe in the future I'll have a full-time sales rep and customer service agent. But for now, you instead get a competent fleet of resellers. Work with them, because it's specifically their job to work with you.

This PSA is brought to you by the two randos emailing me in the last six hours requesting help. Thank you, and have a nice day.

[minefarmbuy]

We'll I certainly would be embarrassed if any of our buyers didn't reachout to us first. Or even DM me here.

I think we have five methods for service contact and average of 12 hour response, please use them as needed. I'm very happy to expedite any sort of recovery needs if our own service isn't satisfactory as well. Also next week sometime I'll be featuring our original demo of the R606 on our twitch stream. woot.

[os2sam]

I just received my Pi 4 today and it didn't come with an SD card.  Can I use the SD card from my Pi 3 B+?

I tried it but it wouldn't boot.
Thanks,
Sam

[BitMaxz]

I just received my Pi 4 today and it didn't come with an SD card.  Can I use the SD card from my Pi 3 B+?

I tried it but it wouldn't boot.
Thanks,
Sam

What kernel version of the raspbian did you install in your SD card(Pi 3b+)?

According to this "moving SD card between different Raspberry Pi models" it should work but since raspberry pi 4 is newest Pi you should use the latest kernel version to make it work(Driver compatibility issue).

So I think you need to update the kernel version first from your rasp PI 3b+ before you move the SD card to your Pi 4.

[philipma1957]

I just received my Pi 4 today and it didn't come with an SD card.  Can I use the SD card from my Pi 3 B+?

I tried it but it wouldn't boot.
Thanks,
Sam

My rasp pi 2
Rasp pi 3
Rasp pi 3+

Each one needs a different image

[os2sam]

What kernel version of the raspbian did you install in your SD card(Pi 3b+)?

How do you check the kernel version?

So I think you need to update the kernel version first from your rasp PI 3b+ before you move the SD card to your Pi 4.

Are these the commands to update the kernel?

Code:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade -y

If so I tried that and it still wouldn't boot the Pi 4.

My rasp pi 2
Rasp pi 3
Rasp pi 3+

Each one needs a different image

If I don't have any luck I'll get a new card and download a fresh image and give that a whirl.