GridSeed 5-chip USB miner voltage mod

[Cablez]

As wolfey just found my imgur repository, there it is:
Thats the mod we are using.


Yep, that is where all the magic happens.
Be sure to use a 1% tolerance, to get the best results.
And please use SMD ones

Can this be done over the previous mods or does the devcie need to be set back to 'default' before starting?

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[jamieb81]

I think this has been stated before.

You need to cancel previous mods

[simon66]

i measured 1kOhm for it. Can someony verify this please?

Thanks nemercry!

Also, which resistor would you recommend? I'm going to buy a few 56k %1 resistors, unless you state otherwise.

[wolfey2014]

u

As we are currently doing a clearance sale(care this is advertising), we will make our version of the mod public domain.

Is your mod any different from the one in the first post?

Here is the mod I believe to be the simplest of them all thus far.
I found this after a bit of investigation and I have also just confirmed that it's the mod that nemercry has been talking about, testing and providing pics of for days.
I have not tried this mod yet but I intend to do so asap.

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*********************************************************
A regular 1/8W to 1/4W 1% to 5% axial resistor will work too. Try to shoot for 1% tolerance though.
And as usual, try it at your own risk and expense.
If you'd like me to make the mod for you, let me know via PM. I am located in the EUS.

And there you go wolfey.
Yep that is actually the mod how we are doing it.

That's the way you do it, nemecry. Now look what's happened....
Still plenty of money, if not more than before, to be made, now.
Economy grows, miners prosper, Crypto Mining industry prospers!
Lots growth for the entire crypto ecosystem, IMHO.
You dah man!

[wolfey2014]

47kOhm 1% gives you stable 1100mhz to 1150mhz range 21,5 W Powerdraw including PSU
52kOhm 1% gives you stable 1200mhz 31W including PSU
56kOhm 1% gives you stable 1250mhz 44W including PSU

86kOhm 1% draw way to much and did turn off the device instantly (onboard powersupply is not rated for > 60W) we assumed it to take around 80W.
If you are funny you can try to use an 64kOhms resistor and you will probably get the highest possible frequency of 1300mhz.

At 56kOhm that would give a hash rate of around ~530Kh/s.

Also, 2 weeks ago while modding one of my gridseeds, I got real lazy and removed a SMD component from the device (By mistake). The damn resistor is soo small. Either way, I got it back together but it seems to have a solder bridge underneath it. Its been running fine since (I'm scared if I touch it more, I'll lose the SMD component)
Does any one knows the value of that resistor? Also, can I leave the solder bridge?
Here is a pic:



Thanks!

R330 is 1K ohm
Solder bridge will simply defeat (short) it out but if you're not getting negative results...like they say, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it!"

One other thing.
In my opinion, there is absolutely no difference other than the size and consequent ease of installation, than an SMD chip. A standard axial 1/8W or up to 1/4W 1% resistor will work just fine. It will still fit and solder easily to the existing pads if you are good at solering. 5% may allow too much drift, possibly defeating the purpose of the mod. So beware!

[RowanX]

Guys would this switch work ok for the fan?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/SODIAL-250V-SPST-Rocker-Switch/dp/B00F4MG7HY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1396395230&sr=8-2&keywords=switch+on+off

i.e. so I can turn the noisy b*stard fan on & off at will. Thanks in advance..

[pandaisftw]

What is the heat like with the 47kohm SMD resistor? Does double the power = double the heat?

[DPoS]

which mod are you still running them without fans?

perhaps make the mod and run them 850/875 clock during the summer and then run them 1100 in a cold garage during the winter?

of course alternative cooling is another option to cool 10 or 20 with less watts than a fan on each as well but then making up the price for said alternative cooling would smack ROI (cool designing it though)

[Ferris419]

Wow I just ordered 3 gridseeds and stumbled upon this thread I hope I can find someone near me who can mod them for me :-D

[amix]

As we are currently doing a clearance sale(care this is advertising), we will make our version of the mod public domain.

Is your mod any different from the one in the first post?

Here is the mod I believe to be the simplest of them all thus far.
I found this after a bit of investigation and I have also just confirmed that it's the mod that nemercry has been talking about, testing and providing pics of for days.
I have not tried this mod yet but I intend to do so asap.

*********************************************************

*********************************************************
A regular 1/8W to 1/4W 1% to 5% axial resistor will work too. Try to shoot for 1% tolerance though.
And as usual, try it at your own risk and expense.
If you'd like me to make the mod for you, let me know via PM. I am located in the EUS.

And there you go wolfey.
Yep that is actually the mod how we are doing it.

you mean the one i said WAY back. swap outy the reizsitor that corresponds to vid0 and vid1 being open. im still wainting on parts otherwise id have donw weeks ago.

[ZiG]

What is the heat like with the 47kohm SMD resistor? Does double the power = double the heat?

Speaking of HEAT...

I would like to address maybe a little overlooked so far details of the "overclocking quest":

THERMALS and COOLING...!

As a veteran "overclocker" (since the "glory" times of AMD/Intel 486-33 to 50/66 and Celerons) I believe that the proper cooling is very critical for successful overclocking. Looking at the current Gridseed cooling using so called "thermo pads" - full on the bottom, central for Gridseed chips only on the top, I was just wondering how a "quick and dirty" design decision this could be ?... Because it is BAD...so bad that fully deserve the term "afroChinese engineering"...

Why...because there are so MANY air pockets between the chips (and other components to be cooled) and the Heatsink surfaces...mainly on the bottom...5 GOLDEN pads of the chips, with numerous vias, etc.. that there is NO WAY to make a full contact with the thermo pad first, and second - the heatsink on the other side...

Avalon/Gridseed saved time or money on a very simple thing...THERMAL PASTE (grease)...!?!

So yesterday I reach for my tube of thermal paste(TP):

1. Apply a small drop of TP on each of the 5 "golden" pads on the back...spread evenly to cover all visible surface of the pad(s) and fill the small holes (vias)...don't make it thick...just thin as possible is good enough...I used the flat tip of the small screwdriver...
2. Apply a small "X" on the central metal surface of the bottom heatsink...and again spread in a very thin but even layer of TP towards the edge of the circular heatsink surface ...
3. Reassembly carefully back...center properly...tightening the metal studs just good enough...I used the force
of my fingers...DON'T FORCE - you could damage the main board with tiny electrical traces inside...
4. Same procedures apply for the top part of the chips and heatsink...

The final effect of this "mod' is ...Gridseed chips are running at LEAST 15-20 degrees C cooler...

I am following this tread very carefully and experimenting with different mods myself for the last week or so...notice that my test chips are running "burning" hot when over 1000+ MHz...I can not keep my finger for more than 1-2 sec...which is probably like 65-70 C...So I installed a cooper RAM heatsinks to prevent from burning without the top  heatsink during the tests...Still I could not keep my fingers any longer...

After the TP application they are just WARM to the touch...which probably about 45-50 C...

But the MAIN RESULT is - NO HARDWARE ERRORS for the last 24 hours run in the range of 1000-1025-1050MHz with 1.45-1.46V only for the Gridseeds...not even a single HW one...!

IMHO, I think that also could explain the "unstable" (I call them "slackers") chips in the same Gridseed device...performance differences, etc...

As usual...if you are not sure that you could follow these mods...don't do it...or do it at your own risk !

Many thanks for all the contributors of this tread ...and good luck !
  
ZiG


EDIT :

VERY IMPORTANT...!!!

The thermal paste HAS to be NON-CONDUCTIVE !!!...NO "Arctic Silver 5" or similar with metal (Aluminum) particles content...

ZiG

[jamieb81]

Very nice post,

next time make some pictures of the procedure so that the Noobs among us can also see the result in Image.

Like they say a picture is worth a thousand words

[ZiG]

Very nice post,

next time make some pictures of the procedure so that the Noobs among us can also see the result in Image.

Like they say a picture is worth a thousand words

Thank you, buddy...Hope it's helpful for the mining community here...

Sorry for no pics...but my camera is broken...Need a new...and better one...

[pandaisftw]

Very nice post,

next time make some pictures of the procedure so that the Noobs among us can also see the result in Image.

Like they say a picture is worth a thousand words

Thank you, buddy...Hope it's helpful for the mining community here...

Sorry for no pics...but my camera is broken...Need a new...and better one...

Very nice. I will do this first, before attempting any over-volting

[ZiG]

Very nice post,

next time make some pictures of the procedure so that the Noobs among us can also see the result in Image.

Like they say a picture is worth a thousand words

Thank you, buddy...Hope it's helpful for the mining community here...

Sorry for no pics...but my camera is broken...Need a new...and better one...

Very nice. I will do this first, before attempting any over-volting

Thanks, Panda...

I will do this first too...when my next 20 Gridseeds get delivered...

[amix]

What is the heat like with the 47kohm SMD resistor? Does double the power = double the heat?

Speaking of HEAT...

I would like to address maybe a little overlooked so far details of the "overclocking quest":

THERMALS and COOLING...!

As a veteran "overclocker" (since the "glory" times of AMD/Intel 486-33 to 50/66 and Celerons) I believe that the proper cooling is very critical for successful overclocking. Looking at the current Gridseed cooling using so called "thermo pads" - full on the bottom, central for Gridseed chips only on the top, I was just wondering how a "quick and dirty" design decision this could be ?... Because it is BAD...so bad that fully deserve the term "afroChinese engineering"...

Why...because there are so MANY air pockets between the chips (and other components to be cooled) and the Heatsink surfaces...mainly on the bottom...5 GOLDEN pads of the chips, with numerous vias, etc.. that there is NO WAY to make a full contact with the thermo pad first, and second - the heatsink on the other side...

Avalon/Gridseed saved time or money on a very simple thing...THERMAL PASTE (grease)...!?!

So yesterday I reach for my tube of thermal paste(TP):

1. Apply a small drop of TP on each of the 5 "golden" pads on the back...spread evenly to cover all visible surface of the pad(s) and fill the small holes (vias)...don't make it thick...just thin as possible is good enough...I used the flat tip of the small screwdriver...
2. Apply a small "X" on the central metal surface of the bottom heatsink...and again spread in a very thin but even layer of TP towards the edge of the circular heatsink surface ...
3. Reassembly carefully back...center properly...tightening the metal studs just good enough...I used the force
of my fingers...DON'T FORCE - you could damage the main board with tiny electrical traces inside...
4. Same procedures apply for the top part of the chips and heatsink...

The final effect of this "mod' is ...Gridseed chips are running at LEAST 15-20 degrees C cooler...

I am following this tread very carefully and experimenting with different mods myself for the last week or so...notice that my test chips are running "burning" hot when over 1000+ MHz...I can not keep my finger for more than 1-2 sec...which is probably like 65-70 C...So I installed a cooper RAM heatsinks to prevent from burning without the top  heatsink during the tests...Still I could not keep my fingers any longer...

After the TP application they are just WARM to the touch...which probably about 45-50 C...

But the MAIN RESULT is - NO HARDWARE ERRORS for the last 24 hours run in the range of 1000-1025-1050MHz with 1.45-1.46V only for the Gridseeds...not even a single HW one...!

IMHO, I think that also could explain the "unstable" (I call them "slackers") chips in the same Gridseed device...performance differences, etc...

As usual...if you are not sure that you could follow these mods...don't do it...or do it at your own risk !

Many thanks for all the contributors of this tread ...and good luck !
  
ZiG


EDIT :

VERY IMPORTANT...!!!

The thermal paste HAS to be NON-CONDUCTIVE !!!...NO "Arctic Silver 5" or similar with metal (Aluminum) particles content...

ZiG

First thing i do with ALL my miner grid and bitcoin is to apply thernal grease  onto the hearsink. With the grid i also applied thrrmal pads ob top of the grease . Same surface area as the orignal pads but better quality just to be safe so the heatsink didnt csuse a short anywhere. Some for the componets are awfully close to the heatsink fudnt want to risk a short. I noticed thst when i applied the thrrmal grease to the gridseed chips thrrmsl via there was solder sticking out of so e of the vias. So i also reheated each chip and applied firm finger pressure - use gloves the chips are still very warm - just to make sure the contact was good. Then plenty of grease. As it gets warm/hit itll follow into the yhetmal vias. Thermal frease artic mx4.  Dont forget to cleanthe surface area before hand to remove any girgein grease etc - srtic thrtmsl removal us good to use

[ZiG]

Some news popping up for you guys...

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=554551.new#new

[jamieb81]

Some news popping up for you guys...

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=554551.new#new

Seen it, but other than the size of it it's the same as buying single gridseeds.

So you might be better of when you buy some miners off Ebay for a better price for example

[Xer0]

has anyone measured power draw with latest mod,
R52 resistor = 47k, but only 950 Mhz clock?

much higher than 1,25V bridge-mod on 400 kH?

[nemercry]

Oh man that blogs.
Copy pasted nearly the whole thread ,without naming anyone who helped developing it.
http://cryptomining-blog.com/1839-another-new-voltmod-update-for-the-gridseed-5-chip-btcltc-asic-miners/#comment-759