[SUPPORT THREAD] BFx2 Bitfury USB stick miner

[goodney]

I performed the mods shown here... I added a fan and replaced R6 with a 1.2k resistor. I have 3 of them in a cheap powered USB hub. Here are my observations:

1. First of all, the fan makes a huge improvement in heat. Before it was not possible to really touch, now you can handle it easily. Of course they now physically take up 2 USB ports.
2. Running CGMiner, I played with the bits settings and bits=54 yielded the best result.
3. Running a single unit in the hub, I see a fairly solid 4.8-5Gh with spikes higher, but it degrades to 4-4.3 over time.
4. Running more units lowers the speeds into the 3-4.2's. I assume it's due to not enough power from the hub.

I'm not sure if I'm doing something wrong, but I'm disappointed I don't see the solid 5G performance with these mods. Maybe I should do the pencil mod also?

You might see better results with BFGMiner, so try that and report back.

Adding the fan is a huge help. Since you seem to be handy with soldering, do you have a DMM? How many volts are you getting across the decoupling capacitors near the BF chips when hashing?

[9feet]

I agree for bfgminer seems better hashrate ,it has reconnect issues though you have to restart if you got disconnected.

[Luke-Jr]

I agree for bfgminer seems better hashrate ,it has reconnect issues though you have to restart if you got disconnected.

Those should be fixed in git as of a few days ago...

[Phosphorous]

I have a few issues and follow-up information.

1. OK, I am new to BFGMiner but I downloaded the version from the link in the thread (windows 64). There is an error on startup that I don't think is relevant, I don't know what I am doing wrong, but it still seems to run OK:
ub_path():506: The parameter is incorrect.

startup line is:
bfgminer.exe -o http://stratum.btcguild.com:3333 -u (user) -p (pass) -S bfx:all --set bfx:osc6_bits=55

2. I measured voltage across the capacitors surrounding the BF chip. Is 0.82V reasonable?

3.
Here are the results after running 7+ hours with bits=54:
ST:8  F:0  NB:50  AS:0  BW:[  6/  0kB/s]  E:0.87  I:29.89uBTC/hr  BS:37.4k
3/6          | 13.42/13.31/12.89Gh/s | A:3944 R:42+0(1.4%) HW:118/.14%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
BFX 0:       |  4.65/ 4.65/ 4.52Gh/s | A:1412 R:14+0(1.2%) HW: 60/.21%
BFX 1:       |  4.14/ 4.14/ 4.05Gh/s | A:1230 R:14+0(1.5%) HW: 33/.13%
BFX 2:       |  4.52/ 4.51/ 4.32Gh/s | A:1304 R:14+0(1.4%) HW: 25/.09%

Here are the results after running about 20min with bits=55:
 ST:8  F:0  NB:5  AS:0  BW:[  4/  0kB/s]  E:1.47  I:33.62uBTC/hr  BS:7.15k
 3/6          | 14.32/14.18/13.70Gh/s | A:222 R:3+0(.99%) HW:87/1.9%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 BFX 0:       |  4.98/ 4.95/ 4.62Gh/s | A: 70 R:2+0(2.0%) HW:12/.76%
 BFX 1:       |  4.44/ 4.40/ 4.35Gh/s | A: 69 R:1+0(1.0%) HW: 9/.61%
 BFX 2:       |  4.86/ 4.82/ 4.72Gh/s | A: 83 R:0+0(none) HW:66/4.0%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bits=56 results in excessive errors.

[xingqiaoyin]

I agree for bfgminer seems better hashrate ,it has reconnect issues though you have to restart if you got disconnected.

Those should be fixed in git as of a few days ago...

Do you have a windows build for that  ? Thanks

[Luke-Jr]

I agree for bfgminer seems better hashrate ,it has reconnect issues though you have to restart if you got disconnected.

Those should be fixed in git as of a few days ago...

Do you have a windows build for that  ? Thanks

Latest git is at http://luke.dashjr.org/tmp/code/webisect/webisect.php?dobuild=bfgminer

[goodney]

I have a few issues and follow-up information.

1. OK, I am new to BFGMiner but I downloaded the version from the link in the thread (windows 64). There is an error on startup that I don't think is relevant, I don't know what I am doing wrong, but it still seems to run OK:
ub_path():506: The parameter is incorrect.

startup line is:
bfgminer.exe -o http://stratum.btcguild.com:3333 -u (user) -p (pass) -S bfx:all --set bfx:osc6_bits=55

Try downloading the newest git build from the link that Luke-Jr just posted.

2. I measured voltage across the capacitors surrounding the BF chip. Is 0.82V reasonable?

That's pretty good, but to get to 5GH/s it will probably need to go a *little* bit higher. Since you added a fan you have some more headroom. Try the pencil mod, or better yet since you changed R6, you can try a larger value for R6 (or smaller for R8, but it's better to leave R8 alone and increase R6). I'd aim for 0.85v for the next step.

[Phosphorous]

OK, I updated my BFGMiner and installed the 1.5k resistor, as well as a better USB hub. One unit always seems to be a little low. I'm nto sure if it might be a manufacturing variance for the unit or using multiple units in one hub.

I measured pretty consistently between 0.835 and 0.845V on those capacitors.

Running at bits=56 doesn't work. Running at bits=55 seems to be optimal.

Any comments on all of the frequency drops? This is after 1h45m.

Code:

Block: ...b692e82f #301262  Diff:8.85G (63.38Ph?)  Started: [11:50:19]
ST:9  F:0  NB:7  AS:0  BW:[  7/  0kB/s]  E:0.72  I:28.29uBTC/hr  BS:30.6k
3/6          | 14.60/14.62/14.27Gh/s | A:68 R:0+0(none) HW:448/2.1%
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BFX 0:       |  5.12/ 5.12/ 4.99Gh/s | A:18 R:0+0(none) HW:112/1.5%
BFX 1:       |  4.97/ 4.96/ 4.73Gh/s | A:25 R:0+0(none) HW:267/3.7%
BFX 2:       |  4.55/ 4.55/ 4.55Gh/s | A:25 R:0+0(none) HW: 69/1.0%
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[2014-05-17 11:07:13] Accepted 00eb6a14 BFX 0b Diff 278/255
[2014-05-17 11:07:26] Accepted 00790561 BFX 2b Diff 541/255
[2014-05-17 11:09:03] Accepted 0034f4f2 BFX 2a Diff 1.24k/255
[2014-05-17 11:09:14] Accepted 00547213 BFX 1b Diff 776/255
[2014-05-17 11:10:21] Accepted 00cebf0f BFX 2b Diff 316/255
[2014-05-17 11:11:51] Accepted 0020a3a7 BFX 2b Diff 2.01k/255
[2014-05-17 11:13:22] Accepted 006f76de BFX 1b Diff 587/255
[2014-05-17 11:14:14] Accepted 00b2750c BFX 2b Diff 367/255
[2014-05-17 11:14:15] Accepted 007964f7 BFX 2b Diff 539/255
[2014-05-17 11:17:29] Accepted 00176f3e BFX 2b Diff 2.8k/255
[2014-05-17 11:17:57] Accepted 00cc3b1e BFX 2b Diff 320/255
[2014-05-17 11:19:19] Stratum from pool 0 detected new block
[2014-05-17 11:19:39] BFX 1a: Frequency drop over 50% detected, reinitialising
[2014-05-17 11:19:39] BFX 1b: Frequency drop over 50% detected, reinitialising
[2014-05-17 11:20:12] BFX 1b: Frequency drop over 50% detected, reinitialising
[2014-05-17 11:20:13] Accepted 00a400ab BFX 1a Diff 399/255
[2014-05-17 11:21:09] Accepted 0087522c BFX 1a Diff 484/255
[2014-05-17 11:22:36] Accepted 0027f0ab BFX 2a Diff 1.64k/255
[2014-05-17 11:23:17] BFX 1b: 8 of the last 52 results were bad, reinitialisin

[2014-05-17 11:23:44] Accepted 00afb343 BFX 1b Diff 372/255
[2014-05-17 11:28:24] Accepted 00d301c5 BFX 0a Diff 310/255
[2014-05-17 11:31:10] Accepted 007ed086 BFX 1a Diff 516/255
[2014-05-17 11:32:10] Stratum from pool 0 detected new block
[2014-05-17 11:33:56] Accepted 000ba802 BFX 2a Diff 5.62k/255
[2014-05-17 11:37:03] BFX 2a: Frequency drop over 50% detected, reinitialising
[2014-05-17 11:37:14] BFX 0b: Frequency drop over 50% detected, reinitialising
[2014-05-17 11:39:52] Accepted 005b0e0d BFX 2b Diff 719/255
[2014-05-17 11:39:52] Accepted 00a12a5f BFX 1b Diff 406/255
[2014-05-17 11:40:33] Accepted 0098fdaf BFX 0a Diff 428/255
[2014-05-17 11:41:50] Accepted 00022362 BFX 1b Diff 30.6k/255
[2014-05-17 11:45:54] Accepted 00ead13d BFX 0b Diff 279/255
[2014-05-17 11:46:56] Accepted 001a845e BFX 2b Diff 2.47k/255
[2014-05-17 11:48:07] Accepted 004eb032 BFX 1a Diff 832/255
[2014-05-17 11:49:26] BFX 1b: Frequency drop over 50% detected, reinitialising
[2014-05-17 11:49:47] Accepted 006a618d BFX 2a Diff 616/255
[2014-05-17 11:50:19] Stratum from pool 0 detected new block
[2014-05-17 11:51:19] BFX 1b: Frequency drop over 50% detected, reinitialising
[2014-05-17 11:52:34] Accepted 00d24b9c BFX 0a Diff 311/255

[goodney]

OK, I updated my BFGMiner and installed the 1.5k resistor, as well as a better USB hub. One unit always seems to be a little low. I'm nto sure if it might be a manufacturing variance for the unit or using multiple units in one hub.

Manufacturing variance with the Bitfury chips.

Any comments on all of the frequency drops? This is after 1h45m.

That's normal for the BF chips. This is BFGMiner babysitting them for you.

[Phosphorous]

Thanks. Now the only problem I have is that I can't get it to work at the same time as my Antminer U2s. I know this isn't a Bitfury problem, seems to be a BFGminer problem.

[Buchi-88]

Good day,

I have a problem with one BFx2 Miner, one miner always lose the "red light" at one USB Port "14" and run very slow, is this a problem fro the USB port or to less power from the port?

The miner runs but without the "Vcore" light!???

Code:

 cgminer version 4.3.3 - Started: [2014-05-20 18:55:35]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (5s):45.00G (1m):40.35G (5m):17.29G (15m):6.745G (avg):42.54Gh/s
 A:1408  R:0  HW:37  WU:554.7/m
 Connected to mint.bitminter.com diff 32 with stratum as user 
 Block: 938f03c7...  Diff:8.85G  Started: [18:55:35]  Best share: 5.95K
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 [USB management [Pool management [Settings [Display options [Q]uit
  0: ANU 0       :                         | 1.895G / 1.950Gh/s WU:21.7/m
  1: ANU 1       :                         | 1.984G / 1.951Gh/s WU:22.1/m
  2: ANU 2       :                         | 1.982G / 1.954Gh/s WU:17.9/m
  3: ANU 3       :                         | 1.978G / 1.972Gh/s WU:21.7/m
  4: BXM 0       :                         | 3.227G / 3.129Gh/s WU:46.9/m
  5: BXM 1       :                         | 3.984G / 3.158Gh/s WU:54.6/m
  6: BXM 2       :                         | 3.528G / 3.393Gh/s WU:48.4/m
  7: BXM 3       :                         | 2.676G / 2.506Gh/s WU:36.2/m
  8: BXM 4       :                         | 2.559G / 2.323Gh/s WU:34.3/m
  9: BXM 5       :                         | 4.560G / 4.221Gh/s WU:62.6/m
 10: BXM 6       :                         | 2.817G / 3.362Gh/s WU:47.3/m
 [b]11: BXM 7       :                         | 1.736G / 1.635Gh/s WU:23.7/m[/b]
 12: ANU 4       :                         | 1.988G / 1.970Gh/s WU:21.7/m
 13: ANU 5       :                         | 1.956G / 1.920Gh/s WU:17.7/m
 14: ANU 6       :                         | 1.983G / 1.946Gh/s WU:17.7/m
 15: ANU 7       :                         | 1.892G / 1.937Gh/s WU:21.7/m
 16: ANU 8       :                         | 1.986G / 1.955Gh/s WU:24.2/m
 17: ANU 9       :                         | 1.988G / 1.977Gh/s WU:22.2/m
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

regards

[goodney]

Good day,

I have a problem with one BFx2 Miner, one miner always lose the "red light" at one USB Port "14" and run very slow, is this a problem fro the USB port or to less power from the port?

The miner runs but without the "Vcore" light!???

Yes, that means the VCORE went out of regulation as far as the switching regulator is concerned, but it is still possible for the device to work.

Does the same device fail in the same way if you use a different USB port?

If you run BFGMiner you can also look at the device to see if both chips are working properly. Please try BFGMiner and then use the device options interface to see if both chips are reporting good hashes.

[Buchi-88]

Hello,

no only on this "one" port, and only when my Raspberry also hang on this HUB!?

I use Cgminer 4.3.3

regards

[goodney]

Hello,

no only on this "one" port, and only when my Raspberry also hang on this HUB!?

I use Cgminer 4.3.3

regards

Do other miners also fail on that port? Are you powering the RaspberryPi off that port too? It sounds like you are exceeding the power rating for the hub.

[Zeta0S]

I have made a "How To" Video for you guys
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3A6GdWrOSs

Drivers can be found in the video and on my blog: http://www.bitcoinupdate.nl/blog/how-to-install-the-bitfury-asic-bitcoin-miner

Maybe this Video can be in The OP?

[Buchi-88]

Hello,

no only on this "one" port, and only when my Raspberry also hang on this HUB!?

I use Cgminer 4.3.3

regards

Do other miners also fail on that port? Are you powering the RaspberryPi off that port too? It sounds like you are exceeding the power rating for the hub.

Hello, only the (all) Bix2 Bitury Fail on the port! At time it runs good without the Pi...

My HUB is the  Dipo Electronic 19 port USB hubs i think it have enought power!?

Industrial 19 port Steel casing USB Hub (with power cable & USB cable) 20 Amps @ 5v





greets

Edit:

At time 2 BiFury run a little bit slower, but I don't know("bxm-bits" : "53",)...

 cgminer version 4.3.3 - Started: [2014-05-20 22:56:14]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (5s):47.22G (1m):47.86G (5m):46.16G (15m):33.38G (avg):46.99Gh/s
 A:11392  R:128  HW:260  WU:635.9/m
 Connected to mint.bitminter.com diff 64 with stratum as user
 Block: 3cdcd147...  Diff:8.85G  Started: [23:12:15]  Best share: 21K
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 [-]SB management [-]ool management [-]ettings [-]isplay options [-]uit
  0: ANU 0       :                         | 2.064G / 2.041Gh/s WU:27.1/m
  1: ANU 1       :                         | 2.062G / 2.044Gh/s WU:25.1/m
  2: ANU 2       :                         | 2.067G / 2.040Gh/s WU:26.1/m
  3: ANU 3       :                         | 2.071G / 2.044Gh/s WU:25.3/m
  4: ANU 4       :                         | 2.061G / 2.047Gh/s WU:24.4/m
  5: ANU 5       :                         | 2.068G / 2.051Gh/s WU:26.0/m
  6: ANU 6       :                         | 2.071G / 2.041Gh/s WU:23.8/m
  7: ANU 7       :                         | 2.068G / 2.041Gh/s WU:25.0/m
  8: ANU 8       :                         | 2.061G / 2.047Gh/s WU:26.6/m
  9: BXM 0       :                         | 3.452G / 3.421Gh/s WU:48.1/m
 10: BXM 1       :                         | 3.782G / 3.655Gh/s WU:52.6/m
 11: BXM 2       :                         | 3.571G / 3.406Gh/s WU:49.6/m
12: BXM 3       :                         | 2.652G / 2.537Gh/s WU:37.1/m
 13: BXM 4       :                         | 2.889G / 2.745Gh/s WU:40.5/m
 14: BXM 5       :                         | 3.713G / 3.617Gh/s WU:52.2/m
 15: BXM 6       :                         | 3.602G / 3.494Gh/s WU:50.3/m
 16: BXM 7       :                         | 3.765G / 3.686Gh/s WU:52.4/m
 17: ANU 9       :                         | 2.067G / 2.040Gh/s WU:23.6/m
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

greets

[goodney]

Hello, only the (all) Bix2 Bitury Fail on the port! At time it runs good without the Pi...

If they all fail on that port, then the port is probably bad.

At time 2 BiFury run a little bit slower, but I don't know("bxm-bits" : "53",)...

Try BFGMiner to see if you get better/more stable results.

[-ck]

Hello,

no only on this "one" port, and only when my Raspberry also hang on this HUB!?

I use Cgminer 4.3.3

regards

If you start cgminer with the extra option "--api-listen" then you can query cgminer while it's running to see how it's performing. While cgminer is running you can do:

Code:

java API stats

and in there you'll get lots of info, one will be the BXM device and in there will be the separate core submit data:

Code:

   [Core0 submits] => 250
   [Core1 submits] => 270

If one core is failing, the submits will be a lot less or even zero compared to the other.

[Buchi-88]

Hello,

no only on this "one" port, and only when my Raspberry also hang on this HUB!?

I use Cgminer 4.3.3

regards

If you start cgminer with the extra option "--api-listen" then you can query cgminer while it's running to see how it's performing. While cgminer is running you can do:

Code:

java API stats

and in there you'll get lots of info, one will be the BXM device and in there will be the separate core submit data:

Code:

   [Core0 submits] => 250
   [Core1 submits] => 270

If one core is failing, the submits will be a lot less or even zero compared to the other.

Good day, thnks i will test it on evening

greets

[klintay]

Good day, thnks i will test it on evening

greets

The BFx2 also needs an extra fan to provide cooling. In my experience the speed will drop if you do not provide a fan. After providing cooling you can also use the pencil mod to increase voltage and then speed up the miner.

Video link on how to pencil mod:
http://youtu.be/jm0U3p_C9og

I think --bxm-bits=54 is the best as well.