[GUIDE] Innosilicon [A1 Booster + A2 Terminator] Support/Tuning

[Ross_ua]

I have trouble with one of terminator A2 board
one of chip (UA4) exploded, i desolder it
on chip UA3 shut SDO and SDI pin with zero ohm resistor, when i trying start mine only on this board, cgminer detected seven chips, but cant start take job from pool

worklog cgminer:

[2014-09-16 22:51:32] Started cgminer 3.9.0
 [2014-09-16 22:51:32] Run Reset=1
 [2014-09-16 22:51:32] ST MCU hardware reset start
 [2014-09-16 22:51:36] SPI Speed 4000 kHz
 [2014-09-16 22:51:36] ST MCU - Enable (Pre-header)
 [2014-09-16 22:51:36] A1 = 1000,6
 [2014-09-16 22:51:36] A1 PLL Clock = 1000MHz
 [2014-09-16 22:51:36] GPIO CS is ON at CS5
 [2014-09-16 22:51:37] spidev0.0(cs5): Found 8 A1 chips
 [2014-09-16 22:51:37] Found chip 1 with 54 active cores
 [2014-09-16 22:51:37] Found chip 2 with 54 active cores
 [2014-09-16 22:51:37] Found chip 3 with 52 active cores
 [2014-09-16 22:51:37] Found chip 4 with 53 active cores
 [2014-09-16 22:51:37] Found chip 5 with 53 active cores
 [2014-09-16 22:51:37] Found chip 6 with 54 active cores
 [2014-09-16 22:51:37] Found chip 7 with 54 active cores
 [2014-09-16 22:51:37] Found chip 8 with 0 active cores
 [2014-09-16 22:51:37] Found 8 chips with total 374 active cores
 [2014-09-16 22:51:37] A1 boards=1, active cores=374, Efficient=86%, speed=10.7M
 [2014-09-16 22:51:37] Probing for an alive pool
 [2014-09-16 22:51:37] Pool 0 difficulty changed to 1024
 [2014-09-16 22:51:37] Network diff set to 33K
 [2014-09-16 22:51:38] Failed to read num_cores from chip(cs5) 5
 [2014-09-16 22:51:38] Failed to read num_cores from chip(cs5) 5
 [2014-09-16 22:51:38] Failed to read num_cores from chip(cs5) 5
 [2014-09-16 22:51:39] Failed to read num_cores from chip(cs5) 5
 [2014-09-16 22:51:39] Failed to read num_cores from chip(cs5) 5
 [2014-09-16 22:51:39] Failed to read num_cores from chip(cs5) 5
 [2014-09-16 22:51:39] Failed to read num_cores from chip(cs5) 5
 [2014-09-16 22:51:39] Failed to read num_cores from chip(cs5) 5
 [2014-09-16 22:51:40] Shutdown signal received.

how can i start board without one chip?

[NuckinFutz]

thanks for the info.
It probably says 12 chips because it is an adapted version form the A1, which has 12 chips.
I you click on the 'stats' page you should see the temperature per chip. Could you post a photo from that? (I need the number of cores per chip and the amount of chips)
And at what frequency are you running it?
When you have indeed 10 chips per board you should be able to go to 40MH/s

1200MHz The max it can go.
https://i.imgur.com/GHdPSWE.png?1

And here is the specs page from Zoomhash.

Chip Specs
• Developed on 28nm using very low power design techniques and best efficiency.
• Custom IC package with power bars for low voltage, high current feeding.
• Configurable in daisy chain mode for distributed work with up to 253 ASICs.
• Standard SPI interface with CS pin needed to enclose all useful SDI and SDO data.
• 27 highly optimized hashing engines based on custom ASIC cells up to 1.6M.
• Built-in redundancy architecture to allow for bad engines to be bypassed without affecting mining operation.
• Flexibility to configure the PLL clock and computation performance.
• Hashing power of 1.6M in nominal and 1.8M in Turbo mode.
• Power usage of 10W in typical nominal and 12W in typical Turbo mode.
• Supply voltage of 0.78V in low power, 0.84 V in Turbo mode for ICs.
• No need for special cooling, just regular top and bottom heat sinks plus fan cooling.

The Device Specs
• A Total of 2 boards with 10 chip on each board, Total 16 Chips in a miner
• Turbo Mode Hash rate 1.8Mhs*20 Chips = 35Mhs +/- 8%
• Power = 350Watts normal
• Size = 51cm—42cm—16cm
• Temperature = Runs cooler than the A1 miners

It's power consumption is 346w with a gold rated Seasonic 450w PSU.

There should be a fair amount of headroom left in it.

[emdje]

The screenshot you posted states 12 asic chips per board.
The device specs you copied from Zoomhash are weird: "A Total of 2 boards with 10 chip on each board, Total 16 Chips in a miner" (2 times 10 is 20 and not 16 :S )

I will change the maximum number of asic chips accepted and I will post the image.
One question: Is the turbo mode a hardware or software option?

[NuckinFutz]

The screenshot you posted states 12 asic chips per board.
The device specs you copied from Zoomhash are weird: "A Total of 2 boards with 10 chip on each board, Total 16 Chips in a miner" (2 times 10 is 20 and not 16 :S )

I will change the maximum number of asic chips accepted and I will post the image.
One question: Is the turbo mode a hardware or software option?

Software. That's the 1200MHz setting. With it being in the range of 28-34°, they have these things running rather conservative.
https://i.imgur.com/Y6BjNDI.png

[emdje]

I am preparing the image for the A2MINI Terminators. I have based it on the info that they consist of 10 chips with 54 cores per chip. Cgminer does start on my miner, but the log shows some weirdness. Miningrigrentals shows normal hashing.
Download link is going to be posted here when I am finished compressing and uploading the file: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=672969.msg7619778#msg7619778

If you test the image, please report those findings along with cgminer logs in the posted topics.

Good luck I hope it works  
And if it does feel free to send me some btc: 1FiHCFcP4ovbV89nGhYEMWXSZsWnGUASSe

[eraser]

hi guys,
i have an a2 mini with 2 blade, one is ok , the other one doesn't recognized ( blue led off )
tried to reflash firmware, checked cable, psu, pi without results.

I Removed the sink and this is what I see.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/stvct3iak4cn76i/IMG_20141016_115638.jpg?dl=0


One chip appears to be melted, maybe i can try to remove it ?
someone had the same problem ?

tnx

[Prelude]

Can you guys tell me how I can view cgminer via putty on my A2? screen -r doesn't seem to work, and that's about the extent of my linux knowledge.  

[Ross_ua]

One chip appears to be melted, maybe i can try to remove it ?
someone had the same problem ?

hi eraser
I have same problem with chip UA4
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=626327.msg8958039#msg8958039

I remove it, cgminer detect blade with other seven chip, but doesn't start mine

[ilratman]

One chip appears to be melted, maybe i can try to remove it ?
someone had the same problem ?

hi eraser
I have same problem with chip UA4
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=626327.msg8958039#msg8958039

I remove it, cgminer detect blade with other seven chip, but doesn't start mine

try to connect left side of a2 chip with right side of a2 chip.

Cs_L and Cs_R and so on with the same id.

http://www.usbminers.nl/Innosilicon_A2_PG_v120140424.pdf

I've red the datasheet and left side is the master side and right side the slave side, maybe to short the two can give at the other chip the path to process hash.

Attention to do not short VDD with GND or the signal with Vdd or Gnd.

[Ross_ua]

One chip appears to be melted, maybe i can try to remove it ?
someone had the same problem ?

hi eraser
I have same problem with chip UA4
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=626327.msg8958039#msg8958039

I remove it, cgminer detect blade with other seven chip, but doesn't start mine

try to connect left side of a2 chip with right side of a2 chip.

Cs_L and Cs_R and so on with the same id.

http://www.usbminers.nl/Innosilicon_A2_PG_v120140424.pdf

I've red the datasheet and left side is the master side and right side the slave side, maybe to short the two can give at the other chip the path to process hash.

Attention to do not short VDD with GND or the signal with Vdd or Gnd.

Thanks
I try any combination, nothing to helped

anybody know where can I buy one or two A2 chips ? 
thanks

[Joori]

My A2 Terminator 88MH has been working fine for a few months tho yesterday, I noticed one of the boards wasn't being detected. Over the course of the night, another two of the 6 board stopped working/being detected. I opened up the miner and can only see the LED's of 3 out of the 6 boards that are on. One board occasionally lights up 1/2 the LED's but then they turn off again - LED's weren't turning on at all before i started pushing on the cables on the controller/daughter board (I don't know the name of this board near the PSU). There appears to be no signs of short anywhere but I have not removed the boards to inspect them further. When I view CGMiner output, I can see it's detecting 3 of the boards but for the other 3 boards there is some RESET ACK error. The unit still mines but at less than 1/2 the speed. I'm using a scripta image on the rPi and tried changing to the stock innosilicon image but this didn't help the issue...

I'm lost at how to troubleshoot the error but I think maybe the controller/daughter board might be faulty because as mentioned when I was fiddling with the cables making sure they're seated correctly, one of the boards's LED's half turned on but then turn off again and this repeats over and over.

I don't know what to try next to see what the issue is...

[hashpower]

The MinerEU firmware has been updated and is also reporting how many cores and temperature of the cores now. please update

new miners will still have 6 module but each pcb panel will have 12 chips instead of 8 chips. which offer a total hash rate of 120M

Hi,
can you please provide the download link for MinerEU firmware

[galixxx]

Dear all

I just received an A2 mini Terminator and I am struggling somehow with connecting the miner to the PSU. I tried different things.
Currently the miner is running stable since almost 48 hours with a BoardSpeed of 1000Mhz and I get approx. 30Mh/s. But I am not sure if this is correct because if I increase the BoardSpeed it fails.
Could anyone confirm or correct my setup? I am using the Innosilicon image on the RPi.

@emdje once my miner is setup properly I am happy to help with testing your image if you are still working on it.

PSU: be quiet! Straight Power E9 CM (680W) - And I am using the ATX connectors but without the last 4 pins http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:ATX_PS_ATX_connector.jpg

In addition I connected the two small rainbow wire separately in one of the six existing plugs. There I think it doesn't matter which plug I chose.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/lokhzf4tyewtl8i/20141230_210011.jpg?dl=0

In addition I connected the CPU plug from the PSU and split it onto the 2 blades (four pins each).

https://www.dropbox.com/s/g1589hngfbhzhxe/20141230_205838.jpg?dl=0

Thanks for any hints! 

[FlensGold]

Didn't you also receive adapters for the PCIe Plugs?
Maybe they are not necessary, I just wonder that you do not use them obviuosly.

I also have to mention that it was hard for me to find a working Image for that miner about one month ago.
I had to use one of the initial ones to get it running...

Btw. does anyone know if those A2 Miners are able to meine Scrypt-N coins like spaincoin?

[galixxx]

Thank you for your reply.
Yes, I received those adapters as well but initially it didin't work with them.
I changed now the PSU (Corsair 840W) for testing purpose and I think it's running better. I will try today to increase the BoadSpeed to 1100 and 1200. My guess is that either the 640W PSU is too weak or damaged.
I will change the CPU plug to PCIe and try again because I got a response from minereu with a link to a youtube video. Unfortunately it's pointing to Zeusminer hurricaneX3 miner where it's mentioned to use the PCIe plug and NOT the CPU one. Also in this video they are starting the ATX PSU with a special built plug with a button. The Terminator A2 has a the possibility to plug in the ATX cable.
I replied to minereu and let you know their response.

What I have seen so far regarding images that the original one from Innosilicon is the only one running with this miner. But I am happy to help emdje if he is still interested or any one else with testing images.

I don't if we can mine Script-N coins. I doubt but could point the miner to a Script-N port. 

[wolverine5pl]

Hey guys.
need your advice.
I bought used 90 Mh/s a2 miner on ebay
HW errors i get are rather high 10% + at 1200mhz.
with 1280 i get over 15%
Is that normal?
Avg temp is 39-40. Solo temp max is 52-53

[notlist3d]

Hey guys.
need your advice.
I bought used 90 Mh/s a2 miner on ebay
HW errors i get are rather high 10% + at 1200mhz.
with 1280 i get over 15%
Is that normal?
Avg temp is 39-40. Solo temp max is 52-53

No 10 percent is not normal for most.  Try a different pool or possibly a different node closer to you.  Try to see if it's poolside.

I your using multipools it is higher but 10 is a lot. What pool are you on?

[wolverine5pl]

prohashing 12% errors
multipools would have more hardware errors?
even litecoin pools i get 10% errors
if I lower from 90 to 50-30mhs then i get little errors.
Maybye PSU?

[notlist3d]

prohashing 12% errors
multipools would have more hardware errors?
even litecoin pools i get 10% errors
if I lower from 90 to 50-30mhs then i get little errors.
Maybye PSU?

Generaly speaking multipools do have more. It's been a while since my scrypt day's but cleaver was horrible in the day.

But try another pool 12 percent is not common or good.   Might contact previous owner about problem see what they did.

[wolverine5pl]

Anyone can advice in replacing psu? Maybye my is causing errors.