ANTMINER S3+ Discussion and Support Thread

[9600]

@bitbets
The S3 is one of the easiest to use products.

You can complain when you need to build cgminer from source and patch it in order for your stuff to work, but not about going into a webinterface and changing the ip of the unit.

This has to be done for any networked miner, so I am not sure why you think it is especially difficult.

Have any of you ever considered teaching a course about 'how to mine bitcoins with such and such hardware' ?
not on the internet, I mean, in person teaching, and making sure that the student can actually do it, and
has replicated classroom work at home.
That would be an interesting course, I would pay for it. But I would want a teacher who would actually come right over to my house to make sure I was doing it right at home too(that would be part of the final mark perhaps? )

Thats a money making idea, i think. Hey you could even give out certificates to people,
so they could then be called CERTIFIED BITCOIN MINER.

I need a course to teach me how to become a CERTIFIED BITCOIN MINER

Your idea has some merit as it would help to improve the miner image. We're generally considered a pretty inaccessible group of curmudgeons who hoard and dump. The class would have to include the cost of hardware, time, etc, so it would certainly cut into the ROI of any student who wasn't looking to get invested with at least a few thousand USD.

Otherwise there is no way the instructor would profit from his/her services while ensuring ROI for the students.  

Just wanted to jump in and express that not all students want to make ROI or profit as far as mining is concerned. There are a range of reasons for people to get involved. I prefer to work with people who are sincerely interested to know what this technology is about and expose them to the existing "beneficial" and potential future usage.

Preach it. Absolutely. I've got a guy at work who went from a few U2s on his desktop to being quite content with his small array of S1s.
The only reason I bring ROI into this case is simply to satiate the conditions outlined by the previous post.

In all honestly, you could probably fill a room with people willing to pay $35 for a lesson in BTC, mining, and send them home with a free U2.

[1714640685]

1714640685

[1714640685]

1714640685

[1714640685]

1714640685

[psahx]

I might actually start this topic elsewhere at the forums.

sorry, i ddin't mean to get off topic.



I think there could be a certificate for mining with a specific miner, but that doesn't mean the person is trained to
mine with other hardware. Just that one type of hardware, such as S3 Antminer for example.

A course like that might last a week or so, and if you could get 20 students, who all paid $150 - $200 apiece,
you could make $3000-$4000 for the week being the instructor.
But they would also likely pay you for the mining hardware, and bring their own computers to the classroom for the week.
One of the final things to do in the course, i think, wouild be for the instructor to come to each students house,
and observe them set everything up to mine from scratch and then mark them on it;
and finally correct them if there are mistakes and make sure they are mining bitcoins at the end of the course.
This final step might take an additional week for the instructor, but still, good pay for a couple weeks $3000 - $4000
and all 20 students then are mining bitcoins, with more awareness than before hopefully.

But would you find 20 students? I dont know.
The cost of the mining hardware might be $400 plus the $200 cost for the class, so $600-650 dollars total for each student.

Could not resist, sorry.

Are you serious? I mean, if you are not Under Influence, you should keep yourself AWAY from mining. Honestly, try to find something else to entertain you.

[WheresWaldo]

Prolimatech PK-3 Nano Aluminium Thermal

-High Thermal Conductivity
-Low Thermal Resistance
-Long-Term Stability
-Low Dry-Out
-Non-CorrosiveElectrically
-Non-Conductive
-No "burn-in" time required



Would anyone recommend this paste?  I would like to clean and replace thermal paste.  What size would I need to do 2 AntMiner s3's


BTCBTC
DoubleDD

Prolimatech PK-3 is one of the top thermal adhesives on the market.
Google search thermal paste roundup if you want to research a bit more

[dance191]

Prolimatech PK-3 Nano Aluminium Thermal

-High Thermal Conductivity
-Low Thermal Resistance
-Long-Term Stability
-Low Dry-Out
-Non-CorrosiveElectrically
-Non-Conductive
-No "burn-in" time required



Would anyone recommend this paste?  I would like to clean and replace thermal paste.  What size would I need to do 2 AntMiner s3's


BTCBTC
DoubleDD

I would think this should be enough for one S3

http://www.amazon.com/Arctic-Silver-5-Thermal-Compound/dp/B0002EQU6C/

Or if you have more than 2 you probably want this one

http://www.amazon.com/Arctic-Silver-Large-Size-gram/dp/B001JYVFLY/

Arctic Silver says to not use it where it may come in contact with electricity.  I haven't opened up a S3 yet, but I imagine it is easy to put some on the pins of the chips.  If so, use a carbon based one that is not conductive or capacitive.  Something like mx-4 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004ULZITS/) would work. 

[1Neptune]

Just a word of warning to anyone reading this thread that may be thinking of ordering an S3. The facebook profile https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bitmaintechcom/1445280845724880 are thieves impersonating bitmaintech.com. They will try and lure you into sending them btc while promising coupons and discounts. They are a scam. They'll disappear for a short time and then reappear, still under the same UID.

[PlanetCrypto]

Got the refund this morning BEFORE the physical delivery of the B3's (American Customs and UPS are screwing me violently in the arse). Might (doubtful) show up tomorrow.

Ordering in shipments of 2 units each and using DHL, all of my Bitmain orders have made it from HK to VA, USA in 3 days. Even before they gave the form option, you could always specify DHL in the order comments.
Orders of less than $1000 rarely get stopped by US customs. All of mine have been correctly labeled as BITCOIN ASIC COMPUTER for S1 and S3 shipments.

Just something to consider for the future if you're a US customer.

TLDR: Multiple small orders are less likely to get stopped by US customs. Use DHL.

By ignorance and lack of funds all my previous international orders were qty 2-3. Never dawned on me that as the dollar value got higher it might draw unwanted attention and the resultant delays. Multiple small orders also prevent the hassle when the carrier "loses" the shipment.

DHL in my area is terribly undependable, can relate horror stories of DHL leaving packages in snow banks and not finding them till spring.

Just got an update, customs released the 10 B3's and UPS indicates "Scheduled Delivery Updated To: Tuesday, 07/29/2014, By End of Day". Guess we'll see.

[ck]

Just got my shipping confirmation for B4 looks like Bitmain is really keeping to its promise of shipping before Aug 2nd, by 4 days early

[727miner]

Just got an email that my Batch 4's just shipped 

Does anyone have any coupons to sell? PM me if so.

[oskuro]

time you ordered from b4?? mine still unshipped  

2014-07-24 17:49:37.0

yeah i couldnt order at 17:00 thx to a thief who stole my money when i wanted to buy from him bitcoins. i created a thread in this forum about that scammer.... grrrr

i chose EMS

[ck]

Order create time: 2014-07-24 14:50:23.0
Payment confirm time: 2014-07-24 15:24:15
Shows up as Shipped now, along with a UPS tracking number. However UPS is saying that the shipment has yet to arrive at their facility. Once it does they will update with an estimated delivery time.

Cheers

[oskuro]

Order create time: 2014-07-24 14:50:23.0
Shows up as Shipped now, along with a UPS tracking number. However UPS is saying that the shipment has yet to arrive at their facility. Once it does they will update with an estimated delivery time.

Cheers

and how can i track EMS??. in batch 2 i had UPS as everyone and i could track delivery using Order Id, but in EMS website looks like i cant use that order id for tracking

[ck]

Order create time: 2014-07-24 14:50:23.0
Shows up as Shipped now, along with a UPS tracking number. However UPS is saying that the shipment has yet to arrive at their facility. Once it does they will update with an estimated delivery time.

Cheers

and how can i track EMS??. in batch 2 i had UPS as everyone and i could track delivery using Order Id, but in EMS website looks like i cant use that order id for tracking

Oh yeah, not too sure on that, but chances are you might need to check the China version of EMS (http://www.ems.com.cn/mailtracking/e_you_jian_cha_xun.html) since that is where the package is originating from. I've always been using UPS.

[oskuro]

Order create time: 2014-07-24 14:50:23.0
Shows up as Shipped now, along with a UPS tracking number. However UPS is saying that the shipment has yet to arrive at their facility. Once it does they will update with an estimated delivery time.

Cheers

and how can i track EMS??. in batch 2 i had UPS as everyone and i could track delivery using Order Id, but in EMS website looks like i cant use that order id for tracking

Oh yeah, not too sure on that, but chances are you might need to check the China version of EMS (http://www.ems.com.cn/mailtracking/e_you_jian_cha_xun.html) since that is where the package is originating from. I've always been using UPS.

yeah but EMS website just lets you enter 13 digits, and order id is longer, so... no idea how to track xD i will ask bitmain

[MoreBloodWine]

I may end up getting four of these for B5 supposed to ship Aug 7th but am curious about some things first.

1) Under normal clock, what type of PSU is required to safely run 24/7 ?

2) What can this safely OC to while still preforming good / running stable ?

3) Keeping 1 & 2 above in mind, should each unit be on it's own PSU or can one PSU power two units and if so under what requirements for 24/7 operation.

I suspect in the event of 2, that one PSU per unit would be preferable.

[Collider]

S3 batch 4 order shipped.

Order marked as collected.

[iikun]

Has anyone actually experienced hash increase just from changing the thermal paste?  just interested to know if it's worth the bother (and risk)

[TR8888]

After 12 hours all 4 units avg 441-443, 2 units per 750w Seasonic unit, PSU drawing at the wall 685-690w. PSU has 62A / 744W available on the single 12V rail. PCI-E cables are warm to the touch but not hot. Units are running around 47-48C in a room ambient 30c.

Thats all strait out of the box, I will update firmware and have a play tonight

[atledenin]

I'm also having the issue with the S3 hashrate dropping off.  It generally starts around 435Gh but drops to around 390-400GHs.  I'm at work now and I'm looking at my S3 on Slush's pool and I'm currently showing -

Total average hash rate in last 60 minutes: 381070 Mhash/s 

Has anyone found a solution to this or had word from BitMain?   

[Junkbarman]

According to my tracking number, my batch 4's will be delivered by the end of the day thursday the 31st. If that's true, it's unbelievably fast delivery

[ck]

I'm also pretty surprised as my order shows delivery end of day 30th July for the B4 unit orders. Perhaps after going through a few pretty large batches of shipments, the logistics aspects have been sorted out and Bitmain is now able to provide all documentation so these items get cleared faster than before.