ANTMINER S3+ Discussion and Support Thread

[visdude]

Would this PSU support (3) S3's:

EVGA SuperNOVA 1300G2 ATX12V/EPS12V 1300W 80Plus Gold Power Supply 120-G2-1300-XR
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00COIZTZM/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Again, assuming that each S3 draws 390WAC at the wall, the EVGA SuperNOVA 1300G2 would give you around 19% headroom (81% load) with 3x S3s.

[philipma1957]

yeah it is a stud psu.  has done 3 s-1's overclocked to freq 393 and 405 watts pulled 1215 at the k-watt meter.  for 40 days in a row .. I recently down volted and down clocked my s-1's I am a big believer in this psu.

 six cables separate  pcie  very nice gear.  fan is a bit loud when doing 1215 watts.  but the s-1's were loud so I did not care.

[Biodom]

Would this PSU support (3) S3's:

EVGA SuperNOVA 1300G2 ATX12V/EPS12V 1300W 80Plus Gold Power Supply 120-G2-1300-XR
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00COIZTZM/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Again, assuming that each S3 draws 390WAC at the wall, the EVGA SuperNOVA 1300G2 would give you around 19% headroom (81% load) with 3x S3s.

yes, but if you truly need 4 connectors per S3 for a mild overclock to 390W (I doubt it), then you need to have 4 more connectors (EVGA has 8 total). I solved it by ordering splitters: there is an awful lot of discussion whether splitters with 16awg wires are needed or 18awg is enough. According to this:
http://www.stayonline.com/reference-circuit-ampacity.aspx
each wire can carry 7amps, so for three wires it is 21ampsX12v=252W carrying capacity for 18awg wires in PCIe splitter. there is a debate how much wattage can plastic connectors take, but at least 18awg wires seems to be able to take it.

order 16awg from cablez here:
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=170332.msg7579936#msg7579936

or 18awg
http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-PCIEXSPLIT6-6-Inch-Express-Splitter/dp/B004NNTVT6/

[edonkey]

As interested as am in the S3, I just can't bring myself to do it. Even with free power (I have access to a data center), two S3's plus a PS will never ROI.

I know that this is not news to anyone, and that people have strategies for making up the difference, including selling the hardware in a few months. But that's a PITA.

All I want is to buy some hardware, have some fun, and make a little profit supporting the network.

If these units were only $50 cheaper, then the cost of 2 units plus a decent power supply (est. $150) and free power would mean a possible fiat ROI in a couple hundred days and maybe a small profit in 12 months. This is with the coinish calculator, 1.2% per day difficulty rise, 1% pool fee, and 30 day delivery (because these things never ship on time).

As much as I want to feed my mining habit, I just can't do it. It's too bad because it wouldn't take much to win me over.

Bitmain, I understand that you have to maximize your profits. But if you calibrated your pricing so that miners made a little money, you would sell a lot more units. The people like me that are sitting on the sidelines would jump at an opportunity to break even, or make a little profit.

[Biffa]

As interested as am in the S3, I just can't bring myself to do it. Even with free power (I have access to a data center), two S3's plus a PS will never ROI.

I know that this is not news to anyone, and that people have strategies for making up the difference, including selling the hardware in a few months. But that's a PITA.

All I want is to buy some hardware, have some fun, and make a little profit supporting the network.

If these units were only $50 cheaper, then the cost of 2 units plus a decent power supply (est. $150) and free power would mean a possible fiat ROI in a couple hundred days and maybe a small profit in 12 months. This is with the coinish calculator, 1.2% per day difficulty rise, 1% pool fee, and 30 day delivery (because these things never ship on time).

As much as I want to feed my mining habit, I just can't do it. It's too bad because it wouldn't take much to win me over.

Bitmain, I understand that you have to maximize your profits. But if you calibrated your pricing so that miners made a little money, you would sell a lot more units. The people like me that are sitting on the sidelines would jump at an opportunity to break even, or make a little profit.

A lot of people buying already have PSU's from their S1's or other hardware they bought that didn't come with one.
You can buy Server PSU's from Ebay for $10-20 that will run two miners
I'd like them to be $50 cheaper too
I think you are being way over pessimistic on the calculator you are using, but thats just me

[iglasses]

if you calibrated your pricing so that miners made a little money, you would sell a lot more units.

You guys need a new hobby.  S3's are flying off the shelf.  There is exactly ZERO incentive for Bitmaintech to do anything to 'bump' sales.  To even make such a statement is laughable.

[ZiG]

Would this PSU support (3) S3's:

EVGA SuperNOVA 1300G2 ATX12V/EPS12V 1300W 80Plus Gold Power Supply 120-G2-1300-XR
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00COIZTZM/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Again, assuming that each S3 draws 390WAC at the wall, the EVGA SuperNOVA 1300G2 would give you around 19% headroom (81% load) with 3x S3s.

yes, but if you truly need 4 connectors per S3 for a mild overclock to 390W (I doubt it), then you need to have 4 more connectors (EVGA has 8 total). I solved it by ordering splitters: there is an awful lot of discussion whether splitters with 16awg wires are needed or 18awg is enough. According to this:
http://www.stayonline.com/reference-circuit-ampacity.aspx
each wire can carry 7amps, so for three wires it is 21ampsX12v=252W carrying capacity for 18awg wires in PCIe splitter. there is a debate how much wattage can plastic connectors take, but at least 18awg wires seems to be able to take it.

order 16awg from cablez here:
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=170332.msg7579936#msg7579936

or 18awg
http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-PCIEXSPLIT6-6-Inch-Express-Splitter/dp/B004NNTVT6/

6-pin PCI-E standard specification is 75W...could sustain up to 125W...BitMain is trying to fit these specs with 2 6-pin PCI-E ...IMHO...

ZiG

[Biodom]

Would this PSU support (3) S3's:

EVGA SuperNOVA 1300G2 ATX12V/EPS12V 1300W 80Plus Gold Power Supply 120-G2-1300-XR
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00COIZTZM/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Again, assuming that each S3 draws 390WAC at the wall, the EVGA SuperNOVA 1300G2 would give you around 19% headroom (81% load) with 3x S3s.

yes, but if you truly need 4 connectors per S3 for a mild overclock to 390W (I doubt it), then you need to have 4 more connectors (EVGA has 8 total). I solved it by ordering splitters: there is an awful lot of discussion whether splitters with 16awg wires are needed or 18awg is enough. According to this:
http://www.stayonline.com/reference-circuit-ampacity.aspx
each wire can carry 7amps, so for three wires it is 21ampsX12v=252W carrying capacity for 18awg wires in PCIe splitter. there is a debate how much wattage can plastic connectors take, but at least 18awg wires seems to be able to take it.

order 16awg from cablez here:
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=170332.msg7579936#msg7579936

or 18awg
http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-PCIEXSPLIT6-6-Inch-Express-Splitter/dp/B004NNTVT6/

6-pin PCI-E standard specification is 75W...could sustain up to 125W...BitMain is trying to fit these specs with 2 6-pin PCI-E ...IMHO...

ZiG

KnC is pumping 420W through ONE PCI-E while cooling the plastic part of the connector with a fan.
I wouldn't try it, unless it is a high current connector.
~180-200W should be OK in most cases from a reliable PSU because this is what a single blade of mildly overclocked S1 gets from PSU through the single PCI-E, but how reliable it would be-I don't know.
Edit: here is some discussion of limits:
http://www.jonnyguru.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-7212.html

[hurricandave]

As interested as am in the S3, I just can't bring myself to do it. Even with free power (I have access to a data center), two S3's plus a PS will never ROI.

I know that this is not news to anyone, and that people have strategies for making up the difference, including selling the hardware in a few months. But that's a PITA.

All I want is to buy some hardware, have some fun, and make a little profit supporting the network.

If these units were only $50 cheaper, then the cost of 2 units plus a decent power supply (est. $150) and free power would mean a possible fiat ROI in a couple hundred days and maybe a small profit in 12 months. This is with the coinish calculator, 1.2% per day difficulty rise, 1% pool fee, and 30 day delivery (because these things never ship on time).

As much as I want to feed my mining habit, I just can't do it. It's too bad because it wouldn't take much to win me over.

Bitmain, I understand that you have to maximize your profits. But if you calibrated your pricing so that miners made a little money, you would sell a lot more units. The people like me that are sitting on the sidelines would jump at an opportunity to break even, or make a little profit.

If you had bought BTC two weeks ago when the value was just above $550 per BTC you would be getting almost a $100 discount right now.

[iglasses]

I have personally seen the ugly side of this connecting an EVGA 600 and watching the cables literally burst into flames.
Whatever you are planning to do, please everyone, put safety above EVERYTHING else!

Electricities are srs bzniss

[Swimmer63]

if you calibrated your pricing so that miners made a little money, you would sell a lot more units.

You guys need a new hobby.  S3's are flying off the shelf.  There is exactly ZERO incentive for Bitmaintech to do anything to 'bump' sales.  To even make such a statement is laughable.

They did about $22,000,000 on day one.

[Trammel]

I've got a Corsair RM850 which is running two over clocked S1's.  I was thinking of getting two S3's, and was wondering what PSU to get, I would like to get a PSU that has 8 PCI-e connectors.  What would you guys suggest for such a PSU?

[Biodom]

I've got a Corsair RM850 which is running two over clocked S1's.  I was thinking of getting two S3's, and was wondering what PSU to get, I would like to get a PSU that has 8 PCI-e connectors.  What would you guys suggest for such a PSU?

check here
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=486121
for the number of connectors, number of rails (go with a single rail), and max current
prices are outdated

[cozk]

ROI waaaay too tight for me to buy this....

Good luck gamblers.

[Syke]

If these units were only $50 cheaper, then the cost of 2 units plus a decent power supply (est. $150) and free power would mean a possible fiat ROI in a couple hundred days and maybe a small profit in 12 months. This is with the coinish calculator, 1.2% per day difficulty rise, 1% pool fee, and 30 day delivery (because these things never ship on time).

Too pessimistic. With free power these will easily break even and make a nice profit.

[jonnybravo0311]

I've got a Corsair RM850 which is running two over clocked S1's.  I was thinking of getting two S3's, and was wondering what PSU to get, I would like to get a PSU that has 8 PCI-e connectors.  What would you guys suggest for such a PSU?

If you like your Corsair and want to stick with the brand, the RM1000 and the AX1500i, AX1200i all satisfy your requirements.

[pumaro]

I was so close to ordering 7 of these S3's ~3.3 TH for 5.18 BTC last night until I ran the numbers and realized they would only generate 0.097 BTC/day for the next 8 days before the next diff increase.
Its crazy when you think this is the best deal out there for mining equipment and it still doesn't ROI. Especially when you add electric costs and PSU's.
28nm is good tech and I have had 3 Jupiters running since Halloween of 2013, they (all 3) made 1.1 BTC /day back then and today make .037 BTC/day today.

I had 5 cointerras when they came out and they overheated terribly even with AC pumped directly to them. I had to dump them for cheap before coin terra gave them away, I was lucky.

The KNC's (oct jupiter) don't need AC and I am thinking the same goes for the ANTMINER S3. I have the KNC's in my garage vented to the attic but no AC and they run fine in the summer. Garage temps hover close to 100F but they run fine.

If Bitmain can lower their price by half I could see getting some but at .75 btc I am WAY better off buying BTC from Coinbase….

[Trammel]

I've got a Corsair RM850 which is running two over clocked S1's.  I was thinking of getting two S3's, and was wondering what PSU to get, I would like to get a PSU that has 8 PCI-e connectors.  What would you guys suggest for such a PSU?

If you like your Corsair and want to stick with the brand, the RM1000 and the AX1500i, AX1200i all satisfy your requirements.

Yes, I do like Corsair.  Obviously with 4 PCI-e per S3 we are overclocking, so which of those three would be suitable for overclocking the S3's?

[-droid-]

So I've ordered 4 of these S3's out of the batch1 and will be running them off of a 1000w Rosewill Capstone 80+gold and a 850w evga G2 gold

out of the specs the rosewill has 6 pci-e and the evga also has 6 pci-e

knowing this I will probably only be able to overclock 1 per PSU on 4 of the connectors, and the other s3 running stock on the remaining 2 connectors

[pumaro]

you should get 4 850 watt psu's your psu's should only be running about 60% to stay in the efficiency range.