ANTMINER S3+ Discussion and Support Thread

[contactlight]

Do we know how the refund process works? Will the application for a partial refund default to the address we sent the initial BTC from?

[not.you]

When we were doing the first mass production, we found that not all of the S3’s DC/DC module could be stable enough to support the 478GH/s speed. After long time testing, all of the S3 run stably at 441GH/s...

...Many of the customers may be lucky to find that their S3 can be overclocked to 478GH/s.

I wish I knew what the instability was exactly.  I think like most people the first thing I intend to do is OC it.  Do I need to be watching it for crashing?  Fire? I mean assuming it doesn't immediately start smoking or throwing huge numbers of HW errors.

[navigator]

I've been following this thread quite regularly and felt compelled to contribute with a posting.  I purchased a total of 14 S3's via two separate Batch 1 orders (Create Times 2014-06-30 14:20:15:0 & 2014-06-30 20:32:58.0) and still haven't received any shipment updates on either of them.  I share everyone's frustration regarding this not-so-smooth roll-out, especially since $6,200 USD (10 BTC) of my money is being held up without earning any interest. 

After confirming my orders with BitMain, I purchased the necessary amount of PSU's to accommodate this purchase.  I have to assume the S3’s I eventually get won’t share the specifications we all thought would come with every device, which means the money I most-likely overspent on PSU’s could have went towards something, ANYTHING else. 

I think what gets under my skin the most is it feels as if they are using the overall good reputation as a shield from this mishap.  In my opinion, I think this was evident in their statement indicating we could obtain a BS refund or whack ass future discount.  I doubt BitMain would agree if I told them I decided, after an agreement we’d made, to  deduct the amount I owed them for an S3 by 7.7% because I decided I was going to lower the hashing power/rate by about 30 GH/s as soon as I received it. 

The icing on the cake was that I decided not to use the $800 in coupons for two S2’s in the week leading up to the S3 release.  Never again will I pre-order with this company.  First time, shame on you.  Second time,

Why did you have to confirm your order with bitmain? Did you not send the btc to the payment address? People like you are slowing down the whole process.

You may end up getting your miner before they update your order status to shipped. Why do you want them to waste time updating a silly status on your account when it doesn't matter? Don't you want them to spend as much time as possible getting all the miners actually shipped out?

[Biodom]

When we were doing the first mass production, we found that not all of the S3’s DC/DC module could be stable enough to support the 478GH/s speed. After long time testing, all of the S3 run stably at 441GH/s...

...Many of the customers may be lucky to find that their S3 can be overclocked to 478GH/s.

I wish I knew what the instability was exactly.  I think like most people the first thing I intend to do is OC it.  Do I need to be watching it for crashing?  Fire? I mean assuming it doesn't immediately start smoking or throwing huge numbers of HW errors.

did you ever tried to overclock S1? in 24 hours you can see which one could handle it and which one could not-blades start to accumulate XX, sometimes miner becomes usntable with hashing speed fluctuating wildly. however, this time it is a different component (edit: resistors, thanksnot chips themselves), so I would do it cautiously if at all.

[Airwhale]

When we were doing the first mass production, we found that not all of the S3’s DC/DC module could be stable enough to support the 478GH/s speed. After long time testing, all of the S3 run stably at 441GH/s...

...Many of the customers may be lucky to find that their S3 can be overclocked to 478GH/s.

I wish I knew what the instability was exactly.  I think like most people the first thing I intend to do is OC it.  Do I need to be watching it for crashing?  Fire? I mean assuming it doesn't immediately start smoking or throwing huge numbers of HW errors.

did you ever tried to overclock S1? in 24 hours you can see which one could handle it and which one could not-blades start to accumulate XX, sometimes miner becomes usntable with hashing speed fluctuating wildly. however, this time it is a different component (not chips themselves), so I would do it cautiously if at all.

It wasn't the chips themselves, I believe it was the resistors not providing enough power to the chips.

[iglasses]

Based on what I have read right now I would be a bit nervous to OC an S3.  Getting h/w errors is one thing, turning it into a paperweight is another and outright creating a fire hazard is a place I just won't go.

[jimmyoh]

So what's everyone doing, coupon or refund?

For me it depends on when the coupons expire.
If I have enough btc before the expiration date I'll go with coupons.
If not then I'll take the refund.

Also depends on how long I have to send in my refund/coupon application.

edit:
In case you haven't checked the refund/coupon application is now available at bitmaintech.

[edonkey]

I went for the refund. The web form is live now and it seemed to work. Or at least it's in the queue with my BTC address.

As far as I'm concerned, the delivery delay and reduced hash rate is going to mess with my ROI. I'd rather have some money back now than wait for an unknown opportunity in the future.

[RecentGraduate]

@mrdude77 -  I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your reply in the form of public information that has absolutely nothing to do with the main point I was trying to make.  When did BitMain inform any would-be customers that they might receive a different product than what they were paying for?  I’m not disputing the shipping dates, although it would have been nice to have my devices shipped closer to the 10th versus the 20th. 

@navigator – I will answer your questions in the order you have given them.  Your interpretation of the word “confirmed” is different than I had intended it to be.  In the world outside of mom-and-dads house, other adults, especially those sending large sums of money to a foreign country, “CONFIRM” or “VERIFY” that those on the receiving end got exactly what was due to them. 
I’m going to answer your question about the BTC payment by simply acknowledging that I read it.  Heavy dose or sarcasm intended for you to get.  Just wanted to point that out in case you missed it.
Where I get a little peeved is you suggesting that “people like (me) are slowing down the whole process.”  It’s in my opinion that people like you have never really had to think, live, exist, etc. on their own.  If you had, you’d certainly come up with better questions to reply to my post with. 

The reason I want them to update the shipping status is because I gave them over $6,000 USD of my money.  I don’t really care how many miners they have to ship out with that kind of money being spent.  Again, if you lived outside the bubble your parents have kept you in, you’d understand where I am coming from.  This has resulted in me, a guy you’ve never met, doing what your parents should have been doing your whole life. 

[navigator]

I went for the refund. The web form is live now and it seemed to work. Or at least it's in the queue with my BTC address.

As far as I'm concerned, the delivery delay and reduced hash rate is going to mess with my ROI. I'd rather have some money back now than wait for an unknown opportunity in the future.

There has yet to be a delivery delay and the reduced hash is being compensated for with a proportional discount or partial refund. Your ROI is unaffected.

The very first post in this thread says they will ship between the 10th and 20th.

[navigator]

@mrdude77 -  I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your reply in the form of public information that has absolutely nothing to do with the main point I was trying to make.  When did BitMain inform any would-be customers that they might receive a different product than what they were paying for?  I’m not disputing the shipping dates, although it would have been nice to have my devices shipped closer to the 10th versus the 20th.  

Calm down. The first post of this thread says "Hash Rate: 478 GH/s±5%". It ended up being -7.7%.

[Pistachio]

Went for the refund option. The coupon seems more risky until the S3s arrive.

[RecentGraduate]

In other words, it's not the same product I thought I was purchasing?  For someone that has a username like "navigator," you appear to be quite lost.

[daddyfatsax]

In other words, it's not the same product I thought I was purchasing?  For someone that has a username like "navigator," you appear to be quite lost.

Seriously? It's 30 GH/s. So for $6,000 let's say you ordered 10 units. Let's say BTC is at $620. So you get a 10% coupon for $620 or 1 BTC. You can make up for your lost 300 GH/S with a free S3.

[iglasses]

Also opted for refund.  It's 10PM on the 14th. here in the East Coast and AFAIK my B1 order has not shipped yet.  If Bitmain was kicking ass and taking names I'd be more inclined to go coupon but it looks like it might be time to re-evaluate.  I want to buy hardware from guys that impress me, not DEpress me.

We got the gift of a lifetime with the lowest difficulty increase since Jan 2013 (when it actually went down) and two days of it is gone already and not one person who ordered a B1 device even has their shipping info yet.  I am guessing I will have little or no hashing at the current difficulty with my S3's and that just plain sux because it is a MAJOR factor in whether or not the S3's ROI.

[futurovida]

BITMAIN should advice when the coupon will expired for a better choice. or will never expired much better.

[CryptoCrane]

Well, I've contacted everyone who has purchased through me on Amazon and informed them that the specs have now changed and that an automatic partial refund of 7.7% will be applied to their orders unless they opt to cancel their order entirely. Feedback has been very positive thus far, but I'm probably going to go crazy if these don't ship tomorrow.

[kabopar]

Opted for the coupon.  Still 'unshipped'
Having some 'hiccups' on the very first production run is not a complete surprise.... part of the adventure...

cheers

[dropt]

<snip>

Next time order from BFL.  Or maybe Hashfast, or Cointerra, or AMT, Or AMC/VMC.

[bgibso01]

@mrdude77 -  I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your reply in the form of public information that has absolutely nothing to do with the main point I was trying to make.  When did BitMain inform any would-be customers that they might receive a different product than what they were paying for?  I’m not disputing the shipping dates, although it would have been nice to have my devices shipped closer to the 10th versus the 20th.  

@navigator – I will answer your questions in the order you have given them.  Your interpretation of the word “confirmed” is different than I had intended it to be.  In the world outside of mom-and-dads house, other adults, especially those sending large sums of money to a foreign country, “CONFIRM” or “VERIFY” that those on the receiving end got exactly what was due to them.  
I’m going to answer your question about the BTC payment by simply acknowledging that I read it.  Heavy dose or sarcasm intended for you to get.  Just wanted to point that out in case you missed it.
Where I get a little peeved is you suggesting that “people like (me) are slowing down the whole process.”  It’s in my opinion that people like you have never really had to think, live, exist, etc. on their own.  If you had, you’d certainly come up with better questions to reply to my post with.  

The reason I want them to update the shipping status is because I gave them over $6,000 USD of my money.  I don’t really care how many miners they have to ship out with that kind of money being spent.  Again, if you lived outside the bubble your parents have kept you in, you’d understand where I am coming from.  This has resulted in me, a guy you’ve never met, doing what your parents should have been doing your whole life.  

Kind of harsh.  Your $6k is just a drop in the bucket.  If you are going to play this game, you need to consider it gambling and roll the dice.  I'm just a hobby miner but still have over $20k in miners.  There's folks on here that take the game way more seriously than I do and I don't see them too concerned.

But come on, attacking a guy's *parent's house* is just low