ANTMINER S3+ Discussion and Support Thread

[robyone]

I have a Corsair AX1200 high end power supply having min 90% efficiency at 50% load.
I loaded it with an overclocked S3 (s) running at 250Mhz and 500Ghs+.
The power consumption at Wall is around 400W at 220VAC.
I then connected it to a 12V DC Source directly omitting the Power Supply.
Now the power consumption is around 260Watts to 300Watts, the DC-DC converter's efficiency is near 90%.
So, I should assume from my findings that before PSU the S3 consumes <300Watts and at all 430W.
The ammeter used in both case where same and did testing multiple times with same results.
Antminer S3 <- 24VDC-12VDC Converter <- 24VDC Solar Charge Controller <-  <300W
Antminer S3 <- Power Supply                <- 24VDC Invertered to AC         <- 24VDC Solar Charge Controller <-    430W

do I understand correctly:
Antminer S3 <- 24VDC-12VDC Converter <- 24VDC Solar Charge Controller <-  <300W
Antminer S3 <- Power Supply                <- 220V power outlet <-    340W

?
Maybe then:
Antminer S3 <- 24VDC-12VDC Converter <- 220V power outlet <-  <300W
?

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[Gogreen]

@Askit2: Thanks.

Meanwhile I learned I should buy a Gold certified PSU. Agree?

Now the question: Antminer's Google Translator supported customer service says if I use 1 big PSU to power 2 miners, they will generate only 800Gh/s. Compare that to 453Gh/s per single miner.

Should I run 2 miners from 1 or 2 PSUs? How the math all adds up?

if you wan to oc then one per s3 like rm650 gold.  or u can run 3 s3 on 2 rm650 normal speed

[Gogreen]

So if you have 2 S3's and they're overclocked and pulling 374w each, then that's about 750w, so you should be looking for something in the range of 1200-1500w in platinum or gold rated.

A lot of people from the various hardware overclockers forums like to keep saying this. While it is probably fairly accurate statement, under most circumstances for Bitcoin mining it does not make financial sense to go for that extra 2-3% additional efficiency when you end up having to pay $100-200 more for the larger PSU just so that you can run it at 50% load.

I kinda agree but is there any good reason to oc them?

[robyone]

I kinda agree but is there any good reason to oc them?

if you are lucky and have a stable unit, then you can get better GH/WATT relation.
check here for detailed info on this:
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=699064.460

this is cut from the thread:

Code:

#option 'freq_value'    '0982'  #502Gh/s 402W/ 0.800W per GH
   #option 'chip_freq'     '250'
   #option 'timeout'       '16'
  
   #option 'freq_value'    '1306'  #490Gh/s 385W/ 0.786W per GH
   #option 'chip_freq'     '243.75'
   #option 'timeout'       '16'
  
   #option 'freq_value'    '0902'  #478Gh/s 367W/ 0.768W per GH
   #option 'chip_freq'     '237.5'
   #option 'timeout'       '17'
  
   #option 'freq_value'    '1206'  #465Gh/s 356W/ 0.766W per GH
   #option 'chip_freq'     '231.25'
   #option 'timeout'       '17'
  
   #option 'freq_value'    '0882'  #452Gh/s 346W/ 0.765W per GH
   #option 'chip_freq'     '225'
   #option 'timeout'       '18'
  
   option 'freq_value'    '1106'  #441Gh/s 340W Default/ 0.771W per GH
   option 'chip_freq'     '218.75'
   option 'timeout'       '18'

[Gogreen]

Thanks ,this is useful. I will test one of my s3 

[xstr8guy]

So if you have 2 S3's and they're overclocked and pulling 374w each, then that's about 750w, so you should be looking for something in the range of 1200-1500w in platinum or gold rated.

A lot of people from the various hardware overclockers forums like to keep saying this. While it is probably fairly accurate statement, under most circumstances for Bitcoin mining it does not make financial sense to go for that extra 2-3% additional efficiency when you end up having to pay $100-200 more for the larger PSU just so that you can run it at 50% load.

I kinda agree but is there any good reason to oc them?

No. The difference in income between overclocked and standard settings is negligible with the increased electrical usage. These chips are already running near their max capacity.

[mahowi]

Does anybody have the commands for installing nano on the s3 by putty?
Tried "opkg update" and "opkg install nano" but get errores on the first already

The repository in /etc/opkg.conf is incorrect, so it doesn't have any packages to install.  However even if you fix that (add /base to the path), there isn't a precompiled nano package for this openwrt variant. I suggest learning some basic vi skills, as it's the lowest common denominator in the editor world (any *nix machine will have vi).

What variant are they using with the S3?

8 )

They are using barrier breaker. To repeat myself, here are the changes you have to do for installing packages again:

Pathes have changed on openwrt repository server, there are now 5 different pathes. You have to change /etc/opk.conf:

Code:

root@antMinerS3:~# cat /etc/opkg.conf
src/gz barrier_breaker http://downloads.openwrt.org/snapshots/trunk/ar71xx/packages/packages
src/gz base http://downloads.openwrt.org/snapshots/trunk/ar71xx/packages/base
src/gz luci http://downloads.openwrt.org/snapshots/trunk/ar71xx/packages/luci
src/gz routing http://downloads.openwrt.org/snapshots/trunk/ar71xx/packages/routing
src/gz management http://downloads.openwrt.org/snapshots/trunk/ar71xx/packages/management
src/gz telephony http://downloads.openwrt.org/snapshots/trunk/ar71xx/packages/telephony
dest root /
dest ram /tmp
lists_dir ext /var/opkg-lists
option overlay_root /overlay

Code:

opkg update && opkg install nano

should work after modification. You could do the changes also via webinterface of your Antminer.

P.S.: Works also on S1 the same way.

[7queue]

Does anybody have the commands for installing nano on the s3 by putty?
Tried "opkg update" and "opkg install nano" but get errores on the first already

The repository in /etc/opkg.conf is incorrect, so it doesn't have any packages to install.  However even if you fix that (add /base to the path), there isn't a precompiled nano package for this openwrt variant. I suggest learning some basic vi skills, as it's the lowest common denominator in the editor world (any *nix machine will have vi).

What variant are they using with the S3?

8 )

They are using barrier breaker. To repeat myself, here are the changes you have to do for installing packages again:

Pathes have changed on openwrt repository server, there are now 5 different pathes. You have to change /etc/opk.conf:

Code:

root@antMinerS3:~# cat /etc/opkg.conf
src/gz barrier_breaker http://downloads.openwrt.org/snapshots/trunk/ar71xx/packages/packages
src/gz base http://downloads.openwrt.org/snapshots/trunk/ar71xx/packages/base
src/gz luci http://downloads.openwrt.org/snapshots/trunk/ar71xx/packages/luci
src/gz routing http://downloads.openwrt.org/snapshots/trunk/ar71xx/packages/routing
src/gz management http://downloads.openwrt.org/snapshots/trunk/ar71xx/packages/management
src/gz telephony http://downloads.openwrt.org/snapshots/trunk/ar71xx/packages/telephony
dest root /
dest ram /tmp
lists_dir ext /var/opkg-lists
option overlay_root /overlay

Code:

opkg update && opkg install nano

should work after modification. You could do the changes also via webinterface of your Antminer.

P.S.: Works also on S1 the same way.

Thanks, there is so much information to dig through...

I was asking primarily for cross compiling, I wanted to see if I could solo mine straight from the ants.

I've the latest github master pull built of cgminer, replaced driver-bitmain.{c,h} with a prior version found in this branch, cgminer-kanoi-ants1-4.3.2a-85fcf0c, of Kanoi repo, and it is running fine.

Working on cgminer-api found on the controller next, no stats show in LuCI, api-example.c needs tweaking as it doesn't compile as is.

Are the kernel modules and LuCI sources available?

Looking at the schematics for the V1.2 S1 Controller the blades are tied to the UART on the PIC, the USB HUB seems to be there only to make cgminer happy. (Edit: sleep and coffee help one see how the USB is connected...)

I haven't an S3 or S1 upgrade kit yet to tinker with, besides this endeavor is in the name of pure fun!

Oh, If I use the original versions of driver-bitmain.{c,h} from github cgminer master branch all I get are errors.

8 )

[jpchrist]

If anyone is curious just how bad of a deal bitmains hashnest is, here are the number assuming their current maintenance fee, cost, 15% diff increase, and very optimistic btc value of 700.  Bottom line: you are nearly guaranteed to lose ~1/2 your investment.  Shame on you bitmain.

FYI: would need to average < 7% diff increase to turn a small profit.

[SFMiner]

Did people get coupons for ordering in batch 4?
I never received any just wondering if Im the only one 

You're definitely not the only one.  I haven't received any coupons since batch 3, but let's hope Bitmain sends some out shortly... I'd love to get in on batch 8 as well.

[vortexz]

they started to become greedier and greedier, so no more coupons for us !

[DevonMiner]

they started to become greedier and greedier, so no more coupons for us !

Let's be clear here, Bitmain had a secret agenda, which has now been revealed ... hashnest ... YOU (the buying public/private miner) are not now on their main agenda ....

Shame, I had faith like others ... and bought a good many miners from them over the months.

[sjc1490]

they started to become greedier and greedier, so no more coupons for us !

Let's be clear here, Bitmain had a secret agenda, which has now been revealed ... hashnest ... YOU (the buying public/private miner) are not now on their main agenda ....

Shame, I had faith like others ... and bought a good many miners from them over the months.

I really think this is what the future holds for us, not to far off in the distant future I think home mining unfortunately will be a thing of the past. The hardware is just progressing so fast it is getting more and more difficult to house and power what is necessary to acquire btc. Forget the ROI debate as I mine to hold for investment with the hope one day the will rise in price. My 2 cents.

[dogie]

they started to become greedier and greedier, so no more coupons for us !

Let's be clear here, Bitmain had a secret agenda, which has now been revealed ... hashnest ... YOU (the buying public/private miner) are not now on their main agenda ....

Shame, I had faith like others ... and bought a good many miners from them over the months.

Thats not really true. S2s unfortunately proved unsuitable for shipping both physically and due to the controllers. They stopped selling them to the public when they realised and instead accelerated the S3s.

[visdude]

they started to become greedier and greedier, so no more coupons for us !

Let's be clear here, Bitmain had a secret agenda, which has now been revealed ... hashnest ... YOU (the buying public/private miner) are not now on their main agenda ....

Shame, I had faith like others ... and bought a good many miners from them over the months.

Thats not really true. S2s unfortunately proved unsuitable for shipping both physically and due to the controllers. They stopped selling them to the public when they realised and instead accelerated the S3s.

...and Bitmain accelerated the S3's development too fast (read: gotta make that money as soon as possible) that they rendered it just as temperamental as the S2s.

[Gogreen]

Huge shippment delay on B8 ??  Oh mine

[grn]

Huge shippment delay on B8 ??  Oh mine

What delay? its not 20th yet

[Reynaldo]

my psu wont turn up.. i bought a brand new Rm 850 Corsair, using a paper clip with doogies diagram (green and black) and psu will not turn on.. any ideas or help boys?

using the paper clip i get a sound eachtime i power it up but the fans wont go on...im connecting the 24 pin to the power supply and other side has the paper clip on third and fourth pin as dogie's post, and then i connect 2 6pin pci -e to the antminer (not the same row ) and my power supply fan wont go on, just do a sound each time i turn it on or off.

[visdude]

my psu wont turn up.. i bought a brand new Rm 850 Corsair, using a paper clip with doogies diagram (green and black) and psu will not turn on.. any ideas or help boys?

using the paper clip i get a sound eachtime i power it up but the fans wont go on...im connecting the 24 pin to the power supply and other side has the paper clip on third and fourth pin as dogie's post, and then i connect 2 6pin pci -e to the antminer (not the same row ) and my power supply fan wont go on, just do a sound each time i turn it on or off.

The wires of the RM 850's modular 24-pin ATX cable are all black.  Make sure you have the correct "third and fourth" pins shorted/bridged which are pins #15 (ground - black color code) and #16 (PS-ON - green color code) respectively and on the locking latch/tab side of the connector.

[Reynaldo]

thanks alot, im just paranoid retarded.. lol my psu wont spin till its 40% of its capacity.. thanks.