ANTMINER S3+ Discussion and Support Thread

[soy]

anyone installed an upgrade kit yet?
I am about to do some. I dont see how they get the S3 firmware onto them tho??
there is a new power board and the old control board is attached to it.
So how does it get the newer firmware on it? Their video kind of forgets to tell you that!
Also their video doesnt show where these springed screws go.
Never mind the dude putting screw mounts in the middle of the board where the heat sink is supposed to go then suddenly those screws are missing when he puts the heat sink on...

 I havent taken and S1 or S3 apart before so why would I know this info!

I looked over the new hashing boards and they luckily dont look burned and are dated 8/1/2014 so hopefully they are good stuff and not batch 1 junk. blah!

May I ask how one finds the hashing board date?

[bspurloc]

anyone installed an upgrade kit yet?
I am about to do some. I dont see how they get the S3 firmware onto them tho??
there is a new power board and the old control board is attached to it.
So how does it get the newer firmware on it? Their video kind of forgets to tell you that!
Also their video doesnt show where these springed screws go.
Never mind the dude putting screw mounts in the middle of the board where the heat sink is supposed to go then suddenly those screws are missing when he puts the heat sink on...

 I havent taken and S1 or S3 apart before so why would I know this info!

I looked over the new hashing boards and they luckily dont look burned and are dated 8/1/2014 so hopefully they are good stuff and not batch 1 junk. blah!

May I ask how one finds the hashing board date?

top right corner 20140801

[dawkterdan]

I have two of the Antminer S3+. One I set up problem free.

The other, after a botched upgrade on the firmware, is no longer showing up on any IP scans and I can't access it. What should I do?

[bspurloc]

1 upgrade kit done running at 243 getting 492gh/s. I used the non gui freq firmware and added cgminer 4.6
not showing the 2nd fans RPM's though. although I think this one had one of the older 2013 junko fans on it that I swapped out with a dell 390 fan. so I am not worried about that as the temps are 40/37 which is the same as the other s3's

[MoreBloodWine]

I think it's you who should check your facts.  I have installed antMiner_S320140826.bin (latest firmware on the Bitmain S3 support page) and am pretty sure that it does include 100M and 500M because I am currently using 243.75M.  If you're still not convinced, then that's your problem; sorry for trying to help out.  This was posted on the prior page, just before your post:

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=671189.msg8882222#msg8882222

Just for shits n giggles becaise it proves ME right about 243.75, so whos checking whos facts now ?

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=699064.msg8370071#msg8370071

(Here are highlighted in red the lines with new frequency not included in the stock firmware.)

MBW, you are thinking of the next-to-latest firmware.  The last one before the S3+ firmware does not have the 243.75 setting, but the one for the S3+ (and S3 works fine with, too) DOES have 243.75.  I have one S3 with each.

Ok, so technically me and visdude are both wrong so apologies here.

[TrevorS]

So, looking from the RJ45 socket end, which board, left or right, is the upper Vs lower of the ASIC status display?  How about the sequence of ASICs -- start at near left, far left, near right, or far right?  Any answers to this?

on the S1 the right side was board 1 left side board 2.  I would assume its the same for the S3

Thanks!

Anyone know if replacing heat sink compound generally helps relatively high HW%?  I just installed a couple S3+ and one is great, but the other is running about .02% HW (much higher than any of my S3s) plus it's also very sluggish to gather speed.  (August 26 FW and cfgminer 4.6.0 in all.)

PS. I'm thinking this is one S3+ which is happier as an S3 at 218.75MHz -- rapid speed attainment and low HW%.

PPS.  To Whom It May Concern -- The Aug 26 FW release definitely includes the 243.75  MHz clock!

[Moria843]

One of my new S3s has a fan running at 3900 RPM even though the temperature indicates its only 35 C. Has anyone seen this before and know how to resolve?

[TrevorS]

One of my new S3s has a fan running at 3900 RPM even though the temperature indicates its only 35 C. Has anyone seen this before and know how to resolve?

What speed is the other fan reporting?

[soy]

So the problem S3 was down around 430GH/s this morning and I decided to go over its probably reworked board, the board that had grossly over-tightened screws, but would try frequency change first. 

It had been down to 430 so I tried changing the frequency to check out its effect on hashrate.  In /etc/config/asic-freq I changed to f=225, rebooted and restarted cgminer to get a fresh time duration.  I gave it some time but it came up very slowly only to 420 or so.  And it was a cool morning!  All the other machines were hashing perfectly.  So, I tried again, this time with f=212.5 but again it came up slow and only to 417GH/s.  So, I ripped it apart again.

I was going to concentrate on its ASICs at the hot end of the reworked board, but ended up getting distracted.  What distracted me was that the board had marking in black ink at the far right under the top ASIC (on this board that would be near the intake fan).  Might have been Chinese or a code of some kind.  So, I cleaned that ACIC and the one under it with a spray of automobile brake cleaner such that all thermal paste was removed.  Must be careful with the stuff as it will mar many plastics.  I sprayed those ASICs cleaning around the pins, reapplied thermal compound to both sides of the blade and reassembled.  The brake cleaner removed the notation marks on that blade.  When I reassembled, for a change, I put the bad board on the right side facing the RJ45 connector.

I started it up then ran to the store and back.  Right now the 'difficult' S3, at a frequency of 218.75, after 1hr 20min, has an average hashrate of 443.74GH/s.  The temps are both 40° with fan speeds of 2040/1800.  Time will tell.

Bummer.  Up now over 6hrs and the hashrate has started to drop off.  Could be to an increase in humidity and that the first S3 hasn't seen a similar tailing off of hashrate because its average is over a 12hr period but probably not as it's at 442.24GH/s utility 17 while the problem S3 has tailed off to 437.63, utility 15.  Experience tells me it will continue to fall and tomorrow morning may be down around 420GH/s.  Temps are 40/39 and fans 1920/1620.  The good S3 has 40/38 3180/1920 and the good and questionable S3's are side by side.  What jumps out are the higher fan speeds of the good S3.

[bspurloc]

ok 2 upgrade kits up and running, neither show rpm's for 2nd fan so I assume that part is lingering from the S1's control board.
Oh well not needed, I've had 2 fans on these since turning them on.

Both running at 492gh/s good enough for me.

I'll say one thing about Bitmain, they sure think using 10x more tape than is needed is a good thing.
Now I ponder why the tape is yellowishy... smog related?

[soy]

So, looking from the RJ45 socket end, which board, left or right, is the upper Vs lower of the ASIC status display?  How about the sequence of ASICs -- start at near left, far left, near right, or far right?  Any answers to this?

on the S1 the right side was board 1 left side board 2.  I would assume its the same for the S3

Thanks!

Anyone know if replacing heat sink compound generally helps relatively high HW%?  I just installed a couple S3+ and one is great, but the other is running about .02% HW (much higher than any of my S3s) plus it's also very sluggish to gather speed.  (August 26 FW and cfgminer 4.6.0 in all.)

PS. I'm thinking this is one S3+ which is happier as an S3 at 218.75MHz -- rapid speed attainment and low HW%.

PPS.  To Whom It May Concern -- The Aug 26 FW release definitely includes the 243.75  MHz clock!

I don't have a pre-thermal paste change stats saved to compare but a problem S3 that has seen its heat sink compound changed runs at much lower HW errors than my good S3 but has tailing off hashrate.  Not sure how important it is as my two S3+'s have starkly different HW errors both running 1 day 20 hours, 452.17GH/s HW 3,974, Utility 17 & 453.61GH/s HW 153 Utility 17.  Online the machine having the higher HW errors and slightly lower hashrate has more shares, roughly 2.3% more shares.

[soy]

Wonder what is being used to sense temperature and what translates that to adjust fan speed.   Thermistors or sensistors on the hashing boards and fan speed adjustment on the controller board?

[dawkterdan]

I have two of the Antminer S3+. One I set up problem free.

The other, after a botched upgrade on the firmware, is no longer showing up on any IP scans and I can't access it. What should I do?

Check your router for the ants ip?

Yeah. Only one of them shows up(the one that is hashing). Seems it has disappeared... Any ideas on resetting/finding it?

[MiningBuddy]

...snip...
Now I ponder why the tape is yellowishy... smog related?

I think it turns yellow due to the heat, I've seen it in other non mining appliances before.

[TrevorS]

I have two of the Antminer S3+. One I set up problem free.

The other, after a botched upgrade on the firmware, is no longer showing up on any IP scans and I can't access it. What should I do?

Check your router for the ants ip?

Yeah. Only one of them shows up(the one that is hashing). Seems it has disappeared... Any ideas on resetting/finding it?

Try resetting the S3 (button to the near right of the RJ45 connector).  If that doesn't work (doesn't return to fixed IP 192.168.1.99), then either BitmainTech can help (return for service) or I fear you're out of luck.  Interrupted flash is usually disastrous!

[TrevorS]

So, looking from the RJ45 socket end, which board, left or right, is the upper Vs lower of the ASIC status display?  How about the sequence of ASICs -- start at near left, far left, near right, or far right?  Any answers to this?

on the S1 the right side was board 1 left side board 2.  I would assume its the same for the S3

Thanks!

Anyone know if replacing heat sink compound generally helps relatively high HW%?  I just installed a couple S3+ and one is great, but the other is running about .02% HW (much higher than any of my S3s) plus it's also very sluggish to gather speed.  (August 26 FW and cfgminer 4.6.0 in all.)

PS. I'm thinking this is one S3+ which is happier as an S3 at 218.75MHz -- rapid speed attainment and low HW%.

PPS.  To Whom It May Concern -- The Aug 26 FW release definitely includes the 243.75  MHz clock!

Wayward S3+ seems to have settled down regarding speed (225 MHz clock), but HW% remains neighborhood .02.

[soy]

So the problem S3 was down around 430GH/s this morning and I decided to go over its probably reworked board, the board that had grossly over-tightened screws, but would try frequency change first. 

It had been down to 430 so I tried changing the frequency to check out its effect on hashrate.  In /etc/config/asic-freq I changed to f=225, rebooted and restarted cgminer to get a fresh time duration.  I gave it some time but it came up very slowly only to 420 or so.  And it was a cool morning!  All the other machines were hashing perfectly.  So, I tried again, this time with f=212.5 but again it came up slow and only to 417GH/s.  So, I ripped it apart again.

I was going to concentrate on its ASICs at the hot end of the reworked board, but ended up getting distracted.  What distracted me was that the board had marking in black ink at the far right under the top ASIC (on this board that would be near the intake fan).  Might have been Chinese or a code of some kind.  So, I cleaned that ACIC and the one under it with a spray of automobile brake cleaner such that all thermal paste was removed.  Must be careful with the stuff as it will mar many plastics.  I sprayed those ASICs cleaning around the pins, reapplied thermal compound to both sides of the blade and reassembled.  The brake cleaner removed the notation marks on that blade.  When I reassembled, for a change, I put the bad board on the right side facing the RJ45 connector.

I started it up then ran to the store and back.  Right now the 'difficult' S3, at a frequency of 218.75, after 1hr 20min, has an average hashrate of 443.74GH/s.  The temps are both 40° with fan speeds of 2040/1800.  Time will tell.

Bummer.  Up now over 6hrs and the hashrate has started to drop off.  Could be to an increase in humidity and that the first S3 hasn't seen a similar tailing off of hashrate because its average is over a 12hr period but probably not as it's at 442.24GH/s utility 17 while the problem S3 has tailed off to 437.63, utility 15.  Experience tells me it will continue to fall and tomorrow morning may be down around 420GH/s.  Temps are 40/39 and fans 1920/1620.  The good S3 has 40/38 3180/1920 and the good and questionable S3's are side by side.  What jumps out are the higher fan speeds of the good S3.

Too bad.  1:30AM, checking the problem S3 and its hashrate has dropped to 429.01GH/s after 9hr 55min.  Since I have two S3's, I could take what I think is the bad board and swap it into the other S3 and see if the good S3 then has a falling hashrate - just to make sure which board is bad.  What's wrong with that is that the other S3, purchased from a reseller in the mid-west, runs fine (presently 441.67GH/s) while the problem S3 is from Florida (and that guy wants me to remove the 1 star Amazon rating, screw him, opened the bottom of a box from a good one and put the probably returned problem in and sent it out as new). By morning the problem S3 will likely be down to 420GH/s.  Wonder if it's accumulating errors in an ASIC that then shuts down engines over time.  Wonder if China sends more problem S3's to Florida than elsewhere given that Florida is a problem state like Shanghai crime before 1949.  I'm not a happy camper.

soy

[TrevorS]

Just gave a three star to an Amazon used PSU seller, but so far seemingly OK on S3s.  However, am wondering about Luke Jr's Eligius pool!  Only joined last week and first two payouts were a reasonable number of hours following my crossing the default threshold.  However, am now waiting several blocks into the payout queue with preceding total >90 BTC before my latest payout!  My question is how can a payout depend on significantly more than the value of the currently discovering/verifying block?  After 24 hours I'm still over a block behind.  Does that remind anyone else of a Ponzi scheme?  Why should multiple later blocks be required to pay off current block earnings?

[xstr8guy]

Just gave a three star to an Amazon used PSU seller, but so far seemingly OK on S3s.  However, am wondering about Luke Jr's Eligius pool!  Only joined last week and first two payouts were a reasonable number of hours following my crossing the default threshold.  However, I'm now waiting several blocks in the payout queue with preceding total >90 BTC before my latest payout!  My question is how can a payout depend on significantly more than the currently completing block?  After 24 hours I'm still over a block behind.  Does that remind anyone else of a Ponzi scheme?  Why should multiple later blocks be required to pay off current blocks?

Try posting this in the Eligius thread. There are literally dozens of people who will gladly educate you in every arcane aspect of their payout methods. Lol. It's VERY confusing to say the least.

But without a doubt, Eligius is not a Ponzi scheme. They always keep plenty in reserve and make sure every block/payout is valid before they send out payment.

[bspurloc]

Just gave a three star to an Amazon used PSU seller, but so far seemingly OK on S3s.  However, am wondering about Luke Jr's Eligius pool!  Only joined last week and first two payouts were a reasonable number of hours following my crossing the default threshold.  However, am now waiting several blocks into the payout queue with preceding total >90 BTC before my latest payout!  My question is how can a payout depend on significantly more than the value of the currently discovering/verifying block?  After 24 hours I'm still over a block behind.  Does that remind anyone else of a Ponzi scheme?  Why should multiple later blocks be required to pay off current block earnings?

If u want your payouts asap dont use Eligius.

as person X in spot 10 waits for their payout you being in spot 20. spot 10's total keeps growing. so they keep taking away from the top and the leftovers trickle down to the next person. it is really annoying.
and THEN u must wait for your payout to mature in your wallet which is um I believe 100 blocks...