BITMAIN Antminer S3 support and OverClocking thread

[booradlly]

I'm thinking of buying 3 or 4 Antminer S3, but right now I'm puzzled about getting proper power supplies for these.

• Such EVGA 1300 G2 is quite pricey, are there any cheaper alternatives?
• Can 3 Antminer S3 be powered by a single EVGA 1300 G2 without problem?
• When overclocking 3 or 4 Antminer S3, how do you solve the power supply issue with 4 power connections each S3 (since a EVGA 1300 G2 only comes with 6 cables)?
• What's the power draw of an Antminer S3 when running at 250 MHz?
  

1) yes - but generally it would mean using a server power supply which is louder and less friendly to use in a small setup. THE EVGA 1300 is a great unit at a good price
2) yes, even at ~380W each you are left with over 150W of overhead capacity on the 12V rail
3) either get a good quality splitter or just use 2 connections per unit. AFAIK using all 4 connectors doesnt provide much realworld benefit but might be slightly safer for the pcb traces
4) closer to 380-400W

Ok, see this seems to be going against earlier theories in the thread, but this at least makes sense. With a power draw of 400w or less, I would think we could use the same power setup we had for overclocked s1's. I.E. only TWO pcie cables. But other people have STRONGLY recommended using 4 pcie cables when overclocking the s3's. The reason they give is decreasing the power draw on the pcie cables. Makes sense, but this implies we have been near melting our pcie cables with the s1's for the past couple of months. What gives ?

[Master One]

Ok, see this seems to be going against earlier theories in the thread, but this at least makes sense. With a power draw of 400w or less, I would think we could use the same power setup we had for overclocked s1's. I.E. only TWO pcie cables. But other people have STRONGLY recommended using 4 pcie cables when overclocking the s3's. The reason they give is decreasing the power draw on the pcie cables. Makes sense, but this implies we have been near melting our pcie cables with the s1's for the past couple of months. What gives ?

I'd say the main sense is spreading the power distribution over two pcb tracks instead of just one.

[allcoinminer]

I'm thinking of buying 3 or 4 Antminer S3, but right now I'm puzzled about getting proper power supplies for these.

• Such EVGA 1300 G2 is quite pricey, are there any cheaper alternatives?
• Can 3 Antminer S3 be powered by a single EVGA 1300 G2 without problem?
• When overclocking 3 or 4 Antminer S3, how do you solve the power supply issue with 4 power connections each S3 (since a EVGA 1300 G2 only comes with 6 cables)?
• What's the power draw of an Antminer S3 when running at 250 MHz?
  

1) yes - but generally it would mean using a server power supply which is louder and less friendly to use in a small setup. THE EVGA 1300 is a great unit at a good price
2) yes, even at ~380W each you are left with over 150W of overhead capacity on the 12V rail
3) either get a good quality splitter or just use 2 connections per unit. AFAIK using all 4 connectors doesnt provide much realworld benefit but might be slightly safer for the pcb traces
4) closer to 380-400W

Ok, see this seems to be going against earlier theories in the thread, but this at least makes sense. With a power draw of 400w or less, I would think we could use the same power setup we had for overclocked s1's. I.E. only TWO pcie cables. But other people have STRONGLY recommended using 4 pcie cables when overclocking the s3's. The reason they give is decreasing the power draw on the pcie cables. Makes sense, but this implies we have been near melting our pcie cables with the s1's for the past couple of months. What gives ?

Even if overclocked to 250Mhz, 1 PCI power cable per blade is just enough.
But its strongly recommended having 2 PCI power cable per blade.
The system will be more relaxed and the wire temperature will be much better.
Cooler wires will give less power loss, even though its not much large.

[Azmodeus]

I'm thinking of buying 3 or 4 Antminer S3, but right now I'm puzzled about getting proper power supplies for these.

• Such EVGA 1300 G2 is quite pricey, are there any cheaper alternatives?
• Can 3 Antminer S3 be powered by a single EVGA 1300 G2 without problem?
• When overclocking 3 or 4 Antminer S3, how do you solve the power supply issue with 4 power connections each S3 (since a EVGA 1300 G2 only comes with 6 cables)?
• What's the power draw of an Antminer S3 when running at 250 MHz?
  

I'm assuming the 1300 has the same setup or better than the 1000 G1. There are 6 pcie cables but 4 of them have single pci connectors on the ends and 2 of them actually have double pcie connectors on the end, effectively giving you 8 pcie per power supply. I have 16 Ants running off of 8 EVGA 1000 G1's, all with all 4 connectors plugged in and they've all been doing great since they arrived.

[philipma1957]

the evga 1300 has 6 cables 4 singles and 2  doubles.  it runs 3 at  freq 237 and 475 g-hash pulls about 1100 watts 0 issues.  

today I decided to try freq 250  I am getting 505 gh and pulling 380 watts each,   but I am doing 2 per unit for now.

I have some more s-3's on order my batch 4 were outstanding .

 my batch 1's were meh.

 I am hoping my batch 6 are as good as my batch 4.

[JennaK]

Anyone know if I can power one AntMiner from two different PSUs? I have two AntMiner s3 connected with 4 PCI cables each and over clocked.. I still have room inbetween my two cx750s
Is it possible?

[philipma1957]

Anyone know if I can power one AntMiner from two different PSUs? I have two AntMiner s3 connected with 4 PCI cables each and over clocked.. I still have room inbetween my two cx750s
Is it possible?

  if you do it correctly yes.


 if you do it wrong short dead gear

[JennaK]

Anyone know if I can power one AntMiner from two different PSUs? I have two AntMiner s3 connected with 4 PCI cables each and over clocked.. I still have room inbetween my two cx750s
Is it possible?

  if you do it correctly yes.


 if you do it wrong short dead gear

Well correctly would be to put one pci e cable on each side right?

[squashpile]

Testing 237.5 on one B4 now. I think the HW errors are going to be way too high. This one has been fine at 225.

[JennaK]

Is there anyone here that can post what PSU they have and if its powering an overclocked antminer s3?
I am a dumb girl that can't figure out this whole PSU situation
I can't choose between a CX500, CX600 or CX750 per antminer.
The cost between those power supplies are quite a bit for me.
HELP!

WHAT CONFUSES ME IS THAT SOME PEOPLE SAY I SHOULD GET A PSU WITH 4 SEPERATE PCI-E connections.
SOME PEOPLE SAY THE ANTMINER S3 will overclock well on 2 SEPERATE PCI-E CONNECTIONS.

I can't choose!

[smesterj]

I have a blade that works 3 C higher than the other how do I know physically which one is?

Will like to check the thermal paste on it and don't want to take out the one that is fine.

[smesterj]

Is there anyone here that can post what PSU they have and if its powering an overclocked antminer s3?
I am a dumb girl that can't figure out this whole PSU situation
I can't choose between a CX500, CX600 or CX750 per antminer.
The cost between those power supplies are quite a bit for me.
HELP!

WHAT CONFUSES ME IS THAT SOME PEOPLE SAY I SHOULD GET A PSU WITH 4 SEPERATE PCI-E connections.
SOME PEOPLE SAY THE ANTMINER S3 will overclock well on 2 SEPERATE PCI-E CONNECTIONS.

I can't choose!

JennaK, I am using a CX750 with the 4 PCI-E connected.
Was able to overclock to 250 and get more hashing but the temperature goes high 4 degrees in each board so I went back to 218.75 to avoid burning it before get my ROI.

[booradlly]

Is there anyone here that can post what PSU they have and if its powering an overclocked antminer s3?
I am a dumb girl that can't figure out this whole PSU situation
I can't choose between a CX500, CX600 or CX750 per antminer.
The cost between those power supplies are quite a bit for me.
HELP!

WHAT CONFUSES ME IS THAT SOME PEOPLE SAY I SHOULD GET A PSU WITH 4 SEPERATE PCI-E connections.
SOME PEOPLE SAY THE ANTMINER S3 will overclock well on 2 SEPERATE PCI-E CONNECTIONS.

I can't choose!

JennaK, I am using a CX750 with the 4 PCI-E connected.
Was able to overclock to 250 and get more hashing but the temperature goes high 4 degrees in each board so I went back to 218.75 to avoid burning it before get my ROI.

See this is exactly what I'm talking about, none of this is making any sense. Everyone is strongly suggesting using 4 pcie connectors instead of 2, yet they then give the above example.

In the above example, they might as well be using two pcie connectors instead of four. I have 2 cx750s, they have two double pcie connectors. Just because they have two pcie connectors on one pcie cable does not two pcie cables make. Those two pcie connectors are going to be heating up that one pcie wire just as much as if you plugged in one of the connectors. So yeah, you now have 4 pcie plugs but the temps are the same as two pcie plugs. Am I missing something?

Under the above example I would need 2 cx750s to power one overclocked antminer.

[squashpile]

CX750 is perfectly fine for OC S3 and better option than the CX750M for an OC S3 IMO.
4 SEPERATE PCI-E connections = CX750
2 SEPERATE PCI-E CONNECTIONS = C750M
I am OC S3@225 on both CX750 and CX750M though. Cables on M with 4 connection to S3 are still totally cool to touch in my environment. Still wish I had bought only CX750 now that I have S3's on them instead of S1's

Is there anyone here that can post what PSU they have and if its powering an overclocked antminer s3?
I am a dumb girl that can't figure out this whole PSU situation
I can't choose between a CX500, CX600 or CX750 per antminer.
The cost between those power supplies are quite a bit for me.
HELP!

WHAT CONFUSES ME IS THAT SOME PEOPLE SAY I SHOULD GET A PSU WITH 4 SEPERATE PCI-E connections.
SOME PEOPLE SAY THE ANTMINER S3 will overclock well on 2 SEPERATE PCI-E CONNECTIONS.

I can't choose!

JennaK, I am using a CX750 with the 4 PCI-E connected.
Was able to overclock to 250 and get more hashing but the temperature goes high 4 degrees in each board so I went back to 218.75 to avoid burning it before get my ROI.

See this is exactly what I'm talking about, none of this is making any sense. Everyone is strongly suggesting using 4 pcie connectors instead of 2, yet they then give the above example.

In the above example, they might as well be using two pcie connectors instead of four. I have 2 cx750s, they have two double pcie connectors. Just because they have two pcie connectors on one pcie cable does not two pcie cables make. Those two pcie connectors are going to be heating up that one pcie wire just as much as if you plugged in one of the connectors. So yeah, you now have 4 pcie plugs but the temps are the same as two pcie plugs. Am I missing something?

Under the above example I would need 2 cx750s to power one overclocked antminer.

[JennaK]

I bought 2 CX600 instead as they were cheap!!!

[MinersAnonymous]

Do any of you here know why the queue on the config is set so high? Is there a big gain from setting it to a lower number or why did they program 4096 as the queue. The discarded amounts are so high...

[Master One]

How much thermal paste do you need when cleaning out a S3 and reapplying?

What data should I look for when buying thermal paste?

I'm having difficulty finding specs to paste I have access here, one only says Specific Gravity: 2.49 g/cm3, another Heat Conduction: >4,5 W/m-k, and others don't provide any info at all.

[allcoinminer]

How much thermal paste do you need when cleaning out a S3 and reapplying?

What data should I look for when buying thermal paste?

I'm having difficulty finding specs to paste I have access here, one only says Specific Gravity: 2.49 g/cm3, another Heat Conduction: >4,5 W/m-k, and others don't provide any info at all.

As per bitmaintech support, look for heat conductivity above 3.
Look for a good brand and its should be zero electrical conductive and zero capacitive.

[allcoinminer]

CX750 is perfectly fine for OC S3 and better option than the CX750M for an OC S3 IMO.
4 SEPERATE PCI-E connections = CX750
2 SEPERATE PCI-E CONNECTIONS = C750M
I am OC S3@225 on both CX750 and CX750M though. Cables on M with 4 connection to S3 are still totally cool to touch in my environment. Still wish I had bought only CX750 now that I have S3's on them instead of S1's

Is there anyone here that can post what PSU they have and if its powering an overclocked antminer s3?
I am a dumb girl that can't figure out this whole PSU situation
I can't choose between a CX500, CX600 or CX750 per antminer.
The cost between those power supplies are quite a bit for me.
HELP!

WHAT CONFUSES ME IS THAT SOME PEOPLE SAY I SHOULD GET A PSU WITH 4 SEPERATE PCI-E connections.
SOME PEOPLE SAY THE ANTMINER S3 will overclock well on 2 SEPERATE PCI-E CONNECTIONS.

I can't choose!

JennaK, I am using a CX750 with the 4 PCI-E connected.
Was able to overclock to 250 and get more hashing but the temperature goes high 4 degrees in each board so I went back to 218.75 to avoid burning it before get my ROI.

See this is exactly what I'm talking about, none of this is making any sense. Everyone is strongly suggesting using 4 pcie connectors instead of 2, yet they then give the above example.

In the above example, they might as well be using two pcie connectors instead of four. I have 2 cx750s, they have two double pcie connectors. Just because they have two pcie connectors on one pcie cable does not two pcie cables make. Those two pcie connectors are going to be heating up that one pcie wire just as much as if you plugged in one of the connectors. So yeah, you now have 4 pcie plugs but the temps are the same as two pcie plugs. Am I missing something?

Under the above example I would need 2 cx750s to power one overclocked antminer.

There is no sense in asking these PSU questions again and again.
A lot of times here explained how to size the power supply for any device by your own.
Its as simple as driving a glass of chilled beer. Its not a rocket science.
I'm writing a thread on how to size psu for any miner and will post the link here soon.

[allcoinminer]

CX750 is perfectly fine for OC S3 and better option than the CX750M for an OC S3 IMO.
4 SEPERATE PCI-E connections = CX750
2 SEPERATE PCI-E CONNECTIONS = C750M
I am OC S3@225 on both CX750 and CX750M though. Cables on M with 4 connection to S3 are still totally cool to touch in my environment. Still wish I had bought only CX750 now that I have S3's on them instead of S1's

Is there anyone here that can post what PSU they have and if its powering an overclocked antminer s3?
I am a dumb girl that can't figure out this whole PSU situation
I can't choose between a CX500, CX600 or CX750 per antminer.
The cost between those power supplies are quite a bit for me.
HELP!

WHAT CONFUSES ME IS THAT SOME PEOPLE SAY I SHOULD GET A PSU WITH 4 SEPERATE PCI-E connections.
SOME PEOPLE SAY THE ANTMINER S3 will overclock well on 2 SEPERATE PCI-E CONNECTIONS.

I can't choose!

JennaK, I am using a CX750 with the 4 PCI-E connected.
Was able to overclock to 250 and get more hashing but the temperature goes high 4 degrees in each board so I went back to 218.75 to avoid burning it before get my ROI.

See this is exactly what I'm talking about, none of this is making any sense. Everyone is strongly suggesting using 4 pcie connectors instead of 2, yet they then give the above example.

In the above example, they might as well be using two pcie connectors instead of four. I have 2 cx750s, they have two double pcie connectors. Just because they have two pcie connectors on one pcie cable does not two pcie cables make. Those two pcie connectors are going to be heating up that one pcie wire just as much as if you plugged in one of the connectors. So yeah, you now have 4 pcie plugs but the temps are the same as two pcie plugs. Am I missing something?

Under the above example I would need 2 cx750s to power one overclocked antminer.

There is no sense in asking these PSU questions again and again.
A lot of times here explained how to size the power supply for any device by your own.
Its as simple as driving a glass of chilled beer. Its not a rocket science.
I'm writing a thread on how to size psu for any miner and will post the link here soon.

Here is my DIY thread for sizing/finding a Power Supply for S3 or any other dc device.
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=732106