ANTMINER S4 Discussion and Support Thread

[notlist3d]

My main concern is noise in a share house so I'm keen to get smits up and running but if it's too complicated I better try the standard FW first I suppose.

Honestly if your main concern in noise I would avoid S4's.  They are 2 TB machines that are not known for being quiet in most cases.

What part of it was to complicated?   I personally only used Smits firmware when nicehash was doing well over BTC, but that does not seem to happen to often now.  It's at negative 10 percent on sha256.

But it is a custom firmware he did very good at making.  It should be just flashing firmware. (Yes all firmware flashing has possibility of going wrong I suggest on S4 make a backup of SD before flashing).

Alright thanks I'll make sure to back up before flashing!

I highly suggest it there are backups on here if needed.  But I always liked my own backups as I could flash them quick on S4's.  That is part of why i loved them was running off SD card wish all bitmain miners used SD cards.

But it should not be to hard on flashing just like normal firmware.  It's been a while since I have used it though.

[lovenlifelarge]

Im happy to say i sold my S4 today for what i paid for it 9 months ago.. US$850

I leave this thread after many month of fun...

Later!

What country did you get 850?   Mind saying where you sold it?

Dang someone paid quite a bit more the going rate.

Ebay Australia is where i sold it..

$1000 for the unit & $200 postage...

I hand delivered the unit as it was only a 45min drive away...

$1250 Australian is $850 US

I also sold my C1 for $550 Aust which is $400 US which is what i paid for it too..

[lovenlifelarge]

My main concern is noise in a share house so I'm keen to get smits up and running but if it's too complicated I better try the standard FW first I suppose.

Hey see here for all the tips u need concerning the S4

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=796839.msg12444425#msg12444425

[thebonenz]

My main concern is noise in a share house so I'm keen to get smits up and running but if it's too complicated I better try the standard FW first I suppose.

Hey see here for all the tips u need concerning the S4

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=796839.msg12444425#msg12444425

Ah sweet I saw that post before but wasn't sure if it was the most up to date thanks!


[/quote]

Ebay Australia is where i sold it..

$1000 for the unit & $200 postage...

I hand delivered the unit as it was only a 45min drive away...

$1250 Australian is $850 US

I also sold my C1 for $550 Aust which is $400 US which is what i paid for it too..
[/quote]

I just got my S4 in Aus for $400 USD delivered or there abouts.

Are you still mining? Any tips for a new miner downunder?

[PeaMine]

Which firmware support voltage control of the S4?
Now with the cool weather, I can get 225 and stay under 50c, but I start getting random X's and sometimes the miner will die(no API or Web control) and I have to power cycle it.
Do I need to lower the voltage some to overclock, or raise it in this case?

[VirosaGITS]

Which firmware support voltage control of the S4?
Now with the cool weather, I can get 225 and stay under 50c, but I start getting random X's and sometimes the miner will die(no API or Web control) and I have to power cycle it.
Do I need to lower the voltage some to overclock, or raise it in this case?

The older one, you need to rewrite the firmware to a old firmware version, then setup a new CGMiner version. I'd recommend looking into getting the firmware off smits.

[PeaMine]

Which firmware support voltage control of the S4?
Now with the cool weather, I can get 225 and stay under 50c, but I start getting random X's and sometimes the miner will die(no API or Web control) and I have to power cycle it.
Do I need to lower the voltage some to overclock, or raise it in this case?

The older one, you need to rewrite the firmware to a old firmware version, then setup a new CGMiner version. I'd recommend looking into getting the firmware off smits.

Happen to know the last version that supported it?
https://bitmaintech.com/support.htm?pid=00720140930114518599JXGHWWD80660
Which custom version from Smits? Found this person: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=374051
May be going over my head for a few hundred GH, but I love to tinker so seems interesting at the same time

[VirosaGITS]

Which firmware support voltage control of the S4?
Now with the cool weather, I can get 225 and stay under 50c, but I start getting random X's and sometimes the miner will die(no API or Web control) and I have to power cycle it.
Do I need to lower the voltage some to overclock, or raise it in this case?

The older one, you need to rewrite the firmware to a old firmware version, then setup a new CGMiner version. I'd recommend looking into getting the firmware off smits.

Happen to know the last version that supported it?
https://bitmaintech.com/support.htm?pid=00720140930114518599JXGHWWD80660
Which custom version from Smits? Found this person: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=374051
May be going over my head for a few hundred GH, but I love to tinker so seems interesting at the same time

From memory i was told it was told October 2014.
Would be the oldest one here;
https://www.bitmaintech.com/support.htm?pid=00720140930114518599JXGHWWD80660

And no "smit1237"
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=940250.0

I'm not using the bitmain's i'm using his (smit1237's) low fan speed version, but i'm not sure if i was able to enable volt control because i did it in a certain way or i got a version of his firmware that wasn't meant to be public.

If you dig through a couples of page you'll probably find my post asking the same question. Though i did not find the solution through this topic.

[Prelude]

initramfs.bin.SD-20141016.tar.gz is the last firmware that supports adjusting voltage. Everything after that is sabotaged by bitmain.

None of smit1237's available firmwares have voltage control, as they are based on initramfs.bin.SD-20150129.tar.gz.

A good S4 will run 225MHz at 0710-0720, average S4 will need 0725, bad S4 will need 0730 to be stable at 225MHz. The lower the better, of course. Proceed at your own risk if using the stock S4 PSU.

[VirosaGITS]

initramfs.bin.SD-20141016.tar.gz is the last firmware that supports adjusting voltage. Everything after that is sabotaged by bitmain.

None of smit1237's available firmwares have voltage control, as they are based on initramfs.bin.SD-20150129.tar.gz.

A good S4 will run 225MHz at 0710-0720, average S4 will need 0725, bad S4 will need 0730 to be stable at 225MHz. The lower the better, of course. Proceed at your own risk if using the stock S4 PSU.

With the stock PSU, i'm doing 0717 @ 2.05~TH/s, its not glorious but it does put the at the wall draw at under 1400watts, not sure how much i should push it, even though it should be able to feed 1440Watts so 1600Watts at the wall. I'm not sure i trust it.

Its not the stock PSU but its a replacement of the same, so...

[notlist3d]

initramfs.bin.SD-20141016.tar.gz is the last firmware that supports adjusting voltage. Everything after that is sabotaged by bitmain.

None of smit1237's available firmwares have voltage control, as they are based on initramfs.bin.SD-20150129.tar.gz.

A good S4 will run 225MHz at 0710-0720, average S4 will need 0725, bad S4 will need 0730 to be stable at 225MHz. The lower the better, of course. Proceed at your own risk if using the stock S4 PSU.

With the stock PSU, i'm doing 0717 @ 2.05~TH/s, its not glorious but it does put the at the wall draw at under 1400watts, not sure how much i should push it, even though it should be able to feed 1440Watts so 1600Watts at the wall. I'm not sure i trust it.

Its not the stock PSU but its a replacement of the same, so...

I really never did much OC on the S4's. Never went to high since I was afraid of PSU's after hearing about some having such bad luck.   I had ordered during different batches so some of the bolt power and some of PCIe

I always had a 15 amp 120 for each machine though.  So it did not have to share with other items.   I never burnt one up with regular clock so I feel pretty good about that.

[Prelude]

initramfs.bin.SD-20141016.tar.gz is the last firmware that supports adjusting voltage. Everything after that is sabotaged by bitmain.

None of smit1237's available firmwares have voltage control, as they are based on initramfs.bin.SD-20150129.tar.gz.

A good S4 will run 225MHz at 0710-0720, average S4 will need 0725, bad S4 will need 0730 to be stable at 225MHz. The lower the better, of course. Proceed at your own risk if using the stock S4 PSU.

With the stock PSU, i'm doing 0717 @ 2.05~TH/s, its not glorious but it does put the at the wall draw at under 1400watts, not sure how much i should push it, even though it should be able to feed 1440Watts so 1600Watts at the wall. I'm not sure i trust it.

Its not the stock PSU but its a replacement of the same, so...

You could probably get away with 0720 212 or 218 MHz, but that would be the absolute limit. I've run them at 225mhz and had PSUs die.

[VirosaGITS]

initramfs.bin.SD-20141016.tar.gz is the last firmware that supports adjusting voltage. Everything after that is sabotaged by bitmain.

None of smit1237's available firmwares have voltage control, as they are based on initramfs.bin.SD-20150129.tar.gz.

A good S4 will run 225MHz at 0710-0720, average S4 will need 0725, bad S4 will need 0730 to be stable at 225MHz. The lower the better, of course. Proceed at your own risk if using the stock S4 PSU.

With the stock PSU, i'm doing 0717 @ 2.05~TH/s, its not glorious but it does put the at the wall draw at under 1400watts, not sure how much i should push it, even though it should be able to feed 1440Watts so 1600Watts at the wall. I'm not sure i trust it.

Its not the stock PSU but its a replacement of the same, so...

You could probably get away with 0720 212 or 218 MHz, but that would be the absolute limit. I've run them at 225mhz and had PSUs die.

I tried 0725 212~ and chips would drop and hashrate would be lower than 0717 206. So i'm not really sure i should try to push him any higher with these disappointing PSU, seeing how much resistance its putting against raising the hashrate over 2.05TH/s.

[Prelude]

initramfs.bin.SD-20141016.tar.gz is the last firmware that supports adjusting voltage. Everything after that is sabotaged by bitmain.

None of smit1237's available firmwares have voltage control, as they are based on initramfs.bin.SD-20150129.tar.gz.

A good S4 will run 225MHz at 0710-0720, average S4 will need 0725, bad S4 will need 0730 to be stable at 225MHz. The lower the better, of course. Proceed at your own risk if using the stock S4 PSU.

With the stock PSU, i'm doing 0717 @ 2.05~TH/s, its not glorious but it does put the at the wall draw at under 1400watts, not sure how much i should push it, even though it should be able to feed 1440Watts so 1600Watts at the wall. I'm not sure i trust it.

Its not the stock PSU but its a replacement of the same, so...

You could probably get away with 0720 212 or 218 MHz, but that would be the absolute limit. I've run them at 225mhz and had PSUs die.

I tried 0725 212~ and chips would drop and hashrate would be lower than 0717 206. So i'm not really sure i should try to push him any higher with these disappointing PSU, seeing how much resistance its putting against raising the hashrate over 2.05TH/s.

Are you sure the voltage was applied? 0725 is way more than enough for 212.

[VirosaGITS]

initramfs.bin.SD-20141016.tar.gz is the last firmware that supports adjusting voltage. Everything after that is sabotaged by bitmain.

None of smit1237's available firmwares have voltage control, as they are based on initramfs.bin.SD-20150129.tar.gz.

A good S4 will run 225MHz at 0710-0720, average S4 will need 0725, bad S4 will need 0730 to be stable at 225MHz. The lower the better, of course. Proceed at your own risk if using the stock S4 PSU.

With the stock PSU, i'm doing 0717 @ 2.05~TH/s, its not glorious but it does put the at the wall draw at under 1400watts, not sure how much i should push it, even though it should be able to feed 1440Watts so 1600Watts at the wall. I'm not sure i trust it.

Its not the stock PSU but its a replacement of the same, so...

You could probably get away with 0720 212 or 218 MHz, but that would be the absolute limit. I've run them at 225mhz and had PSUs die.

I tried 0725 212~ and chips would drop and hashrate would be lower than 0717 206. So i'm not really sure i should try to push him any higher with these disappointing PSU, seeing how much resistance its putting against raising the hashrate over 2.05TH/s.

Are you sure the voltage was applied? 0725 is way more than enough for 212.

Yeah, eventually chips drop and then consumption drop to like 1300watts, its pretty weird. It might of been 0720 that i tried since i'm guessing 0725 212 would put it over 1440watts at the wall.

But i'm already having trouble with 206hz, only getting 2050GH/s~ so, i'm not sure i want to try pushing it up. Especially since its on a 120v 15A breaker so 1440 is 80% of 15A.

[thebonenz]

Hi Team S4,

So I can't seem to create a replacement SD card (currently running old firmware with CGminer 4.6.1) for my unit I want to keep the stock SD card for back up and have an SD card I can try updated CGminer and installing Minera.

I have a 16g Class 10 samsung SD card and have been trying to write the image to disk in using both win32 and HDD guru.

HDD guru returns an error - Write Error occurred at offset 18,808,832 (87) and leaves the disk empty

I tried writing with win32 as well but when I tried it in the S4 it didn't hash, the fans go full bore but the LCD stays blank.

I have also tried different SD formatting programs.

Anyone else had these issues?

I read posts earlier in the thread about it and tried the directions posted by Bitmain and a couple over people.

Is there a limit to how many times you should restart your machine? When I put in the original card after a few failures it didn't hash and took another restart to get it hashing (this happened twice).

If I missed the perfect post apologies and if you can point me at it! Gratis!

If you need anymore details please let me know! Thanks.

[Meech]

You need to format the SD card before using it with Win32 Disk Imager which I prefer.  The best free formatter is from SD themselves..
here:  https://www.sdcard.org/downloads/formatter_4/
After that you will need the image... ZoomHash has one and so does Dogie.
ZoomHash image for S4: http://p.lewd.es/antminer-s4-3-12-15.img.gz  

There are new posts of new experimental S4 images here: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=940250.0

The problems you are having are common.  It's hard on the SD cards file system to shut off/on with the psu.
Just like it would be for your computer....BSOD!  Your card could be damaged but I doubt it.
**Just be aware the original psu's are to blame for most of your problems possibly.

Try and reinstall your image again.

[thebonenz]

You need to format the SD card before using it with Win32 Disk Imager which I prefer.  The best free formatter is from SD themselves..
here:  https://www.sdcard.org/downloads/formatter_4/
After that you will need the image... ZoomHash has one and so does Dogie.
ZoomHash image for S4: http://p.lewd.es/antminer-s4-3-12-15.img.gz   

There are new posts of new experimental S4 images here: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=940250.0

Thanks! I'll try this when I'm home tonight! I thouhgt the firmware images from Bitmain were enough.

[Meech]

Those are firmware upgrades, not complete images ( correct me if I'm wrong).  They get upgraded through the GUI interface from your S4 not written to the SD card.  Well at least not written by you.

[notlist3d]

Those are firmware upgrades, not complete images ( correct me if I'm wrong).  They get upgraded through the GUI interface from your S4 not written to the SD card.  Well at least not written by you.

I'm not sure which one that is by title of download.  But with S4 the nice thing is you can write directly to SD from a backup and stick SD back in S4 and it works.  It's good if playing around with firmware to have a backup.

Others you are right you have to update via gui if a firmware upgrade file.