[Review] Spondoolies-Tech SP20

[jimmothy]

Disclaimer: free review unit


Pros:

- Easiest setup possible.
- Build quality 10/10.
- Simple yet functional web UI.
- Very stable/maintenance free. (so far)
- Autotuning feature is nice.
- Easy to over/underclock.

Cons:

- Fan is incredibly loud and the speed is unchangeable.
- Fan connector not standard.
- Very temperature sensitive.
- Help page seems lacking.
- Packaging. Not impressed with the cardboard padding.

Overall: 8/10 (9/10 with fan replacement)

Although it's not perfect, I will say it's better than any other miner I've owned. My main issue with the sp20 is the noise. I know many have complained about it but I was genuinely surprised by how loud it is. I'm sure it would be much more tolerable if I was able to lower the fan speed, but at it's current setting (80%?) it's far too loud to be a home miner.

Overall I'm very impressed. I can officially confirm that all the hype about SP-tech gear is warranted. I will definitely consider buying their next gen hardware but only if they address the noise issue.

[jimmothy]

My settings/performance:





Update:

Could never get the fan settings to change (SSH didn't work either) but I think I found a better solution by just changing the fan.

First I tried a 1W Noctua fan but it was struggling to keep it cool. The miner had to throttle the hashrate even below 900 GH/s.

Then I tried an old Cooler Master fan I had lying around and found it works perfectly.

Here are my testing results:


edit: Just remembered the CM fan is running on 5V not 12V so it should be around 2W.

As you can see, at ~5 meters away from the miner, you can just barely hear it. Now it sounds like your average desktop PC instead of your average leaf blower.

It's been running stable for 24 hours now at ~1105 GH/s.

More pics:

[Guy Corem]

...
Although it's not perfect, I will say it's better than any other miner I've owned. My main issue with the sp20 is the noise. I know many have complained about it but I was genuinely surprised by how loud it is. I'm sure it would be much more tolerable if I was able to lower the fan speed, but at it's current setting (80%?) it's far too loud to be a home miner.

Overall I'm very impressed. I can officially confirm that all the hype about SP-tech gear is warranted. I will definitely consider buying their next gen hardware but only if they address the noise issue.

Thank you for the fair review.
And yes, we've shipped some units to Heroes members as well. Please don't ask for additional review units, the offer is closed.

[RoadStress]

- Packaging. Not impressed with the cardboard padding.

How can you not be impressed with the cardboard padding? What would be a better packaging in your view?

Also you can change the fan speed in Settings tab. How come you can't change it?

[seriouscoin]

I cant believe Guy sent ASICMINER shill a free product.

Even so the idiot cant even operate the damn thing.

What a fail.

[Zich]

....
Thank you for the fair review.
And yes, we've shipped some units to Heroes members as well. Please don't ask for additional review units, the offer is closed.

I see, that's why some hero member also submit a review too  

[Guy Corem]

I cant believe Guy sent ASICMINER shill a free product.
...

Jimmothy was always my favorite AM SH.

[Zich]

- Packaging. Not impressed with the cardboard padding.

How can you not be impressed with the cardboard padding? What would be a better packaging in your view?

........

Agree, the cardboard padding is very impressive. You can judge how serious the company from their packaging.

[jimmothy]

- Packaging. Not impressed with the cardboard padding.

How can you not be impressed with the cardboard padding? What would be a better packaging in your view?

Foam padding seems to be the industry standard when shipping electronics.

Also you can change the fan speed in Settings tab. How come you can't change it?

I can change the setting but it does nothing. I've even tried the presets with no luck.

[jimmothy]

I cant believe Guy sent ASICMINER shill a free product.

Same here.

Even so the idiot cant even operate the damn thing.

What a fail.

Not sure what you mean. I've been operating it since about 15 minutes after it arrived at my door.

[Biffa]

Hey jimmothy you have to restart minergate after setting the fan, it doesn't adjust on the fly.

[jimmothy]

Hey jimmothy you have to restart minergate after setting the fan, it doesn't adjust on the fly.

Tried that as well as rebooting and turning off and on the psus.

[Biffa]

LOL trust you to get the only one that doesn't adjust the fan.

Tried contacting support?

[Bicknellski]

Not sure what you mean. I've been operating it since about 15 minutes after it arrived at my door.

Simple enough eh?

That is a good sign.

[Guy Corem]

LOL trust you to get the only one that doesn't adjust the fan.

Tried contacting support?

Funny. We didn't do it on purpose. 

[jimmothy]

LOL trust you to get the only one that doesn't adjust the fan.

Tried contacting support?

Not yet. I'm trying not to mess with my miner during the paycoin gold rush.

[mavericklm]

LOL trust you to get the only one that doesn't adjust the fan.

Tried contacting support?

Funny. We didn't do it on purpose. 

)))))) you guys rock!

[wpgdeez]

I cant believe Guy sent ASICMINER shill a free product.
...

Jimmothy was always my favorite AM SH.

Hopefully Phillip got 1 too, he actually goes to bat for you guys!

[Guy Corem]

LOL trust you to get the only one that doesn't adjust the fan.

Tried contacting support?

Not yet. I'm trying not to mess with my miner during the paycoin gold rush.

Perfect timing.

[raskul]

this may help your fan setting - goxed managed to find a way to change it by ssh into it, if your GUI settings don't change the fan, this will.

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=900307.msg9899056#msg9899056