BFL FPGAs in temporary residence while waiting for ASICs ?

[Transisto]

I haven't been folowing everything BFL related, Please enlighten me on the fpgas and asics ETA.
I wish I could purchase BFL FPGAs and have them returned for ASICs, but if I'm to be able to mine on the FPGAs for a few month only and have to pay shipping back and forth it wouldn't be worth it...

It's ~100$ lost for shipping back and forth for a single and 400$ on a mini rig. 

Wouldn't it be better if someone at driving distance from BFL could take care of mining with the FPGAs for us while we get our ASICs ready ?
(While paying electricity and maintenance fees.)

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[BFL]

I haven't been folowing everything BFL related, Please enlighten me on the fpgas and asics ETA.
I wish I could purchase BFL FPGAs and have them returned for ASICs, but if I'm to be able to mine on the FPGAs for a few month only and have to pay shipping back and forth it wouldn't be worth it...

It's ~100$ lost for shipping back and forth for a single and 400$ on a mini rig.  

Wouldn't it be better if someone at driving distance from BFL could take care of mining with the FPGAs for us while we get our ASICs ready ?
(While paying electricity and maintenance fees.)

Inaba came by the office today and we spoke about just this issue.  Several overseas customers have been asking about this as well and it does make quite a lot of sense.  Inaba runs a data center of course...  and he's a stone's throw away from our office, so I expect he'll have a packaged solution worked up pretty soon.

[Bitcoin Oz]

This would be epic.

[BCbitcoin]

With asic rigs shipping out in 3 months there will probably be a few prototypes lying around for the finishing touches on the design of the aluminum cases etc. You could just mine on one in house and direct the equivalent hash power at the purchasers of the mini rigs. That way you wouldn't have to tote them around and everyone would be happy.

[Luceo]

I haven't been folowing everything BFL related, Please enlighten me on the fpgas and asics ETA.
I wish I could purchase BFL FPGAs and have them returned for ASICs, but if I'm to be able to mine on the FPGAs for a few month only and have to pay shipping back and forth it wouldn't be worth it...

It's ~100$ lost for shipping back and forth for a single and 400$ on a mini rig.  

Wouldn't it be better if someone at driving distance from BFL could take care of mining with the FPGAs for us while we get our ASICs ready ?
(While paying electricity and maintenance fees.)

Inaba came by the office today and we spoke about just this issue.  Several overseas customers have been asking about this as well and it does make quite a lot of sense.  Inaba runs a data center of course...  and he's a stone's throw away from our office, so I expect he'll have a packaged solution worked up pretty soon.

This would be brilliant for those who have been waiting on deliveries.

[bulanula]

With asic rigs shipping out in 3 months there will probably be a few prototypes lying around for the finishing touches on the design of the aluminum cases etc. You could just mine on one in house and direct the equivalent hash power at the purchasers of the mini rigs. That way you wouldn't have to tote them around and everyone would be happy.

Who pays the electricity and maintenance costs ?

[ice_chill]

With asic rigs shipping out in 3 months there will probably be a few prototypes lying around for the finishing touches on the design of the aluminum cases etc. You could just mine on one in house and direct the equivalent hash power at the purchasers of the mini rigs. That way you wouldn't have to tote them around and everyone would be happy.

Only in Fairy tale land 

[Cablez]

This is an interesting proposition and I wait patiently to see what Inaba comes up with.

[BrimStone]

I am also looking forward to seeing what comes out of this idea.

[allten]

I haven't been folowing everything BFL related, Please enlighten me on the fpgas and asics ETA.
I wish I could purchase BFL FPGAs and have them returned for ASICs, but if I'm to be able to mine on the FPGAs for a few month only and have to pay shipping back and forth it wouldn't be worth it...

It's ~100$ lost for shipping back and forth for a single and 400$ on a mini rig.  

Wouldn't it be better if someone at driving distance from BFL could take care of mining with the FPGAs for us while we get our ASICs ready ?
(While paying electricity and maintenance fees.)

Inaba came by the office today and we spoke about just this issue.  Several overseas customers have been asking about this as well and it does make quite a lot of sense.  Inaba runs a data center of course...  and he's a stone's throw away from our office, so I expect he'll have a packaged solution worked up pretty soon.

Something similar to this is exactly what I was hoping for to solve the "fairness" issue when it comes to who gets the ASICs first.
Just have Inaba mine with all the equipment coming off the assembly line and everyone that had initial orders would have shares in the mining venture. Once there was enough mining equipment to satisfy all the initial orders, you send them all out. Seemed like a great idea, but didn't sell very well. If you added that option, I would take it in a heart beat.
Would save me on shipping too because I've a ton of those little Jalapenos and I'm split between getting a few here and a few there to at least get some early compared to paying shipping once and getting all of them later.

Please consider this idea as an option.

[byte1]

I like that idea. Now, i want to keep my Mini-Rig order intact ;-)

I haven't been folowing everything BFL related, Please enlighten me on the fpgas and asics ETA.
I wish I could purchase BFL FPGAs and have them returned for ASICs, but if I'm to be able to mine on the FPGAs for a few month only and have to pay shipping back and forth it wouldn't be worth it...

It's ~100$ lost for shipping back and forth for a single and 400$ on a mini rig.  

Wouldn't it be better if someone at driving distance from BFL could take care of mining with the FPGAs for us while we get our ASICs ready ?
(While paying electricity and maintenance fees.)

Inaba came by the office today and we spoke about just this issue.  Several overseas customers have been asking about this as well and it does make quite a lot of sense.  Inaba runs a data center of course...  and he's a stone's throw away from our office, so I expect he'll have a packaged solution worked up pretty soon.

[dave3]

I can just see a rack in a data center filled with coffee warmers.  

Well, I guess that would come later since there's no FPGA coffee warmers in the interim.

[Inaba]

Hey guys,

I am pricing out additional floor capacity right now.  I should have more info in the next day or two once some of the quotes wind their way back to me.  I think I can work out a deal that everyone will be happy with and save you time and money.  I should hopefully be able to take on equipment within a week or so.

[somenick]

How many people who bought the Singles, and is not resident USA ?

[Transisto]

How many people bought Singles and are not USA resident ?

?
Fixed your sentense

You might want to ask BFL,  I don't see why they would answer though.

[Inaba]

Ok, I've got some numbers back.  I need a head count of how many people are interested and the number of machines.  If you do not want to make that public, just PM me your info.  Once I get a rough final count, I can negotiate the price for the space properly. 

[SgtSpike]

How many people bought Singles and are not USA residents?

?
Fixed your sentense

You might want to ask BFL,  I don't see why they would answer though.

Fixed your fix of his sentence. 

[crazyates]

Ok, I've got some numbers back.  I need a head count of how many people are interested and the number of machines.  If you do not want to make that public, just PM me your info.  Once I get a rough final count, I can negotiate the price for the space properly. 

This would depend on how it affects one's upgrade from FPGAs to ASICs.

[Inaba]

Ok, I've got some numbers back.  I need a head count of how many people are interested and the number of machines.  If you do not want to make that public, just PM me your info.  Once I get a rough final count, I can negotiate the price for the space properly. 

This would depend on how it affects one's upgrade from FPGAs to ASICs.

I am working directly with BFL on this.  It will not affect your upgrade, other than get it to you faster.  It will also save your shipping costs, as BFL will not charge you shipping if you are hosting them here locally in KC (also means you don't have to pay for return shipping and you get the upgrade immediately instead of waiting for your unit to make it's way back to BFL when your upgrade turn comes up). 

[SgtSpike]

I'd be interested, for 2 singles (provided my order for 4 gets changed over properly to 2 current-gen and 2 SC).

[crazyates]

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=90320.msg994839#msg994839

Lets say my FPGA Single is ready to ship.

Option 1) I can either NOT have them ship it to me, and transfer my order to 4 Jalapenos.
Option 2) I can have them ship it to me, and trade it in (+700USD) for a SC Single.
Option 3) I have BFL send my FPGA to Inaba, and he mines it for me (with my credentials, at my pool of choice, for a fee). Then what? The rest is the same as Option 2? I can't have Inaba mine with my Single, and still transfer my order to 4 Jalapenos, can I?

[Transisto]

...
Option 3) I have BFL send my FPGA to Inaba, and he mines it for me (with my credentials, at my pool of choice, for a fee). Then what? The rest is the same as Option 2? I can't have Inaba mine with my Single, and still transfer my order to 4 Jalapenos, can I?

Not sure I understand you,
It's all about saving cost on shipping and mining during otherwise transit time. You you wouldn't have to pay BFL send it to inaba and pay inaba to ship it back. You would but it'd be cheaper and faster.

[BrimStone]

I am interested in 1 single.

[Inaba]

I am mainly interested in how many mini-rigs I would have to procure space for.  I can handle the singles no problem, it's the rigs that are the toughy.

If you are interested in hosting your singles, contact me privately as well and I can certainly arrange that.

[Inaba]

Ok folks with Minirigs, here's the deal:

$250/mo per Minirig to host it.  The units will be hosted in a temperature controlled, free standing Data Center located near downtown Kansas City.  After speaking to several of the local DC's, I know that some of you have already tried to find hosting and I know the costs are extraordinary, so I am trying to offer this service nearly at cost to help everyone out. 

If you want to host your minirig locally while waiting on the ASIC, you can contact either myself or BFL and let them know you want to host your unit locally. BFL and I will make the arrangements to get the units put up in their new home.

Power is backed up by a diesel generator.  If you want UPS battery power in addition to generator power, that can be arranged for an additional fee.

There are several control options once the machine is installed:

1.  You can supply a control system and have remote access to it. It will be 100% managed by you.  Laptop, netbook, etc... works best for this.
2.  I can supply the control system and give you remote access.  It will be 100% managed by you. I would have to pass the cost of the control system along to you. A cheap $250 - $300 laptop/netbook will work fine and is yours to keep.
3.  If you don't require remote access, I can host it on a shared machine running individual instance(s) of CGMiner.  You can supply me with a cgminer.conf file or let me know what pools you want to point the rig(s) at and I will set them off to do their thing.
4.  You can "pool" your rig with the rest of my farm and I will issue you 6058 shares of BFLS.RIG, you will then be paid out whatever your machine generates via dividend payments on GLBSE.  Dividend payments are expected to be typically 5% - 20% above the going PPS rate, but never below the PPS rate/proportional rate.  Luck obviously plays a factor, but variance is pretty smooth at the hashrate we are operating at.

This project is with the full backing of BFL, so your warranty, place in line for ASIC, etc... is fully intact. If your rig develops a problem, it can be returned to BFL for repair within 24 hours (likely the same day).  You will not have to wait or pay for shipping from BFL or back to BFL when the ASIC rigs are available, that is all covered through this project.  This project will not end after the ASICs are released, and your rigs can be upgraded in place (I bring the new ASIC rig, swap out the FPGA rig and return your old FPGA rig to BFL), or you can choose to take delivery of your ASIC as normal. 

I am going to have limited space for units until I can complete the power build out at the DC, so it will be first come, first served.  The first unit will be going in on Sunday or Monday.

[BlackPrapor]

So, how are you planning on substracting $250 per rig from your customers? Are you going to host ASICs under the same conditions and pricing? If I'd pay once a month with btc generated at mtgox spot rate, that would be just perfect.

[ice_chill]

$250 per month all inclusive ? seems like a bargain as in UK it would cost $250 per months just in electricity costs, not to mention the 20% non refundable import tax.

[bulanula]

$250 per month all inclusive ? seems like a bargain as in UK it would cost $250 per months just in electricity costs, not to mention the 20% non refundable import tax.

And the shipping too !

UK is a rip off country ...

[Inaba]

So, how are you planning on substracting $250 per rig from your customers? Are you going to host ASICs under the same conditions and pricing? If I'd pay once a month with btc generated at mtgox spot rate, that would be just perfect.

I think the easiest method is going to be just send me the funds each month, and yes I will take BTC at the MTGox spot rate, or I can take Dwolla or a physical check as well.  I would prefer BTC though, obviously. 

ASICs will likely be cheaper, since the power requirements will be substantially reduced, I will pass any savings along that I get from reducing my power requirements on the DC. 

$250 per month all inclusive ? seems like a bargain as in UK it would cost $250 per months just in electricity costs, not to mention the 20% non refundable import tax.

Yep, all inclusive.  Believe me, I had to pull some strings to get the rate I'm getting, other DCs I normally have business dealings with wanted to charge 25 - 50% more for power, bringing it to an unreasonable sum, and this DC will guarantee top rack temps under 80F, unlike a lot of places that run top rack super hot (85F+).

[Transisto]

If you intended is having your Mini or singles hosted make sure you advise BFL of your intentions ASAP as they will not warn you before shipping.

[crazyates]

If you intended is having your Mini or singles hosted make sure you advise BFL of your intentions ASAP as they will not warn you before shipping.

I told them I didn't want my Single, and I wanted my order transferred to 4 Jalapenos. They shipped it to my anyways 

[Inaba]

Hosting for Mini-rigs is $300 per month and singles is $20/mo per single.  If you are hosting singles, you will need to provide a controlling entity, such as a netbook/laptop or a mini-itx system.  Alternately, I can provide the controlling entity at cost from a locally sourced provider.  I can then provide/install Teamviewer or another remote control application of your choice.

[psilan]

Why waste time doing all this? (oops I answered my own question before I clicked post)

When we made trade-in orders, we knew you had to ship it back to BFL. BFL receives, they ship to you. That was the deal right?

I guess if there is money to be made on both sides it makes sense...which I presume is what is happening here .