ANTMINER S2 upgrade kit? EDIT: BITMAIN WHERE ARE YOU?!?!

[MyRig]

we are listening and taking info but R&D team is working to make it happen as much as they reasonably can...

S2 upgrade kit uses more chips than S5, but it is the same chip BM1834.

PSU wise, original 1000W PSU should be more than sufficient. (That is the plan)  Even the slightly under-performing S2 PSU that could hash 9 PCB but not 10, would work as well.

lets wait for the R&D to say, let it open the flood gate for the sale

These are the S2 upgrade kit hashing PCB displayed in Burin, Germany and Amsterdam, Netherlands last week.

[sidehack]

Yeah I guess it could be worse. Certainly not the chipping I was expecting (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=977292.msg10680225#msg10680225) especially comparing S1 and S2 chip densities, but the numbers are still approximately okay.

If you want an independent third-party review (and by independent I mean I'll give an honest opinion even if it offends the manufacturer) it appears I have a windfall S2 chassis I wasn't expecting, and some 2KW PSUs and stout fans available, so I could build up a machine to test until it catches fire and see how good I think it is. Might even be able to voltmod and test lowerbound efficiencies and put up a forum review.

[Finksy]

we are listening and taking info but R&D team is working to make it happen as much as they reasonably can...

S2 upgrade kit uses more chips than S5, but it is the same chip BM1834.

PSU wise, original 1000W PSU should be more than sufficient. (That is the plan)  Even the slightly under-performing S2 PSU that could hash 9 PCB but not 10, would work as well.

lets wait for the R&D to say, let it open the flood gate for the sale

These are the S2 upgrade kit hashing PCB displayed in Burin, Germany and Amsterdam, Netherlands last week.

Can you tell us about the controller? Will the factory S2 controller work for the upgrade, and will you have controllers available for anyone who has some that are faulty?

[sidehack]

Posted this after pictures and additional details were added to Bitmain posting.

Ah, so it is a 2x18 string and the news people that said it was the same configuration as an S5 (which is to say 2x15 string) don't actually know. A 2x18 string should work just fine.

...so an S2 kit would more likely be a 2x18 string clocked around 10GH/chip per blade at 3.6TH per machine, overclock potential about 3.9TH.

I like those numbers. Now I really want to play with one. Please may I have a set of blades to test the crap out of and post a review?

Since the S2 controller is a BeagleBone at its core, I'm guessing the only requirement would be a firmware update?

[MyRig]

Only thing needs to be replaced/swap is the hashing PCB.

Unscrew and remove the heatsink from the old hashing PCB, then attach the heatsink to the new PCB with thermo paste.  Slide these baby into the slot and use the same control PCB and the bottom power management PCB.

Currently, no news on spar parts purchase possibilities.

Can you tell us about the controller? Will the factory S2 controller work for the upgrade, and will you have controllers available for anyone who has some that are faulty?

[Meech]

Dogie mentioned three pcb's for the kit, will it be possible to squeeze four into chassis with a larger psu?  The cooling is more than sufficient.

[dogie]

Dogie mentioned three pcb's for the kit, will it be possible to squeeze four into chassis with a larger psu?  The cooling is more than sufficient.

I've crossed out my reply for now, I was just speculating. It appears these are probably lower power than S5 hashing boards. BitmainWarranty will be able to tell you if they want to reveal at this point.

[sidehack]

Dogie mentioned 3 PCBs when the assumption was they were the same configuration as the S5 boards (as stated in the previously linked article), which means a 2x15 string clocked high and drawing 250-300W per board. A 2x18 string clocked a bit lower will pull 100W per board, so a 10-board S2 is what you'll get, expecting around 3.6TH from the included 1KW PSU.

[MyRig]

not that much hashing powre!!!  Wish it is the case... 

total hashing PCB is not finalized but 1 short of lucky 7?  may be???  the 3 hashing PCB were displayed so multiple customers could pick them up and hold it and take a closer look.  and no space for more on the table.

if all goes well, the total power consumption is well under 1000W so there is no need to buy a bigger stronger PSU.  Thermo paste, yes, please get that ahead of time and MUST BE NON-CONDUCTIVE!!!

[sidehack]

Ah, guess my numbers were a bit off when I was looking over that config a couple days ago. Let's go back over that...

According to the chart in the first post of your S5 thread, 10GH per chip should be possible at 0.67V (12V/18 string) which should put up 360GH per ~100W board. Is that chart wrong, or am I overlooking something?

edit:

Assuming the W/GH is linear between 0.65V and 0.70V, at 0.667V you'd see right at 0.3W/GH so a 100W board with 36 chips at 0.667V would max at 333GH or 9.25GH per chip. This gets a 3.3TH miner at 10 boards 1000W but probably means underclocking to do it. If they're looking more like 12GH per chip at 6 boards, that'd be 430GH at 130W per board, 2.6TH at about 800W. That's a ballpark based on some assumptions. Bitmain, am I close?

[OVRGRO]

my used s2 is shipping to me today    i almost wish i grabbed that cheap one on ebay with 9/10 boards able to function after reading this won't be slapped full.

I think that such a possibility (to choose desireable quantity of the boards to buy) will be very, VERY convenient for all S2 owners. One would like to buy 3 boards, another (like me, with advanced PSU) would prefer to buy 4 boards... May be someone will buy 5 boards?..

i also think this is a great idea.

[klondike_bar]

Ah, guess my numbers were a bit off when I was looking over that config a couple days ago. Let's go back over that...

According to the chart in the first post of your S5 thread, 10GH per chip should be possible at 0.67V (12V/18 string) which should put up 360GH per ~100W board. Is that chart wrong, or am I overlooking something?

edit:

Assuming the W/GH is linear between 0.65V and 0.70V, at 0.667V you'd see right at 0.3W/GH so a 100W board with 36 chips at 0.667V would max at 333GH or 9.25GH per chip. This gets a 3.3TH miner at 10 boards 1000W but probably means underclocking to do it. If they're looking more like 12GH per chip at 6 boards, that'd be 430GH at 130W per board, 2.6TH at about 800W. That's a ballpark based on some assumptions. Bitmain, am I close?

^sounds about right. Bitmain has said the new chips can do around 0.3w/GH at lower speeds (probably at the PSU, not at the wall), so easch board running at something like 320GH would allow 3.2TH by filling all the slots in an S2.

however, It would be pretty sweet if it was setup to do ~3TH/1kW using only 7 boards or so, giving the option for those with bigger power supplies to buy an extra 1-3 boards to turn the S2 into a maximum of 4.2TH/1.4kW system.

Ive sold off my S2 units already since this upgrade took so long to produce, but hopefully bitmain can make a high-density, externally-powered S6 or equivelent that could be somewhat comparable in specs to an SP31

[sidehack]

I bought a PSU-less stock machine for the museum, and it looks like the guy that was giving me one is actually giving me two (one of which may not work?) in exchange for some service so I might have a spare to jack with and see how far it'll push. Externally powered for an S6 would be nice, as long as the backplane traces are good for high current.

[Meech]

From what I can speculate from the lack of definates is 6 pcb's with 18 chips per board (same chips as S5) running underclocked to achieve >.4 wgh.
Come on Bitmain R&D we want to help test these.  So at these presumed specs are we closer to 3 th for the kit?

[Zelek Uther]

not that much hashing powre!!!  Wish it is the case... 

total hashing PCB is not finalized but 1 short of lucky 7?  may be???  the 3 hashing PCB were displayed so multiple customers could pick them up and hold it and take a closer look.  and no space for more on the table.

if all goes well, the total power consumption is well under 1000W so there is no need to buy a bigger stronger PSU.  Thermo paste, yes, please get that ahead of time and MUST BE NON-CONDUCTIVE!!!

1) Is it easy to remove the heat sinks from the old S2 hashing boards?
2) Is it easy to apply thermal paste to the old heat sinks and screw them to the new hashing boards correctly?
3) Any advice on what to do with the old S2 hashing boards?

[Xian01]

I have a single S2 that's powered off, collecting dust in anticipation of the S6 upgrade option becoming available.

I suspect it will probably be the last miner I ever buy :|

[Meech]

Haven't taken the heatsinks off before but a few screws and done.  The paste is another matter.  Messy and sticky but do remove and clean all the old paste before applying the new.  Use the highest % of Isopropyl Alcohol you can find, usually at most RiteAids or Walgreens or any drug store.  The old boards put on Ebay for others needing working boards.  They've been selling around $30 a piece currently but that's with the heatsink.  Easily a couple hour job depending on how many pcb boards are in a kit. 

[Rabinovitch]

What will be the price for that S2 upgrade kit? At least roughly?..

I am almost ready to buy second S2, but if Bitmain set the price, for example, 700-900 USD per one kit....  

[Meech]

I was going to buy a third one as well but was waiting on price.  I was thinking it won't be more than the S5 currently.  Cuz that wouldn't make sense.

[mavericklm]

after the rise of prices at bitmain and the limitation of 1kw psu, i sold all my antminer s2!
waiting for some spondoolies atm