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Topic: [ANN] OpenBitASIC : The Open Source Bitcoin ASIC Initiative - page 3. (Read 50782 times)

rjk
sr. member
Activity: 448
Merit: 250
1ngldh
"SOC" stands for "System-on-a-chip", and in generally referred to as meaning a complete, all-in-one package with minimal to no external support components. The thing is, such a setup doesn't really lend itself well to an easy design, or to an error-free design, or such things. For such a specialized application, a highly custom single-purpose device is more appropriate.
hero member
Activity: 504
Merit: 500
Mining SoC is a technical nonsense. The mining controller has to be on a separate chip with separate cooling to reliably monitor the error rate of the mining portion of the hardware.

SoC only makes sense if you aren't planning on overclocking or otherwise pushing the envelope. This isn't going to happen in the mining business.
maybe a seperate soc that would provide all the functions desired? Or would that add too much to the price?
legendary
Activity: 2128
Merit: 1068
Mining SoC is a technical nonsense. The mining controller has to be on a separate chip with separate cooling to reliably monitor the error rate of the mining portion of the hardware.

SoC only makes sense if you aren't planning on overclocking or otherwise pushing the envelope. This isn't going to happen in the mining business.
legendary
Activity: 960
Merit: 1028
Spurn wild goose chases. Seek that which endures.
Have you looked at (using) open cores? Ethernet interface would be nice.
Not sure about its cost, but SoC mining ASIC would be a bitcoin killer.
Put Linux and cgminer on it.
Call it bitcoinberry 3.14 Wink 
If the pinouts &c are public, these guys wouldn't even have to. Someone else could easily come along and put together the SoC themselves.
legendary
Activity: 2688
Merit: 1468
Everything possible will be on the ASIC.  Even the USB interface if possible.  The PC board shouldn't contain much more than connectors, passive components, an oscillator, and a couple of voltage regulator chips -- in addition to one or more ASICs of course.  We'll probably put a couple of LEDs on it and maybe even a cheap display if it doesn't add much to the cost.

The structured ASIC design was setup to be scalable -- you could run up to 64 chips in parallel assuming you could layout the data buses in such a way as to meet the timing requirements.  We'll probably do something similar with the full custom ASIC design too.


Have you looked at (using) open cores? Ethernet interface would be nice.
Not sure about its cost, but SoC mining ASIC would be a bitcoin killer.
Put Linux and cgminer on it.
Call it bitcoinberry 3.14 Wink 
legendary
Activity: 960
Merit: 1028
Spurn wild goose chases. Seek that which endures.
No-one could compete with BFL's FPGAs, they are a serious company product wise, ASIC won't be any easier.
Nobody could compete with BFL's FPGAs because they were somehow buying them for like 1/4 retail. There's no indication they're doing that with ASICs, which means this project (which is doing that by going after markets where the work is cheaper) has a chance, just like BFL had a chance when they finally started shipping months after FPGAs were already on the market.
sr. member
Activity: 336
Merit: 250
No-one could compete with BFL's FPGAs, they are a serious company product wise, ASIC won't be any easier.
legendary
Activity: 960
Merit: 1028
Spurn wild goose chases. Seek that which endures.
Subscribing.

(I have money to pour into this project, for the record.)
full member
Activity: 141
Merit: 102
Thats a good idea
hero member
Activity: 504
Merit: 500
I think the pool will become to big if you do that.

The beneift here is they could easily mine with the company hardware using P2Pool. This would allow those not wanting to invest into their own hardware still take part and earn some profit and would aid in the overall decentralization of mining. win win
full member
Activity: 141
Merit: 102
I think the pool will become to big if you do that.

Also if they deliver in Europe that makes me happy, waiting for a delivery so long like at BFL is really enoying.
hero member
Activity: 686
Merit: 500
Wat
There someone trying to raise money on glbse for a bfl ASIC. What I suggest is to not only let people invest in the manufacturing company but create a "mining company" that people can invest in. This way people can get the benefit of ASIC mining without having to actually own hardware.

As the creators of this product you should be able to run it optimally.
member
Activity: 114
Merit: 10
Is that even possible? How much is actually done? Getting a chip designed & manufactured doesn't seem like a trvial tasking. Not to mention other stuff that probably needs to be done, like mounting the ASIC's along with other components onto a PCB (in mass quantities). This seems why BFL isn't shipping stuff everyday, they still have to build the boards and stuff (not to mention QA the product).

The PC board design and manufacturing are trivial tasks compared to the ASIC.  Furthermore, they can be done in parallel with the other tasks so really have little or no impact on the schedule.  The phases involved in creating a full custom ASIC are:

  • Specification
  • RTL Implementation
  • Logic Implementation
  • Physical Implementation (maskset creation)
  • Chip Production

At this point we've completed the first two of these tasks.  The remaining phases typically take around 12 months to do by most US-based firms we've been in contact with and are quite expensive.  By working with companies in emerging markets, we're hoping to not only reduce our NRE costs, but also to significantly reduce the time required to complete the last three phases.

We're don't want to ask anyone for money until we have an agreement in place with a partner to complete the last three phases for us in what we determine to be a competitive time frame.  As soon as that happens, it will be announced here for all those who are interested.
hero member
Activity: 924
Merit: 506
If You can get this done by November 1st i still think you will beat BFL by at least a month given their previous track record.

Is that even possible? How much is actually done? Getting a chip designed & manufactured doesn't seem like a trvial tasking. Not to mention other stuff that probably needs to be done, like mounting the ASIC's along with other components onto a PCB (in mass quantities). This seems why BFL isn't shipping stuff everyday, they still have to build the boards and stuff (not to mention QA the product).
hero member
Activity: 504
Merit: 500
If You can get this done by November 1st i still think you will beat BFL by at least a month given their previous track record.

most definitley..

And I would be most interested in buying bonds of such a company that could later be redemeed for product..?? that would rock!
hero member
Activity: 535
Merit: 500
If You can get this done by November 1st i still think you will beat BFL by at least a month given their previous track record.
sr. member
Activity: 252
Merit: 250
Inactive
@jjshabadoo
@nedbert9

That's the reason we are not taking a single dime from investors / customers AFTER we have all the costs, ETA and distribution / selling strategy figured out. In the meantime, we'd been putting our money and time since the project inception. Are we expecting a return on that ? Sure we are, but in an open and bitcoin-spirit way.

 


Big plus Wink
legendary
Activity: 1099
Merit: 1000
@jjshabadoo
@nedbert9

That's the reason we are not taking a single dime from investors / customers AFTER we have all the costs, ETA and distribution / selling strategy figured out. In the meantime, we'd been putting our money and time since the project inception. Are we expecting a return on that ? Sure we are, but in an open and bitcoin-spirit way.

 
sr. member
Activity: 252
Merit: 250
Inactive
Well if you can allow the community to invest and find a way for initial purchasers to not be slaughtered by lower prices down the road, you will be doing the community a great service.

If you beat BFL to market then you will have done the community a GREAT service. I also believe you will need to put some thought into how they will be distributed once they are completed. Sending them out in drips and drabs will seriously effect those who get their devices down the road if they are paying the same price as those who get the first devices.

Again, I am willing to assist in any way I can and I believe you will find there are many in the community who would be willing to help as well, even other vendors.

Best of luck.

+100

Having a fair distribution strategy as well as market strategy is very important.

A slow, steady output (per customer output) would be quite unfair especially if you receive financial support from a wide base of community members.

The community needs to put money in to this up front in order for the producer to survive the special requirements that a healthy technology shift such as this would entail.
hero member
Activity: 535
Merit: 500
Well if you can allow the community to invest and find a way for initial purchasers to not be slaughtered by lower prices down the road, you will be doing the community a great service.

If you beat BFL to market then you will have done the community a GREAT service. I also believe you will need to put some thought into how they will be distributed once they are completed. Sending them out in drips and drabs will seriously effect those who get their devices down the road if they are paying the same price as those who get the first devices.

Again, I am willing to assist in any way I can and I believe you will find there are many in the community who would be willing to help as well, even other vendors.

Best of luck.
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