The fact that BFL decided to produce their chips in a smaller manufacturing process than the competition, it's really hard they could beat their energy efficiency.
With the announcement that the bASIC was moving from 54 to 72GH/s, it was stated that more chips would be used per device. 16 chips at a lower clock and lower voltage will not only be faster, but also more power efficient. You can bet your ass their old 54GH/s design wasn't 1.4W/GHs. 
Topic: ASIC power consumption estimates (Read 15389 times)
The fact that BFL decided to produce their chips in a smaller manufacturing process than the competition, it's really hard they could beat their energy efficiency.
I'd call 1.4W/Ghps reasonably competitive with BFL's estimates of 1W/Ghps, though I can see that may be a restriction for some people. Ultimately, until a working prototype is demonstrated from any ASIC vendor, power claims remain as estimates only. Reality may turn out to be different. I do hope the estimates turn out to be largely accurate.
I think the main issue here is that no vendor has (demonstrated) a working prototype yet. So it is difficult for them to estimate, let alone commit to, final power consumption numbers.
Some have chosen to express it as a range. Others have refused to commit. BFL has thrown out a a number (1W/Ghps). We all know that BFL has taken a lot of flak with their FPGA product in that their final power figure was 4x greater than initially estimated. I like to believe that they have learned their lesson, but we have to wait for prototype testing results (from all vendors) for anything more concrete than that.
One other other thing to consider is the fact that BFL has chosen a 65nm process node while the other vendors are using something larger. This implies that whatever the final power numbers end up being, BFL should be lower (per GHps) than the others. Whether this becomes a significant differentiator remains to be seen.
Some have chosen to express it as a range. Others have refused to commit. BFL has thrown out a a number (1W/Ghps). We all know that BFL has taken a lot of flak with their FPGA product in that their final power figure was 4x greater than initially estimated. I like to believe that they have learned their lesson, but we have to wait for prototype testing results (from all vendors) for anything more concrete than that.
One other other thing to consider is the fact that BFL has chosen a 65nm process node while the other vendors are using something larger. This implies that whatever the final power numbers end up being, BFL should be lower (per GHps) than the others. Whether this becomes a significant differentiator remains to be seen.
Like Avalon it's specified as a range for bASIC. Only BFL has use of a crystal ball and can perfectly predict power consumption to the watt across an entire product line. Naturally no on questions this crystal ball prediction as BFL's track record for predicting power consumption in the past is exemplary. 
Do producers not know the watt usage yet or is it a secret?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182082
i have this waiting to power 3 bASIC devices, should be roughly 65-70% load..
i have this waiting to power 3 bASIC devices, should be roughly 65-70% load..
It seems to me like there is a 0% chance that thing works. It's all for show.
How could it work if they don't have any working ASIC chips yet? They said they would update us when they received them.
How could it work if they don't have any working ASIC chips yet? They said they would update us when they received them.
Did it meet the power and efficiency ratio of 1Gh per watt?
-- Smoov
There is speculation that the picture is only a non-working dud as of yet. Hopefully they will have working prototypes soon. -- Smoov
One representative stated that they won't have any samples in the incoming batch. So if it is broke, then the fat lady has sung. They said that was unlikely though. I believe them on that. Question is, how many times did they try and when did each iteration occur in their timeline/schedule?
That info alone would change the actual reasons for the past delays. [or at least solidify that there was never a possibility for shipping earlier until just now.]
Did it meet the power and efficiency ratio of 1Gh per watt?
-- Smoov
-- Smoov
So guys...If I ordered a BFL Mini Rig SC today, when can I expect it to reach my house (SE Asia) ?
"By the end of January assuming no snags or anything."EDIT: sorry, that was for the pre-orders. february maybe? 4-6 weeks into 2013?
Ooo,hot tottie warmer 
Get sick,mine while you make your meds,oh noe's.............damn meth heads are gonna want these now
Get sick,mine while you make your meds,oh noe's.............damn meth heads are gonna want these now
What happened to the coffee warmer? I don't want a whiskey warmer.
Nice to see the dates being solidified 
.
. It may have one of the "dummy" boards in it,for whatever reason.
Either way, now it is bASIC turn to upstage or lay like a dead goose in the background.
Oh, by the way, the prototype picture has been released.
Courtesy of: www.butterflylabs.com
Re-posted under the FAIR USE ACT for discussion purposes.
It is unknown (as of yet) if this is simply a prototype for the case design or if it is a fully working prototype.
If it is the latter, then obviously the burning questions is: Did it meet the power and efficiency ratio of 1Gh per watt? I'll let others ask....
Courtesy of: www.butterflylabs.com
Re-posted under the FAIR USE ACT for discussion purposes.
It is unknown (as of yet) if this is simply a prototype for the case design or if it is a fully working prototype.
If it is the latter, then obviously the burning questions is: Did it meet the power and efficiency ratio of 1Gh per watt? I'll let others ask....
That's just the case,is what I gather from what he said:
"This is a crappy picture... I will get a better one when I get some time, but it's one of the prototype Singles cases. What you actually receive may be subtly different, but not much."
It may have one of the "dummy" boards in it,for whatever reason.
Oh, by the way, the prototype picture has been released.
Courtesy of: www.butterflylabs.com
Re-posted under the FAIR USE ACT for discussion purposes.
It is unknown (as of yet) if this is simply a prototype for the case design or if it is a fully working prototype.
If it is the latter, then obviously the burning questions is: Did it meet the power and efficiency ratio of 1Gh per watt? I'll let others ask....
Courtesy of: www.butterflylabs.com
Re-posted under the FAIR USE ACT for discussion purposes.
It is unknown (as of yet) if this is simply a prototype for the case design or if it is a fully working prototype.
If it is the latter, then obviously the burning questions is: Did it meet the power and efficiency ratio of 1Gh per watt? I'll let others ask....
So guys...If I ordered a BFL Mini Rig SC today, when can I expect it to reach my house (SE Asia) ?
It seems that they will start shipping so close together that it won't even matter. Except for maybe the people that are very first in line.
There's the reliability of the estimation to account for too:
- Tom said Nov/Dec from the start and seems still on track. He delivered the modminer quads in a timely manner too from what I can tell.
- BFL originally said October then November and now December and has a past history of optimism.
BFL seems to have far more customers being the first announcing ASICs. So even with more hands to handle the task and an optimistic early start Tom customers as a group might get their ASICs before the BFL customers do and overall see a better ROI. So the luckiest (first delivered) BFL customer might have the best ROI of all but a random customer might be better off with Tom's offer.
I hope we'll have a clear picture at the end of December.
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