Author

Topic: Chilling my Jalapenos [ Chill + Flash: 7.2 >> 8.15GH] (Read 5146 times)

full member
Activity: 237
Merit: 100
What software is that picture?



Just to expand on this, I have now flashed my Jalapenos with the BFL released BitforceSC 1.2.5 firmware and found the 10 minute chill to still be effective.
New speeds: 7.98 improved to 8.18 and 7.62 is now 8.11
so now is 16.29 total hash rate with the pre-chill and new firmware (was around 16.0 without the pre-chill)

You might try the one modified by ckolivas:
https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/m.2602712
Plus info:
https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/m.2623529

thanks - I havent tried that one yet. I did try setting
#define __ASIC_FREQUENCY_ACTUAL_INDEX   8
and flashed that, however I was getting 1000s of errors so I went back

http://imgur.com/peKactI



It's cgwatcher, a miner supervisor app.
legendary
Activity: 2912
Merit: 1060
What software is that picture?

Just to expand on this, I have now flashed my Jalapenos with the BFL released BitforceSC 1.2.5 firmware and found the 10 minute chill to still be effective.
New speeds: 7.98 improved to 8.18 and 7.62 is now 8.11
so now is 16.29 total hash rate with the pre-chill and new firmware (was around 16.0 without the pre-chill)

You might try the one modified by ckolivas:
https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/m.2602712
Plus info:
https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/m.2623529

thanks - I havent tried that one yet. I did try setting
#define __ASIC_FREQUENCY_ACTUAL_INDEX   8
and flashed that, however I was getting 1000s of errors so I went back

http://imgur.com/peKactI

full member
Activity: 237
Merit: 100
Update - the slower unit after 24h is back to 7.9 GH. I tried chill technique and no improvement. Back to firmware tweaking again Embarrassed
hero member
Activity: 697
Merit: 500
Someone should just try throwing their Jalapeno in a deep-freezer and mining @ -20C. I am serious, I want to see results Smiley

If I had one I would. I did all sorts of refrigeration cooling things when I was overclocking CPUs and GPUs with the culmination of a failed 3 stage cascade. If the jalapeno had software voltage control it could really open up some interesting testing. I'd prefer though a single chip PCB like the test PCBs that were used for Bitfury testing. Could be fun seeing how the chips perform down at -100 Celsius Smiley
full member
Activity: 213
Merit: 100
Someone should just try throwing their Jalapeno in a deep-freezer and mining @ -20C. I am serious, I want to see results Smiley

Just spray on a little bit of this:

http://www.neverwet.com/videos-news.php#

Click on the CONFORMAL COATINGS video link....

full member
Activity: 224
Merit: 100
Someone should just try throwing their Jalapeno in a deep-freezer and mining @ -20C. I am serious, I want to see results Smiley
full member
Activity: 237
Merit: 100
Worth trying.
His modifications consists in relaxing the start-up tests.

Quote
Just comment out these lines in ASIC_Engine.c
Code:
if (iReadBackNonceCount < 4)
{
// This engine is DEAD!
bWasAnyEngineDecommissioned = TRUE;
DECOMMISSION_PROCESSOR(cDiagChip, cDiagEngine);
}
Then it won't decommission any engines regardless. My firmware was slightly more conservative and made sure the engine returned at least one valid nonce.


I will give this a go (just need to get the AVR dragon back - its away for a week or so)
hero member
Activity: 700
Merit: 500
Worth trying.
His modifications consists in relaxing the start-up tests.

Quote
Just comment out these lines in ASIC_Engine.c
Code:
if (iReadBackNonceCount < 4)
{
// This engine is DEAD!
bWasAnyEngineDecommissioned = TRUE;
DECOMMISSION_PROCESSOR(cDiagChip, cDiagEngine);
}
Then it won't decommission any engines regardless. My firmware was slightly more conservative and made sure the engine returned at least one valid nonce.
full member
Activity: 237
Merit: 100
Just to expand on this, I have now flashed my Jalapenos with the BFL released BitforceSC 1.2.5 firmware and found the 10 minute chill to still be effective.
New speeds: 7.98 improved to 8.18 and 7.62 is now 8.11
so now is 16.29 total hash rate with the pre-chill and new firmware (was around 16.0 without the pre-chill)

You might try the one modified by ckolivas:
https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/m.2602712
Plus info:
https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/m.2623529

thanks - I havent tried that one yet. I did try setting
#define __ASIC_FREQUENCY_ACTUAL_INDEX   8
and flashed that, however I was getting 1000s of errors so I went back

http://imgur.com/peKactI
hero member
Activity: 700
Merit: 500
Just to expand on this, I have now flashed my Jalapenos with the BFL released BitforceSC 1.2.5 firmware and found the 10 minute chill to still be effective.
New speeds: 7.98 improved to 8.18 and 7.62 is now 8.11
so now is 16.29 total hash rate with the pre-chill and new firmware (was around 16.0 without the pre-chill)

You might try the one modified by ckolivas:
https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/m.2602712
Plus info:
https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/m.2623529
full member
Activity: 237
Merit: 100
Aren't you worried about a layer of frozen water condensing on the electronics?

Not really - I only chill it for 10 minutes in the freezer. I guess it gets the PCB to around 5 to 10 °C. Also its winter here at the moment so I will worry about condensation issues later on.

the ideal temperature seems to be between 5 and 10 °C
I tried it again this morning and chilled them for about 10 minutes only in the freezer, then run in ambient temperature of about 18°C
They have been running for about 2 hours now - the 7.75 is actually stable now at 7.98GH/s, the other one is still stable at 7.62GH/s

http://imgur.com/CgQ3YIT

so now its actually a 960MH/s bonus - just like getting 3 ASICMiner USB for free Smiley

(disclaimer - this may have other consequences so research first, and consider your ambient environment)

Just to expand on this, I have now flashed my Jalapenos with the BFL released BitforceSC 1.2.5 firmware and found the 10 minute chill to still be effective.
New speeds: 7.98 improved to 8.18 and 7.62 is now 8.11

so now is 16.29 total hash rate with the pre-chill and new firmware (was around 16.0 without the pre-chill)
sr. member
Activity: 288
Merit: 250
No Frost fridge is seems fine for your Jallies   Cool
full member
Activity: 130
Merit: 100
While working on better cooling solution for my own ASIC, that is still months away, I put together a rig that can keep hashers very cold and keep moisture in the air away from electronics, so condensation is no a problem. This could be applied to BFL miners and I have four of my own 60GH units on order for 4-5 month now, but have to wait till BFL gets up to speed. Buying a 5Gh unit from someone who has it on hand for 15X it's price seems too much since I get my own relatively soon. But I want to test the cooling solution that I have developed.

I have to see if cost of cooling them makes a good business for hosting other people's units, but for now I just want to test how well it works and need a loaner units for about two weeks and I will fully reimburse hashing loses and pay for overnight Fedex shipping both ways. I am in New York city.

You can still mine on your own account from my lab, I just want to see how well it could be cooled. Upside? you get faster hashing unit and make more BTC.
full member
Activity: 237
Merit: 100
Aren't you worried about a layer of frozen water condensing on the electronics?

Not really - I only chill it for 10 minutes in the freezer. I guess it gets the PCB to around 5 to 10 °C. Also its winter here at the moment so I will worry about condensation issues later on.

the ideal temperature seems to be between 5 and 10 °C
I tried it again this morning and chilled them for about 10 minutes only in the freezer, then run in ambient temperature of about 18°C
They have been running for about 2 hours now - the 7.75 is actually stable now at 7.98GH/s, the other one is still stable at 7.62GH/s

http://imgur.com/CgQ3YIT

so now its actually a 960MH/s bonus - just like getting 3 ASICMiner USB for free Smiley

(disclaimer - this may have other consequences so research first, and consider your ambient environment)
PeZ
sr. member
Activity: 297
Merit: 250
Aren't you worried about a layer of frozen water condensing on the electronics?
legendary
Activity: 1624
Merit: 1001
All cryptos are FIAT digital currency. Do not use.
There are only 2 possible outcomes. You will.. or you will not find a block. Its always 50/50, Ying Yang, .. ect.

Mr. Nakamoto wrote it into the code. Wink
newbie
Activity: 56
Merit: 0
Solo mining, no change in total network hash rate, 20 hours a day for 62 days, then you have what percentage of finding a block??
According to this: https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Difficulty
time required to find a block = difficulty * 2^48 / 65535 / hashrate

difficulty = 19339258.272387
hashrate = 7.75 GH/s = 7 750 000 000 hash/s
time required to find a block = 19 339 258.272 387 * 2^48 / 65 535 / 7 750 000 000 = 10 717 774 s

20 hours a day for 62 days equals to 4 464 000 seconds
result is 4 464 000 / 10 717 774 = 41.65%

[edit]
Actually, result percentage should be bigger. 10717774s is maximal time to check all possible hashes. In reality miner does not check them all, it stops as soon as correct hash was found.
Its like if somebody has number between 1 and 9 in his mind, and you will guess it by trying all numbers 1,2,3,.. sequently. You do not need to make 9 guesses every time. It will be from 1 to 9; 5 guesses in average.
Soo, in this case result percentage should be 2 times bigger - 83.3%.
Am I correct?
legendary
Activity: 1062
Merit: 1003
This is not a clever experiment to moove object from cooler to hotter place, it can create condensation, which can lead to shorts and damaged unit.

i agree, you might regret the ~5% extra later ...

+1

Extra Mh/s is great but seeing as you've waited a year for the thing it would be a shame to fry it
full member
Activity: 239
Merit: 250
Is this some kind of phenomenon, or was  this just something that was shot lived till the device warmed up? I've never heard of the former.
legendary
Activity: 1344
Merit: 1004
Well, my Jalapenos have shipped (honestly thought I'd never see the day) and was wondering how many people are solo mining with their units.  Currently an upgraded Jalapeno will take about half a year for 25 bitcoins, at the current level of difficulty.  Realistically it could be years before a single block is hit, and quite possibly never.  Risky proposition when one considers the unit may never pay for itself with solo mining.

Solo mining with 5-7GH/s? Seriously guys, what are you smoking?
legendary
Activity: 1148
Merit: 1018
Well, my Jalapenos have shipped (honestly thought I'd never see the day) and was wondering how many people are solo mining with their units.  Currently an upgraded Jalapeno will take about half a year for 25 bitcoins, at the current level of difficulty.  Realistically it could be years before a single block is hit, and quite possibly never.  Risky proposition when one considers the unit may never pay for itself with solo mining.

Solo mining with 5-7GH/s? Seriously guys, what are you smoking?
legendary
Activity: 1692
Merit: 1018
Well, my Jalapenos have shipped (honestly thought I'd never see the day) and was wondering how many people are solo mining with their units.  Currently an upgraded Jalapeno will take about half a year for 25 bitcoins, at the current level of difficulty.  Realistically it could be years before a single block is hit, and quite possibly never.  Risky proposition when one considers the unit may never pay for itself with solo mining.
legendary
Activity: 1974
Merit: 1003
This is not a clever experiment to moove object from cooler to hotter place, it can create condensation, which can lead to shorts and damaged unit.

i agree, you might regret the ~5% extra later ...
member
Activity: 89
Merit: 10
This is not a clever experiment to moove object from cooler to hotter place, it can create condensation, which can lead to shorts and damaged unit.
legendary
Activity: 1540
Merit: 1002
alternative method
sell house
buy new house in Antarctica
run rigs at even cooler temps -40

only downside you will have to buy a very long fibre optic cable XD
full member
Activity: 237
Merit: 100
How often do you solve a block? Just curious. It seems like statistically, with so many people mining and a block being solved only every 10 minutes that a lot of people would never get a block reward.

At my Jalapeno hashrate, generation time for a solo block is 62 days and 20 hours according to http://www.bitcoinx.com/profit/

is that what you were referring to?

Not really. I'm just wondering if you have ever actually received a block reward and how long it took to get it.


No problem - I have not received a block reward yet but Im on a pool.
I am choosing to mine on a pool for now, so if I do find one, I wont see any individual benefit.
I did try going solo last year for a few weeks with 3 GPUs but found it too frustrating, and to be honest I couldnt actually determine if it was working so went back to pools.

but anyhow:

TL;DR summary: chill the Jalapeno for 15 mins prior to powering it up and see if you get a 5% bonus

(DISCLAIMER Just in case:be aware of condensation if your location is hot/humid - I wouldnt recommend to power it up if you see water beading )
full member
Activity: 137
Merit: 100
Semi-retired software developer, tech consultant
How often do you solve a block? Just curious. It seems like statistically, with so many people mining and a block being solved only every 10 minutes that a lot of people would never get a block reward.

At my Jalapeno hashrate, generation time for a solo block is 62 days and 20 hours according to http://www.bitcoinx.com/profit/

is that what you were referring to?

Not really. I'm just wondering if you have ever actually received a block reward and how long it took to get it.
sr. member
Activity: 405
Merit: 255
@_vjy
Solo mining, no change in total network hash rate, 20 hours a day for 62 days, then you have what percentage of finding a block??
full member
Activity: 237
Merit: 100
Give it a liquid  nitrogen dip, it will start hashing at THashes. Smiley
LOL - more likely will just shatter the ASIC with the -200° delta T
full member
Activity: 237
Merit: 100
How often do you solve a block? Just curious. It seems like statistically, with so many people mining and a block being solved only every 10 minutes that a lot of people would never get a block reward.

At my Jalapeno hashrate, generation time for a solo block is 62 days and 20 hours according to http://www.bitcoinx.com/profit/

is that what you were referring to?
legendary
Activity: 1540
Merit: 1002
nice trick can wait to get my jalapenos and see if i can get a bigger improvement Smiley  
sr. member
Activity: 405
Merit: 255
@_vjy
Give it a liquid  nitrogen dip, it will start hashing at THashes. Smiley
full member
Activity: 137
Merit: 100
Semi-retired software developer, tech consultant
How often do you solve a block? Just curious. It seems like statistically, with so many people mining and a block being solved only every 10 minutes that a lot of people would never get a block reward.
full member
Activity: 237
Merit: 100
So I received my second Jalapeno today and started it hashing immediately at 7.45 GH/s

Went home, put it in the freezer for 15 minutes while I set up power supply, made room etc.

(took it out of the freezer first)
Powered it up and it is now hashing on average at 7.75GH/s

so my results so far on the two I have received:

Jalapeno 1: Original average: 7.2 GH/s, After chill and power cycle, 7.63 GH/s Improvement = 6%
Jalapeno 2: Original average: 7.45 GH/s, After chill and power cycle, 7.75 GH/s Improvement = 4 %

anyhow, I'm enjoying the extra 730MH/s
Jump to: