Chips lovers, I though you might enjoy "opening microchips and what's inside?"

BarsMonster

newbie

Activity: 39

Merit: 0

Quote from: aTg on March 14, 2013, 06:00:53 PM

It would be nice to see an ASIC of Avalon, Asicminer or BFL.
Transisto, what do you think about the posibility of clone one of these three chips?

He-he, I've just made an "official" request : https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/public-request-to-all-custom-asic-manufacturers-chip-photos-153739

About cloning: It's not practical. It's cheaper to design from scratch. The major issue is large NRE cost (non-recurring engineering), it's unlikely that yet another player would return investments.

aTg

legendary

Activity: 1358

Merit: 1000

It would be nice to see an ASIC of Avalon, Asicminer or BFL.
Transisto, what do you think about the posibility of clone one of these three chips?

ChipGeek

full member

Activity: 198

Merit: 100

For the record: From my decades of experience with chip design, I believe BFL's ASIC is real and all that has been stated publicly (including the crappy lengthy delays) is consistent with typical teething pains accompanying a first effort in such a project - especially from a company that has never done it before. If it is in fact a hoax / scam, then they have REALLY done their homework in generating photos and statements consistent enough to fool me. However, I am confident that it is real.

Disclaimer: I own one BFL Single (FPGA) and have one SC Single (ASIC) on order. Although I'm obviously biased, I try very hard to remove that bias from any technical evaluation.

ChipGeek

full member

Activity: 198

Merit: 100

Quote from: Phinnaeus Gage on March 14, 2013, 11:57:24 AM

Color me confused!

If this is a chip...

Then this is just a part of the chip.

Yet, weren't we led to believe that the following is a chip?

Different chip designs look different - just like different motherboard designs look different.

Of your 3 photos, I believe the last one is actually a CAD software output of an earlier revision of the BFL ASIC. I think that was the version for he QFN package. The newest one that should ship "within 4 to 6 weeks" has a different top layer metal for the BGA package but almost certainly looks the same / similar to this photo if you remove the top layer.

Jorgeminator

member

Activity: 91

Merit: 10