Author

Topic: Homemade ASIC Miner? (Read 8278 times)

full member
Activity: 126
Merit: 100
January 06, 2016, 06:23:06 PM
#15
I don't think it's that easy to build a thing similar to a chip that compensate the scale gains of chips manufacturers... And that has the same efficiency. It just doesn't make any sense, specially considering the market competition that pushes the chips prices to a fair value.
legendary
Activity: 3346
Merit: 1858
Curmudgeonly hardware guy
December 29, 2015, 10:42:43 AM
#14
AJRGale was talking about cooking up something like that a few months ago.
full member
Activity: 126
Merit: 100
December 29, 2015, 08:34:15 AM
#13
ASBS it could work but the speed of this thing will be interesting Smiley
I remember somebody was calculating a hash with a pencil and piece of paper
hero member
Activity: 676
Merit: 501
December 29, 2015, 07:28:46 AM
#12
An integrated circuit is going to be tough to build in your home, but assuming you have the knowledge and plenty of floorspace, you could build an "ASBC" (Application Specific Breadboard Circuit)

Wow A breadboard circuit vs a chip.  yeah it could work.

Waiting with anticipation for Sidehack to answer...

Brainstorming session needed..
legendary
Activity: 1022
Merit: 1003
December 26, 2015, 01:04:26 PM
#11
So, I was looking into ASIC miners and wanted to know if it would be possible to build one from basic parts (processors, etc.)? What processors would I be able to get ahold of that would work? What programming. Would be needed? I just want to build a machine that will run the SHA256 and be less expensive and more effective than brand name miners. Is this possible?
No, this is not possible. An ASIC is Application Specific, meaning that the code to do the hash is literally hard wired. That is what makes it so efficient, but it is not easy to make at home. It cannot be made from off the shelf parts, you need a foundry, clean room, and a bunch of other industrial level stuff that you can't get by yourself. It would definitely not be less expensive and more efficient than other miners. What you are suggesting is like an FPGA, which has already been used and passed. They are not as good as efficient.

So the only real options would be buying a high end ASIC in order to profit?

Yes, but unfortunately for all the aforementioned reasons, the ASIC is the expensive part.  If I'm not mistaken, the chips themselves (including R&D, the silicon, rejected chips, whatever else goes into getting the ASICs from the foundry) make up upwards of 80-90% of the total cost of the miner. Meaning, even if you could get the chips from the manufacturers (which is easier said than done if you follow sidehack's projects), most of it is done for "fun" or "development" than for any real cost-savings.  Unless you have very deep pockets, in the order of millions, it is not very feasible to get a miner off the ground yourself.
legendary
Activity: 4256
Merit: 8551
'The right to privacy matters'
December 26, 2015, 12:53:25 PM
#10
An integrated circuit is going to be tough to build in your home, but assuming you have the knowledge and plenty of floorspace, you could build an "ASBC" (Application Specific Breadboard Circuit)

Wow A breadboard circuit vs a chip.  yeah it could work.
legendary
Activity: 1973
Merit: 1007
December 26, 2015, 12:31:44 PM
#9
An integrated circuit is going to be tough to build in your home, but assuming you have the knowledge and plenty of floorspace, you could build an "ASBC" (Application Specific Breadboard Circuit)
legendary
Activity: 1974
Merit: 1003
December 26, 2015, 11:17:39 AM
#8
its impossible to make asic chips at home  Cheesy
legendary
Activity: 1274
Merit: 1000
December 25, 2015, 09:00:44 PM
#7
So, I was looking into ASIC miners and wanted to know if it would be possible to build one from basic parts (processors, etc.)? What processors would I be able to get ahold of that would work? What programming. Would be needed? I just want to build a machine that will run the SHA256 and be less expensive and more effective than brand name miners. Is this possible?

You can get every part except ASIC

Chips


Sidehack made a good usb stick but he needed the chips


Side was the first thing that came to mind, hes our best hope, atm  he can't get the chips, here's, to next year, maybe next year .
staff
Activity: 3458
Merit: 6793
Just writing some code
December 25, 2015, 08:45:58 PM
#6
So, I was looking into ASIC miners and wanted to know if it would be possible to build one from basic parts (processors, etc.)? What processors would I be able to get ahold of that would work? What programming. Would be needed? I just want to build a machine that will run the SHA256 and be less expensive and more effective than brand name miners. Is this possible?
No, this is not possible. An ASIC is Application Specific, meaning that the code to do the hash is literally hard wired. That is what makes it so efficient, but it is not easy to make at home. It cannot be made from off the shelf parts, you need a foundry, clean room, and a bunch of other industrial level stuff that you can't get by yourself. It would definitely not be less expensive and more efficient than other miners. What you are suggesting is like an FPGA, which has already been used and passed. They are not as good as efficient.

So the only real options would be buying a high end ASIC in order to profit?
Pretty much. Companies invest millions of dollars into chip development and they recover that by selling the chips. The thing is, if you attempt to develop your own chips, you will be investing a ton of money and mining will not recover you that much.
member
Activity: 92
Merit: 10
December 25, 2015, 08:23:53 PM
#5
I think he's talking about taking pre-existing ASIC chips and making a board, controller, and computer interface for it instead of making an ASIC.

Theoretically it's possible. Though, it seems difficult to acquire decent performing ASICs in low volumes for acceptable prices. If you're really just wanting to DIY some stuff arguably cheaper than full rigs, look at buying some preassembled blades and making them work. Keep in mind though cooling solutions and power supplies are non trivial expenses.
newbie
Activity: 7
Merit: 0
December 25, 2015, 08:22:13 PM
#4
So, I was looking into ASIC miners and wanted to know if it would be possible to build one from basic parts (processors, etc.)? What processors would I be able to get ahold of that would work? What programming. Would be needed? I just want to build a machine that will run the SHA256 and be less expensive and more effective than brand name miners. Is this possible?
No, this is not possible. An ASIC is Application Specific, meaning that the code to do the hash is literally hard wired. That is what makes it so efficient, but it is not easy to make at home. It cannot be made from off the shelf parts, you need a foundry, clean room, and a bunch of other industrial level stuff that you can't get by yourself. It would definitely not be less expensive and more efficient than other miners. What you are suggesting is like an FPGA, which has already been used and passed. They are not as good as efficient.

So the only real options would be buying a high end ASIC in order to profit?
legendary
Activity: 4256
Merit: 8551
'The right to privacy matters'
December 25, 2015, 08:21:08 PM
#3
So, I was looking into ASIC miners and wanted to know if it would be possible to build one from basic parts (processors, etc.)? What processors would I be able to get ahold of that would work? What programming. Would be needed? I just want to build a machine that will run the SHA256 and be less expensive and more effective than brand name miners. Is this possible?

You can get every part except ASIC

Chips


Sidehack made a good usb stick but he needed the chips
staff
Activity: 3458
Merit: 6793
Just writing some code
December 25, 2015, 07:18:49 PM
#2
So, I was looking into ASIC miners and wanted to know if it would be possible to build one from basic parts (processors, etc.)? What processors would I be able to get ahold of that would work? What programming. Would be needed? I just want to build a machine that will run the SHA256 and be less expensive and more effective than brand name miners. Is this possible?
No, this is not possible. An ASIC is Application Specific, meaning that the code to do the hash is literally hard wired. That is what makes it so efficient, but it is not easy to make at home. It cannot be made from off the shelf parts, you need a foundry, clean room, and a bunch of other industrial level stuff that you can't get by yourself. It would definitely not be less expensive and more efficient than other miners. What you are suggesting is like an FPGA, which has already been used and passed. They are not as good as efficient.
newbie
Activity: 7
Merit: 0
December 25, 2015, 06:55:25 PM
#1
So, I was looking into ASIC miners and wanted to know if it would be possible to build one from basic parts (processors, etc.)? What processors would I be able to get ahold of that would work? What programming. Would be needed? I just want to build a machine that will run the SHA256 and be less expensive and more effective than brand name miners. Is this possible?
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