Did you think already about the firmware or mining-software that could be used? Will it work with the already available software or has something to be coded for it extra?
I've already started working on the firmware for the PIC controller but won't be able to debug it until I get some more items lined up. Mostly just figuring out structure now.
There will be a custom cgminer driver for this that will be much the same as the Avalon one but modified to talk to the PIC rather than simply send raw serial data.
Sounds great and like you really want to create a good product. So at the moment your my favorite way to go.
Can you please keep an eye on overclocking abilities? I have read that the avalon miners can be overclocked too but theres a wall at 300MHz or so. Above that the results are bad. Im not sure if that is per design, but a hard wall sounds suspicious to me that its created this way. Would be good if the design is open to overclocking.
And i read at least one person thinking about the quality of the parts. Especially if parts (caps) for the 64 chips board will be high quality that will work longer than 6 months too. I guess you chose products that will life a good long life...
I hope you get some of the sample chips so that you can check out your design early. Most probably the design mus be able to run with one chip only, because the amount of samplechips sent most probably wont be high. But it would be great to be able to show a working product...
(or one 99% similar but perhaps with a small design change to add parts for temp monitoring/etc)
What did you have in mind here? I have the PIC with temp sensor inside and was planning to add an external thermistor near one of the ASICs. I haven't placed it yet because I'm waiting on Avalon docs to sort the pins I'll use for it, and then one left over will go to sensing the thermistor. Also, one more to disable the clock or 1.2V power, unsure which method yet.
Hm, i thought i have read the avalon asic chips have a temperature sensor built inside. Im not sure where i read this and if its official though.
By the way... i added your info here in the list:
List of Avalon-Asic-Miner-DevelopersLet me know in that thread when prices or details change...
Edit: I forgot to ask... will there be lower prices if you buy DIY-Packages in bigger quantities?