SRoulette



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Sr. MemberActivity: 364Merit: 250 Block Erupter USB - Overclocking/ hacking ? June 24, 2013, 02:45:16 AM #1

I will shortly be ordering a usb key in a group order.

I dont expect to make my money back, I actually want to use this device to mine altcoins



Has anyone managed to overclock this chip ? is there any room for hardware hacking ?

I have seen the upgraded heatsinks people are doing and it got me thinking what else is possible.



Thanks. Hello,I will shortly be ordering a usb key in a group order.I dont expect to make my money back, I actually want to use this device to mine altcoinsHas anyone managed to overclock this chip ? is there any room for hardware hacking ?I have seen the upgraded heatsinks people are doing and it got me thinking what else is possible.Thanks. 1% House Edge - Supporting BTC, LTC, PPC, Doge & XPM

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SteveB



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Full MemberActivity: 170Merit: 100 Re: Block Erupter USB - Overclocking/ hacking ? June 24, 2013, 05:20:46 AM #4 I don't actually own one of these as they are way overpriced even at the new lower price.

But every screenshot I have seen show lots of hardware errors when mining.

Isn't that a sign that they are already overclocked way to high?

tom_o



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Sr. MemberActivity: 308Merit: 250 Re: Block Erupter USB - Overclocking/ hacking ? June 24, 2013, 04:20:45 PM #6 Quote from: SRoulette on June 24, 2013, 05:23:14 AM Quote from: SteveB on June 24, 2013, 05:20:46 AM I don't actually own one of these as they are way overpriced even at the new lower price.

But every screenshot I have seen show lots of hardware errors when mining.

Isn't that a sign that they are already overclocked way to high?



It could be a simple power supply issue as well, I plan to feed it power independently of the usb key.

"FOR SCIENCE"

It could be a simple power supply issue as well, I plan to feed it power independently of the usb key."FOR SCIENCE"

You can only mine SHA256 coins btw, not other alts. As for this - the chips themselves run on <2v so it may be a regulator limit and supplying more amperage on the USB socket/5v line may not actually help at all.



Anyway, would anyone with one already care to read off the crystal speed? Also the voltage regulator part number would be interesting, voltage reading even better, and maybe a current reading of what is being pulled over the USB. Then we could work out exactly how much headroom we have. An unlimited current supply on the 5v might help if the regulator has a decent amount of headroom. You can only mine SHA256 coins btw, not other alts. As for this - the chips themselves run on <2v so it may be a regulator limit and supplying more amperage on the USB socket/5v line may not actually help at all.Anyway, would anyone with one already care to read off the crystal speed? Also the voltage regulator part number would be interesting, voltage reading even better, and maybe a current reading of what is being pulled over the USB. Then we could work out exactly how much headroom we have. An unlimited current supply on the 5v might help if the regulator has a decent amount of headroom.

bobsmith652



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MemberActivity: 65Merit: 10 Re: Block Erupter USB - Overclocking/ hacking ? June 24, 2013, 05:06:45 PM #9 There is an 11 and a 12 MHz surface mount crystal on the Rev3. The 11MHz is the 3rd device from the left at the top in that photo that has the flash whitewashing the markings out. Not sure how that makes 333MHz...



Even i could match the wonky alignment on the crystals in the photo (the Rev3 shares this trait)

bobsmith652



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MemberActivity: 65Merit: 10 Re: Block Erupter USB - Overclocking/ hacking ? June 24, 2013, 08:31:26 PM #13







The 11MHz is actually 11.0592MHz. The 12 is 12.000 I think it says KD905L on it under the speed. Is it the one in the bottom right with 2 legs on one pad? I don't think it is scrubbed - it's just not photogenic. Didn't pick up with flash, so this one is with a torch. I can try daylight on a windowsill if you can't see it in this. (click to open in new window, click twice more to zoom)The 11MHz is actually 11.0592MHz. The 12 is 12.000 I think it says KD905L on it under the speed.

tom_o



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Sr. MemberActivity: 308Merit: 250 Re: Block Erupter USB - Overclocking/ hacking ? June 25, 2013, 09:07:15 AM #14

http://www.aosmd.com/pdfs/datasheet/AOZ1021AI.pdf



That part is rated at 3a output, the USB spec says a max of 2.5watts so as long as the chip is supplied at >1v there should be a bit of headroom left, especially once you take into consideration that some of the power draw is the buck conversion inefficiencies not the ASIC itself. Would definitely require a re-wired/modded USB hub though.



To work out the exact Vout to the ASIC either measure voltage out across pin 3 and the 'far' side of R1 whilst running (riskier), or measure the resistance values of R1+R2 whilst off and check against that datasheet. (pinouts and supporting circuitry p12/13, voltage programming table p7) That 11(ish) one is connected directly to the USB interface chip so that one is far less likely to be the base for the clock speed. As for that power supply, looks to be this:That part is rated at 3a output, the USB spec says a max of 2.5watts so as long as the chip is supplied at >1v there should be a bit of headroom left, especially once you take into consideration that some of the power draw is the buck conversion inefficiencies not the ASIC itself. Would definitely require a re-wired/modded USB hub though.To work out the exact Vout to the ASIC either measure voltage out across pin 3 and the 'far' side of R1 whilst running (riskier), or measure the resistance values of R1+R2 whilst off and check against that datasheet. (pinouts and supporting circuitry p12/13, voltage programming table p7)

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MemberActivity: 65Merit: 10 Re: Block Erupter USB - Overclocking/ hacking ? June 25, 2013, 09:47:20 AM #15 Quote from: tom_o on June 25, 2013, 09:07:15 AM

http://www.aosmd.com/pdfs/datasheet/AOZ1021AI.pdf



That part is rated at 3a output, the USB spec says a max of 2.5watts so as long as the chip is supplied at >1v there should be a bit of headroom left, especially once you take into consideration that some of the power draw is the buck conversion inefficiencies not the ASIC itself. Would definitely require a re-wired/modded USB hub though.



To work out the exact Vout to the ASIC either measure voltage out across pin 3 and the 'far' side of R1 whilst running (riskier), or measure the resistance values of R1+R2 whilst off and check against that datasheet. (pinouts and supporting circuitry p12/13, voltage programming table p7)

That 11(ish) one is connected directly to the USB interface chip so that one is far less likely to be the base for the clock speed. As for that power supply, looks to be this:That part is rated at 3a output, the USB spec says a max of 2.5watts so as long as the chip is supplied at >1v there should be a bit of headroom left, especially once you take into consideration that some of the power draw is the buck conversion inefficiencies not the ASIC itself. Would definitely require a re-wired/modded USB hub though.To work out the exact Vout to the ASIC either measure voltage out across pin 3 and the 'far' side of R1 whilst running (riskier), or measure the resistance values of R1+R2 whilst off and check against that datasheet. (pinouts and supporting circuitry p12/13, voltage programming table p7)

By risky, do you mean I might touch the wrong thing by accident while trying to measure, or something else?



I will get my meter out when I get home.



As for the hub - I can festoon some extra wire around the insides between the power jack and the USB sockets on mine very easily.



Bob By risky, do you mean I might touch the wrong thing by accident while trying to measure, or something else?I will get my meter out when I get home.As for the hub - I can festoon some extra wire around the insides between the power jack and the USB sockets on mine very easily.Bob

tom_o



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Sr. MemberActivity: 308Merit: 250 Re: Block Erupter USB - Overclocking/ hacking ? June 25, 2013, 11:54:35 AM

Last edit: June 25, 2013, 12:04:36 PM by tom_o #16 The resistance offered by the multimeter is usually 1 or 10megaohm so it shouldn't disrupt the circuit at all. Just yeah try not to touch the wrong thing/slip whilst measuring! If you did both measurements you could check the voltage sag compared to what it has been set to with the resistor values.



Also need to work out how the clocking works/clock multiplication ratio. It is probably be the 11.0592MHz( x 30 ) going into "IC3" which I can't seem to find a datasheet for. 12mhz is normally used for USB but is connected to the ASIC directly...



And yeah that's what I meant on the hub, just be careful as there should be decoupling capacitors in there that would complicate things; make sure you're only reinforcing existing connections and not making new ones!

bobsmith652



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MemberActivity: 65Merit: 10 Re: Block Erupter USB - Overclocking/ hacking ? June 25, 2013, 12:25:40 PM #17



I was wondering if any of the test points at the end of the unit could be used to supply power. I have seen a picture with a connector fitted there. I will see if there is 5V on any of them.



I also found this:

http://www.asicminer.co/about.html

Stating that they can be run at a higher speeds with a 0.1V increase.



Bob I'll try to get both sets of measurements.I was wondering if any of the test points at the end of the unit could be used to supply power. I have seen a picture with a connector fitted there. I will see if there is 5V on any of them.I also found this:Stating that they can be run at a higher speeds with a 0.1V increase.Bob

tom_o



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Sr. MemberActivity: 308Merit: 250 Re: Block Erupter USB - Overclocking/ hacking ? June 25, 2013, 12:49:26 PM #18 Quote from: bobsmith652 on June 25, 2013, 12:25:40 PM



I was wondering if any of the test points at the end of the unit could be used to supply power. I have seen a picture with a connector fitted there. I will see if there is 5V on any of them.



I also found this:

http://www.asicminer.co/about.html

Stating that they can be run at a higher speeds with a 0.1V increase.



Bob

I'll try to get both sets of measurements.I was wondering if any of the test points at the end of the unit could be used to supply power. I have seen a picture with a connector fitted there. I will see if there is 5V on any of them.I also found this:Stating that they can be run at a higher speeds with a 0.1V increase.Bob

You'll definately need some better heatsinking btw. Definately look into getting something like these for both sides of the device, ASIC and VRM. Might need to cut them up on the component side though.

http://dx.com/p/aluminum-cooler-heat-sink-chipset-for-ram-memory-w-type-8-piece-set-35816



If they overclock enough I might buy some if ROI looks likely, was planning on mounting them on an old CPU cooler! You'll definately need some better heatsinking btw. Definately look into getting something like these for both sides of the device, ASIC and VRM. Might need to cut them up on the component side though.If they overclock enough I might buy some if ROI looks likely, was planning on mounting them on an old CPU cooler!

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MemberActivity: 65Merit: 10 Re: Block Erupter USB - Overclocking/ hacking ? June 25, 2013, 01:22:05 PM

Last edit: June 25, 2013, 03:39:11 PM by bobsmith652 #19



I already have some copper heat sinks on the way from China (ebay items 290928970602 and 390610210994 look like the ones). If you order from DX, it will probably take 3 weeks - If you order from Chinese Ebayers, it usually takes 2 weeks (I have known 8 days). Sticking 2 Erupters on a CPU heat sink would probably be the best. You might get away without the fan, as the HSF combo is meant to take 65-95W



I like the look of these too



The Erupter circuit board is on an aluminum substrate, and the coloured bit on the back is a screw-on aluminium heat spreader, with some kind of rubbery (I assume silicone) sheet between.I already have some copper heat sinks on the way from China (ebay items 290928970602 and 390610210994 look like the ones). If you order from DX, it will probably take 3 weeks - If you order from Chinese Ebayers, it usually takes 2 weeks (I have known 8 days). Sticking 2 Erupters on a CPU heat sink would probably be the best. You might get away without the fan, as the HSF combo is meant to take 65-95WI like the look of these too http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=251195651419 the clip could touch the ASIC with the main flat on the underside heat spreader.