Mining
Compass Mining, a bitcoin mining agency, printed a weblog submit stating that Bitmain, the corporate behind the application-specific built-in circuit (ASIC) mining rig, has made modifications to its design. The submit suggested miners to concentrate on the modifications as Compass Mining recognized “three points” with two completely different Antminer S19 sequence mining units.
Bitcoin Miner Compass Mining Identifies 3 Points with Antminer S19 Sequence
Compass Mining, a bitcoin mining firm, posted a weblog submit titled “Bitmain Modified Its ASIC Design. Miners Must Be Prepared,” highlighting modifications in Bitmain’s ASIC design. Compass believes bitcoin mining facility operators ought to concentrate on the modifications, which may trigger points. For instance, the agency recognized three issues with the Antminer S19, producing 90 terahash per second (TH/s), and the S19 XP, providing 140 TH/s.
William Foxley of Compass Mining explains that the brand new machines lack a peripheral interface controller (PIC) on the ASICs, making it more durable to manage particular person hashboards in comparison with these with a PIC. The units use aluminum plating on the aspect of the mining rig, which Foxley believes might contribute to overheating points. Moreover, there’s a “consolidation of all elements onto one aspect of the board, inflicting an elevated likelihood of hashboard errors.”

An Antminer S19 XP with out the peripheral interface controller. Picture credit score: Compass Mining.
Foxley explains that with out a PIC, models can not underhash on “one or two boards,” and hashboards made with aluminum plates might fail extra steadily in sizzling climates like Texas than these made with printed circuit boards (PCBs). Moreover, Compass Mining believes non-Bitmain restore retailers might face problem changing broken chips. The operations crew found these points inside the final six months, they usually “considerably have an effect on a unit’s efficiency.”
In conclusion, Foxley notes within the weblog submit that third-party firmware may deal with the PIC concern and allow a miner to run on one or two boards. Third-party firmware can even decrease particular variables to maintain the ASIC mining rig cooler. The submit suggests selecting the right environmental circumstances as one other answer. Nonetheless, concerning the aluminum plating, Compass Mining views it as a internet detrimental.
“We view the design choice to swap to aluminum-plating on hashboards as a internet detrimental–one that may improve ASIC failure and underhashing whereas rising service and upkeep prices,” Compass’s weblog submit concludes. “Paired with the dearth of a PIC and elevated problem of swapping out unhealthy chips, we encourage miners to double down on their restore sport as they onboard subsequent technology models into their fleets.”
What do you consider Bitmain’s choice to vary its ASIC design? Share your ideas within the feedback part beneath.