{"id":561727,"date":"2023-03-10T03:51:30","date_gmt":"2023-03-10T00:51:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/bad-batch-or-flawed-design-compass-mining-flags-problems-with-new-asic-miners\/"},"modified":"2023-03-10T03:51:30","modified_gmt":"2023-03-10T00:51:30","slug":"bad-batch-or-flawed-design-compass-mining-flags-problems-with-new-asic-miners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/bad-batch-or-flawed-design-compass-mining-flags-problems-with-new-asic-miners\/","title":{"rendered":"# &#8216;Bad batch&#8217; or flawed design? Compass Mining flags problems with new ASIC miners"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a2d26596c8e9\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a2d26596c8e9\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/bad-batch-or-flawed-design-compass-mining-flags-problems-with-new-asic-miners\/#%E2%80%9D_%E2%80%98Bad_batch_or_flawed_design_Compass_Mining_flags_problems_with_new_ASIC_miners_%E2%80%9C\" >&#8221; &#8216;Bad batch&#8217; or flawed design? Compass Mining flags problems with new ASIC miners &#8220;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%E2%80%9D_%E2%80%98Bad_batch_or_flawed_design_Compass_Mining_flags_problems_with_new_ASIC_miners_%E2%80%9C\"><\/span>&#8221; &#8216;Bad batch&#8217; or flawed design? Compass Mining flags problems with new ASIC miners &#8220;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<div class=\"post-content\" data-v-48054ca8>Bitcoin mining company Compass Mining claims to have found \u201cthree issues\u201d in the ASIC design of the two new Antminer S19 miners, units that are primarily used to mine Bitcoin (BTC).<\/p>\n<p>These issues could result in the machines overheating and in some cases, completely breaking down.<\/p>\n<p>The firm\u2019s mining operations team warned in its Mar. 6 <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/compassmining.io\/education\/bitmain-changed-its-asic-design-miners-need-to-be-ready\/\">post<\/a> that \u201cMiners need to be ready,\u201d particularly those who purchased the S19 90T and S19 XP Antminers manufactured from 2022 onwards.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Bitmain changed its ASIC design. Miners need to be ready<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/cs8z96lR1L\">https:\/\/t.co\/cs8z96lR1L<\/a> <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/2NN4O3sEfP\">pic.twitter.com\/2NN4O3sEfP<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Will Foxley  (@wsfoxley) <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/wsfoxley\/status\/1633106804115664902?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 7, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>While the firm stated that \u201cother versions could be affected as well,\u201d the three flaws the firm identified stemmed from a lack of a peripheral interface controller (PIC) on units, the implementation of aluminum plating instead of laminate material, and the bunching up components onto just one side of the board.<\/p>\n<p>According to Compass Mining, peripheral interface controllers, or PICs, are used to control and monitor a range of devices and systems across all sorts of electronics. In ASICs, they\u2019re used to interface with hashboards individually, rather than addressing them as one unit. <\/p>\n<p>This, however, has been removed in the most recent design, said the firm.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cIn ASICs, a PIC sits at the top of a hashboard and allows each hashboard to be spoken to individually. Without it, you have to address the unit as one unit, instead of three hashboards.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Compass Mining explained that this lack of PIC means that should one hashboard fail, the entire unit \u201cfails completely.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cInstead, a miner fails completely. We\u2019ve found this to be the case with our S19 XP 141 TH units, which have failed completely when only one board is having issues.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.cointelegraph.com\/uploads\/2023-03\/e0010a35-bfae-4fce-ba81-b01ff2f9b538.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\"><figcaption style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>The red dot in the center represents the PIC, which was present on older models S19 Antminers. Source: <\/em><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/compassmining.io\/education\/bitmain-changed-its-asic-design-miners-need-to-be-ready\/\"><em>Compass Mining.<\/em><\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The mining company also said that by implementing aluminum plating on the hashboard, it may overheat and therefore lead to a higher \u201cfailure rate\u201d than those built on printed circuit boards (PCBs) \u2014 which is what the old S19s were built on. <\/p>\n<p>This would lead to \u201chigher servicing needs,\u201d the company said.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, the company has also raised concerns about the mining unit\u2019s transition to aluminum, referring to it as \u201cnet negative.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe view the design decision to swap to aluminum-plating on hashboards as a net negative\u2013one that will increase ASIC failure and underhashing while increasing service and maintenance costs,\u201d it wrote. <\/p>\n<p>The firm also explained that the presence of the aluminum would make it more difficult to replace malfunctioning chips:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cThe lack of a PIC is compounded by the abrupt change to aluminum-plates on all hashboards. If a board overheats because of the aluminum&#8217;s heat dispersion properties, then the entire unit will go down instead of just one board.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Compass Mining said they first realized the drop in performance when they deployed the S19 XP at its Texas partner facility \u2014 which could have been impacted by humidity and heat.<\/p>\n<p>As for the third issue, the firm noted that by implementing the aluminium plating without changing the chassis \u2014 the base frame of the ASIC \u2014 would also contribute to the higher failure rates. <\/p>\n<p>Because aluminium is very heat emissive, the metal will cause \u201cconvective heating\u201d inside the chassis, the firm explained, before proposing some solutions:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cA solution to this in an air-cooled environment would be to increase the mass air flow sufficiently to dissipate the heat stored within the miner \u2013 a different design or stronger fans.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Related: <\/em><\/strong><strong><em>Bitcoin ASIC miner prices hovering at lows not seen in years<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Other possible solutions proposed by the firm include finding third-party firmware that allows the frequency and voltage of the machine to maintain reasonable temperature and humidity levels in order to get more longevity out of the mining machines.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.cointelegraph.com\/uploads\/2023-03\/0e476e59-0c03-46c9-b82d-08eb90600fc1.jpg\"><figcaption style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Some of the latest S19s do not have a PIC on each hashboard of the ASIC. Source: <\/em><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/compassmining.io\/education\/bitmain-changed-its-asic-design-miners-need-to-be-ready\/\"><em>Compass Mining.<\/em><\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The firm did however acknowledge that they may have just gotten a \u201cbad batch\u201d from Bitmain, noting it is \u201ccommon knowledge\u201d in Bitcoin mining not to buy the first batch of Bitcoin ASICs. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cUnknown errors are often only revealed over time, so it&#8217;s best to have others find them out first,\u201d it said. <\/p>\n<p>Cointelegraph reached out to Bitmain for comment but did not receive a response by the time of publication.<\/p>\n<p>Bitmain Antminers have been used to mine proof-of-work cryptocurrencies such as BTC, Dogecoin (DOGE) and Litecoin (LTC). <\/p>\n<p><template data-name=\"subscription_form\" data-type=\"crypto_biz\"><\/template><\/div>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. 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Compass Mining flags problems with new ASIC miners &#8220; Bitcoin mining company Compass Mining claims to have found \u201cthree issues\u201d in the ASIC design of the two new Antminer S19 miners, units that are primarily used to mine Bitcoin (BTC). These issues could result in the machines overheating and&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":561728,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/images.cointelegraph.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto,onerror=redirect,quality=90,width=1200\/https:\/\/s3.cointelegraph.com\/uploads\/2023-03\/49b385e0-f0f6-41db-bfd4-cdac7ae56076.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[80947,75461,74862,74989,75042,75578,117],"class_list":["post-561727","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general","tag-antminer","tag-asic","tag-bitcoin","tag-bitcoin-mining","tag-mining","tag-proof-of-work","tag-business"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/561727","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=561727"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/561727\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/561728"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=561727"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=561727"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=561727"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}