Tag: Hardware

At ePIC Blockchain Technologies, we are excited to announce our involvement in a large-scale project with the Proto team at Block Inc and Core Scientific. We have worked with Block to design and build a modular mining platform, an innovative solution that addresses the key challenges faced by large-scale mining operations today.

The mining industry is continually evolving, and at ePIC Blockchain Technologies, we recognize the need for more efficient, reliable, and sustainable mining practices. This pilot project is designed to address these demands. By leveraging the latest advancements in ASIC technology from the Proto team, we are set to co-design this new platform that later will be built out in one of the Core’s existing facilities.

As an established industry standard, the current mining rig design is a solid foundation for mining operations worldwide. The goal of this pilot is to find a way to develop a solution that integrates effortlessly with existing infrastructures while amplifying operational efficiency and minimizing total ownership costs.

Key Features:

  • Infrastructure cost savings: The platform is projected to significantly reduce infrastructure and networking equipment costs, with an estimated 38.7% savings in new infrastructure per MW build-out and two-thirds savings in networking equipment for air-cooled facilities. For immersion facilities, the density and power increases are 2-4x. By increasing the power density on the shelf, we can save on infrastructure build-out costs while consuming the same amount of power in a denser environment.

  • Enhanced capacity and uptime: By redesigning the system with more efficient components and increasing the amount of power per linear foot on the rack, the MMP aims to boost capacity by 1.72x within existing facilities and improve uptime by targeting and reducing the most failure-prone parts of traditional rigs. ePIC’s mining firmware allows for agility and reactivity in optimizing power usage and mining efficiency, even in extreme scenarios. If one of the hashboards fails, the power will decrease across all three phases on the PDU, allowing the miner to continue operating. If one section of the PSU fails, the hashboards will scale down to accommodate the remaining power.

  • Form factor’s simultaneous compatibility and innovation: The redesigned chassis makes all non-ASIC components long-life reusable items that are considered part of the infrastructure rather than the miner. This approach maintains compatibility with existing mining facility form factors and allows for the use of higher-quality components. Whether in an air-cooled or immersion facility, the only components that need upgrading in the system are the hashboards.

  • Smooth user experience and serviceability: We’ve designed with user convenience and serviceability at its core, featuring minimal screws to simplify maintenance. Essential components are accessible from the front, allowing users to perform adjustments without disassembling the entire system. The PSU and hashboards feature a cableless design and are easily swappable, facilitating quick replacements or upgrades. Additionally, the machine’s layout allows for repairs directly on the rack, streamlining maintenance in large operations.

  • Enhanced electrical infrastructure efficiency: The design accommodates all plug types and balances power across all three phases, minimizing harmonics and heat. This allows mining operators to use more power in the facility, which may currently be lost to heat and harmonics. Efficient power use is expected to reduce the payback period for infrastructure investments. For new facilities that will migrate directly to three-phase power, the miner can accept a higher voltage and bypass current PDU requirements. Older facilities with C13-based PDUs can save on electrical upgrade costs by continuing to use their existing PDUs with the system instead of replacing them with newer C19-based PDUs. It’s also compatible with C19-based PDUs. If a mining operator decides to upgrade their facility to three-phase power, the PSU can easily be swapped for a 12kW, 20kW, or 30kW PSU, depending on the cooling available for the miner.

Looking ahead, ePIC Blockchain is committed to driving innovation and efficiency in the mining industry through our collaboration with Core Scientific and the Proto team at Block Inc. This represents a significant step forward in addressing the evolving challenges of large-scale mining operations. By integrating the latest ASIC technology and advanced design features, we anticipate that this will not only achieve substantial infrastructure cost savings and operational efficiencies but also set new industry standards. As we continue to refine and expand this platform, we envision a future where mining operations are more sustainable, reliable, and adaptable to both current and emerging demands. Our ongoing efforts aim to deliver unparalleled value and performance, ensuring that our solutions remain at the forefront of mining technology advancements.

Emerging blockchain hardware: ASIC mining

In response to cryptocurrency markets, various companies, often with inadequate experience, have produced ASIC miners. In the rush to capitalize on the market, robust system design is often an afterthought by some companies. There could even be an argument that this aspect is completely overlooked. Producing an ASIC is more than just writing a few lines of code.

The adoption and success of a mining operation depends on full-system thinking, end-to-end reliability, and close collaboration with mining farms.

Who can step up to these challenges?

Some of the recent ASIC hardware providers have been struggling with poor integration into the mining infrastructure, field failures and major gaps between specifications and real-life results. While others have just disappeared. But there are also new players emerging.

Introducing ePIC Blockchain Technologies

This brings us to a promising North America based start-up, ePIC Blockchain Technologies. This high performance, experienced team applies the best practices for engineering design and operational excellence from the telecom, PC, and mobile industries to the ASIC hardware mining space.

SoC design and system design are highly specialized fields of engineering. Combining these specialized design skills with a deep understanding of architectural trade-offs and blockchain algorithms is the recipe for success.

At its core, this is the team inside ePIC.

To date, the industry has been preoccupied with nano-marketing name dropping. It is fashionable for companies to tout their ASIC based on the technology node. However, that may be a distraction from what is lacking. The end customer should not care which node their ASIC is manufactured on. What matters is the quality of the design.

The proliferation of multiple variants, 5–6 in some cases, of a manufacturer’s product is another interesting artifact of the current suite of mining providers. Is it a deliberate marketing plan for different price points? Or is it a design and manufacturing flow that is not well understood and controlled? Could it be a very wide cross-section of performance and power outputs that are produced and pushed out to the unsuspecting customer?

What really matters to the ASIC mining customer?

The answer is simple: Get the job done right and on-spec.

Launched recently, the SC200 miner is the product that showcases ePIC’s world-class system design capabilities.

From ASIC to mining rig: a visual glimpse into bringing a product to market

Work doesn’t stop just because silicon is in hand. Full understanding of the system is required to bring a quality product to market. Having a chip that works in isolation is not enough. Having both the depth and breadth is what distinguishes ePIC from other companies.

Here are a few examples of the behind-the-scenes due diligence taken prior to the introduction of the SC200 to the market. And it serves as a macro lens into the systematic approach that is needed for future generations of ASIC hardware miners.

Initial socket testing for full characterization of SoC followed by Individual hashboard testing for performance and power validation

Simulated heat-map of chip substrate to model on-die IR drops. Advanced 3D modelling of heatsink and chip positioning

Mechanical design and modeling including 3D modeling of the enclosure to study fan requirements and airflow dynamics

Polycarbonate case to study thermal losses and mechanical fitment

Fan and airflow validation with a thermal load ( yes, that is the heating element of a 1200W hairdryer)

Calibration of temperature ramp on a per chip basis to validate heat transfer characteristics of a hashboard. This is done in an immersion tank to measure the profiles in a controlled environment.

Leading the way

In any industry, what distinguishes the leaders is straightforward — what they deliver just works as advertised. ePIC Blockchain Technologies is bringing this philosophy and track record to the ASIC hardware blockchain mining industry. World-class engineering design and a maniacal focus on operational excellence are ingrained in the ePIC culture.

To be called out so early as the "Dyson of ASIC Miners" is a distinction to be proud of and the team will press on to provide dependable, robust, and reliable technology.