Introducing the new bitaxeUltra: Open Source Bitcoin Miner

I'm excited to share a new version of the bitaxe miner using the Bitmain BM1366 ASIC from the Antminer S19XP. Just like the earlier models, this one's all about open source, both hardware and firmware. Let's get the discussion rolling!

Big shoutout to Skot for bringing this forward! More open source ASIC projects are what we need! Hoping the bitaxeUltra turns out as impressive as its predecessors. If you need any support or materials, I'm in!

For sure watching this closely! Noticed some things in the schematics. Did you get the BM1366 connections from actually tracing the signals on a board? I wonder about a couple of things: - The mode_0 and mode_1 signals are linked together. - Those decoupling caps seem to connect to ground? Might be worth a double-check.

Thanks for your work! Any luck finding a datasheet for the 1397 or 1398?

As far as I know, no datasheets exist for those chips.

What's the hashrate you're seeing from the BM1366? Also, any chance you could tidy up the GitHub branches? It’s kinda confusing to look at. And speaking of efficiency, have you seen Gekko Compac F? It seems simpler, relying only on USB.

Initial tests show just under 500 GH/s and around 22 J/TH. Still lots of room for tuning though. And yeah, organizing the branches better is on the to-do list! GekkoScience definitely has something interesting going on, but I’m not super keen on going the USB stick miner route. Just too many options out there.

Huge thanks, Skot! Been following your journey for a while. Thought about building my own miner using your guides, but still haven't taken the plunge. Do you think we could connect multiple chips on a single board in the future?

Hey seek3r! Appreciate the support! It’s a tough project, but have you heard of d-central? They’re selling partially assembled kits that might interest you. Not sure about their stock, but it’s a good starting point!

Yeah, I checked out their live stream of assembling the v2.2! I’d rather wait for a kit with the BM1366 than buy an S17 setup. Still curious about the idea of using more chips on a single board.

Totally doable! I know of designs being worked on that use both BM1397 and BM1366. The BM1366 is perfect for chaining chips. But soldering those ASICs is tricky, so it might leave beginners out.

Keeping both versions would be smart. New folks can start with the basic one while gaining confidence, and the multi-chip version could be amazing!

It’d be awesome if Skot teamed up with Crypto Cloaks for some custom cases for the ultras. What about cooling? How hot do these chips run? Seems like a Noctua fan would do the trick.

I could help with some 3D design for the bitaxe if needed! Might be easier than a business route. Plenty of simple cases out there if you dig around.

Count me in! I’ve downloaded the KiCad drawings and will share my adjustments. I have limited time until the end of September but plan to get some boards made soon.

Check out this link for a good offer: https://bitcoinmerch.com/products/bitcoin-merch%C2%AE-bitaxe-1366-solo-bitcoin-miner-up-to-500gh-s?variant=43907234169062

Depends on your skills. If you have time, building it yourself could save over $100. Plus, it’s way more rewarding to learn while doing it.

If you're just after one Bitaxe, that deal seems solid. But if you're looking to make a few, it’s probably cheaper to gather the tools and build them yourself.

Anyone figured out what’s needed for attaching a BM chip to the board? Curious about the costs involved.

Some info’s on Bitaxe's GitHub page. And check out Zeus Mining for prices on assembly tools.