PROS:
- same great design
- terrific efficiency in new chip
- good efficiency gains by running chips in series without dc/dc regulators
- at lower voltage these chips are perhaps the most efficient on the market right now (spondoolies can reach about the same values when drastically underclocked)
CONS:
- Price: shipping still is not included, and compared with offers like the spondoolies 3xSP20 microfarm (which can underclock to around 1TH/550W per unit) its not an obvious winner
-underclocking: chip voltage cannot be adjusted via settings like with the S3+/S4. instead, a lower supply voltage is necessary, which is not easily achieved without buying a dedicated 9V, 250W PSU per antminer in a few months from now.
it looks nice, but right now its not competitive enough with the SP20 units which have been dropping in price crazily (down to $0.31/GH at full speed, or ~0.45/GH at more efficient clockrates). Hopefully we see an option with better undervolting abilities or a S6 at 4TH/1.2kW
Well, IF Spond would give us $533 per machine for smaller # of units (as in large farm order), then S5 and SP20 would be roughly at par in cost/performance.
I assume that shipping would be $70 for S5. However, SP20 is a known performer, while quality of S5 is unknown, but I expect it to be good.
For me-I either have to find a solution to SP20 noise or I cannot expand with it at home due to family complaints (I wish i can set up a shed or something-but cannot). SP20 has the reading of 69dB in front at 1ft distance at fan setting 50 (which produces 1.35Th at ~800W). Running SP20 at hacked fan settings (550-600W and 1000-1100Gh) is possible, but greatly reduces production, so it is at least something to think about.
Re 9V-I look for a short time, but I haven't seen 9V >4A A PSU on amazon. Maybe they exist at 10A, but you have to dig in.
