LiteCoin Miner Plan v2

[magicbennie]

Version 2.0:

--CPU: Intel i5 4670 @ 3.4Ghz-COST: $300-URL: https://www.computerlounge.co.nz/components/componentview.asp?partid=19389--GPU1: ASUS R9 280X-COST: $550-URL: https://www.computerlounge.co.nz/components/componentview.asp?partid=20584--GPU2: ASUS R9 280X-COST: $550-URL: https://www.computerlounge.co.nz/components/componentview.asp?partid=20584--GPU3: ASUS R9 280X-COST: $550-URL: https://www.computerlounge.co.nz/components/componentview.asp?partid=20584--GPU4: ASUS R9 280X-COST: $550-URL: https://www.computerlounge.co.nz/components/componentview.asp?partid=20584--MOBO: ASUS RoG Maximus VI Extreme-COST: $650-URL: https://www.computerlounge.co.nz/components/componentview.asp?partid=19558--RAM: Corsair Vengeance 4GB DDR3-COST: $80-URL: https://www.computerlounge.co.nz/components/componentview.asp?partid=20472--HDD: WD Red 1TB-COST: $110-URL: https://www.computerlounge.co.nz/components/componentview.asp?partid=18950--PSU: Antec HC Pro 1300w 80 Plus Platinum-COST: $500-URL: https://www.computerlounge.co.nz/components/componentview.asp?partid=20599

Better?

 

- Yes, I know motherboard is expensive. Got any other ones capable of 4-way crossfire?

- Power supply should be enough... I think.

- Intel Core i5 is overkill?

- Can't find and 79xx series GPUs. Go with 280x's?

 

[helping]

i5 is overkill. Find 2nd hand motherboard off eBay.

HD is probably overkill too.

[PillowSmoke]

You will get about 1 litecoin a day. Which equals to about $30 dollars. $210 a week, $840 a month, that's at the current difficulty.

[Excon]

You could get a like Celeron for mining, CPU is irrelevant. The Asrock Z77 Extreme 9 is basically the cheapest board that has 4 way CF support with a PLX chip and supplemental power. You can also find cheaper RAM, 80$ for 4Gb is ridiculous you're just paying for the name. You also don't need a 1TB Red get a 32Gb SSD.

[algoat]

Better?

 

- Yes, I know motherboard is expensive. Got any other ones capable of 4-way crossfire?

- Power supply should be enough... I think.

- Intel Core i5 is overkill?

- Can't find and 79xx series GPUs. Go with 280x's?

 

So you're keeping it in a case instead of a more open air flow design?  It could get pretty hot in there.  I'm asking because you don't need 4 x 16X slots if you have 16X to 1X pcie powered risers. I agree with everything @ said in his suggestions.  I'm not sure what the AMD video card situation is like where you are in NZ, but the 280x's are pretty much sold out in North America.

[magicbennie]

So you're keeping it in a case instead of a more open air flow design?  It could get pretty hot in there.  I'm asking because you don't need 4 x 16X slots if you have 16X to 1X pcie powered risers. I agree with everything @ said in his suggestions.  I'm not sure what the AMD video card situation is like where you are in NZ, but the 280x's are pretty much sold out in North America.

Nah its an open case for now

[xxmoney96xx]

CPU could be $250 less expensive...

 

Can still get 80+ Platinum with 1300+ watts for a bit less...

[magicbennie]

CPU could be $250 less expensive...

 

Can still get 80+ Platinum with 1300+ watts for a bit less...

Be aware this is in NZD

[xxmoney96xx]

Can't you also get a 1TB drive for $55...?

[RuecanOnRails]

Be aware this is in NZD

 

Thought about building it inside a crate yet?

http://www.cryptobadger.com/2013/04/build-a-litecoin-mining-rig-hardware/

 

That motherboard is a little excessive, any cheap motherboard and CPU combo makes a great miner. I'd also argue even from a gaming perspective an ROG board isn't needed. You can hook the GPU's up using 1x pci slots using something like this http://www.cryptocables.com/product/pci-express-extention-cable-1x-to-16x-powered-riser-molex/ For mining you will also be running the GPU's independently, not in a crossfire configuration. Crossfire mirrors the vram and can throttle or make limitations to hashrate.

You could install windows to a USB flash drive and not even need a HDD although I'm assuming it's a gaming build as well as a miner.

 

 

If this is intended as a gaming rig more than a miner, I'd suggest just build any gaming rig you desire but throw in high end AMD GPU's.

 

 

A side note for this build. With the rising difficulty and unknown future prices, you may not see dedicated mining rigs make a profit over a direct investment in the coins themselves.

[magicbennie]

Thought about building it inside a crate yet?

http://www.cryptobadger.com/2013/04/build-a-litecoin-mining-rig-hardware/

 

That motherboard is a little excessive, any cheap motherboard and CPU combo makes a great miner. I'd also argue even from a gaming perspective an ROG board isn't needed. You can hook the GPU's up using 1x pci slots using something like this http://www.cryptocables.com/product/pci-express-extention-cable-1x-to-16x-powered-riser-molex/ For mining you will also be running the GPU's independently, not in a crossfire configuration. Crossfire mirrors the vram and can throttle or make limitations to hashrate.

You could install windows to a USB flash drive and not even need a HDD although I'm assuming it's a gaming build as well as a miner.

 

 

If this is intended as a gaming rig more than a miner, I'd suggest just build any gaming rig you desire but throw in high end AMD GPU's.

 

 

A side note for this build. With the rising difficulty and unknown future prices, you may not see dedicated mining rigs make a profit over a direct investment in the coins themselves.

I guess I will be building in a crate.

 

I don't understand these riser cables, what are they for?

[RuecanOnRails]

I guess I will be building in a crate.

 

I don't understand these riser cables, what are they for?

 

Risers do 2 main things.

 

1. They allow you to space out the GPU's to allow much better cooling and airflow. You can't cram 6 GPU's on a motherboard without them. http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/8125/miningrig.jpg 

When they are powered, they off extra protection by stopping the cards from drawing extra power from the motherboard.

 

2. They also allow you to use any PCIe port regardless of the bandwidth, Mining doesn't require much bandwidth, there's no need for 16X slots unless you intend on gaming.

[magicbennie]

Risers do 2 main things.

 

1. They allow you to space out the GPU's to allow much better cooling and airflow. You can't cram 6 GPU's on a motherboard without them. http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/8125/miningrig.jpg

When they are powered, they off extra protection by stopping the cards from drawing extra power from the motherboard.

 

2. They also allow you to use any PCIe port regardless of the bandwidth, Mining doesn't require much bandwidth, there's no need for 16X slots unless you intend on gaming.

So would I be able to stick all four 280x's together on the motherboard if I were to lazy to do something like this?

 

Or is this necessary?

[rhyseyness]

So would I be able to stick all four 280x's together on the motherboard if I were to lazy to do something like this?

 

Or is this necessary?

When mining it's almost necessary because the cards will get sooooooo hot.

4 stacked next to each other will likely throttle and cause your hash rate to drop.

No, you don't have to do it, but it's highly recommended.

Like home insurance... worst analogy ever?

[magicbennie]

When mining it's almost necessary because the cards will get sooooooo hot.

4 stacked next to each other will likely throttle and cause your hash rate to drop.

No, you don't have to do it, but it's highly recommended.

Like home insurance... worst analogy ever?

Possibly

 

Where can one get these "Risers" in New Zealand?

[rhyseyness]

Possibly

 

Where can one get these "Risers" in New Zealand?

I don't know I'm afraid.

I'm in the UK, couldn't really be much further away if I tried

Your best bet is normally to look around online. Hopefully you won't have to get them shipped half way around the world

[FlakeyBanana]

Well for your crate, get your hands on a milk crate there pretty good

[RuecanOnRails]

Without risers you will have heat issues. GPU's can easily run from 75C to 90C with risers and additional fans, close together directly on the motherboard will see the cards hit their thermal max rather quickly.

 

You can get risers from Ebay. Expect to pay a bit of a premium right now as they are in high demand. Before using them make sure you visually inspect the cables to ensure there are no solder bridges which may cause a short. If you have a multimeter and are really paranoid you can manually check each of the 82 pins for bridges.