Bitcoin Forum

I am prob retarted for asking, but I am seeing these StarTechcom ATI RADEON HD 6870 USB card on ebay and such for cheap and its specs are below. anyone try to mine with anything similar?

Product Identifiers
Brand   StarTech.com
Product Line   StarTech.com
Model   USB to HDMI Dual or Multi Monitor Video Adapter with Audio
MPN   USB2HDMI
UPC   0065030841719

Main Specifications
Type   Graphics adapter
Interface   USB 2.0
Graphics Processor   ATI RADEON HD 6870
Clock Speed   900 MHz
Memory Size   1 GB
Max Resolution   1920 x 1080
Compatibility   Mac, PC

Video Output
Digital Video Standard   High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI)

All it does is convert USB to HDMI (why you'd do that is beyond me, it can't be any good). Putting the Radeon 6870 thing in there is nonsense. Probably to get more people in from searches (or just mislead people). So no, you can't mine on it.

http://uk.startech.com/media/products/USB2HDMI/PDFs/USB2HDMI_Datasheet.pdf

Nope, not a 6870. Wouldn't be bad for a second display though!

You can get graphics card enclosures for your laptop, not cheap though, ViDock and MSI make them...

ViDock
http://img.bhs4.com/97/8/978de0aaee1d83b55cc757e5646c287a0010aaf9_large.jpg

MSI
http://laptoping.com/wp-content/uploads/MSI-GUS-II.jpg

The 'ATI RADEON' reference is false, all USB video cards, even the ones sold by Diamond (Makers of RADEON Cards) are powered by DisplayLink chipsets.

That being said;
* Yes it is possible to mine SHA256 and SCRYPT on USB GPUs, just do not expect ASIC hashrates.
* Mining SHA coins on a USB GPU may be more profitable than mining on your Netbook's GPU, but you are still better off with an ASIC.
* Mining SCRYPT coins on USB GPU is limited by several factors: DisplayLink has a 4 GPU limit on USB connected devices, Your host OS may not be able to address the full capabilities of the GPU (Mac OSX), SCRYPT Hash Rates will be limited to the data flow speed of your USB interface (USB 2/3).

There are many reasons why you would want to mine on a USB GPU, but the majority of those reasons are for reasons OTHER than mining, and the most common of those, are: that you can not afford dedicated mining equipment, you only have a single laptop/netbook computer, or you have a need for multi-tasking your existing equipment for uses other than mining (need to take the netbook to classes during the day).

USB GPUs are slow, but I didn't know they took 7 months to display and reply to a thread...

I've been researching, but hadn't seen this thread till today.

-Jarl

If it works with usb GPUs you could have 10+ gpus in one rig and it would safe a lot of money that would have been using for Motherboard cpu HD ...

I don't even remember how much the one in my original post cost. So basically for cost/performance and roi with LTC mining it is better to just get a regular card I presume.