Bitcoin Forum

Hello All,
(Moderators...If this is in the wrong spot, lemme know  ;D )


Anyone using Server PSUs on their mining rigs?

Looking to convert a few 10+ 1080 Zcash Rigs over to Server PSUs.

I've found a few 2400w server PSUs online with the breakout boards on them + the necessary cables.

Anyone have any experience mining with Server PSUs?

Anything else I need other than a smaller separate PSU to run my mobo and other components?


Thanks in advance!

I run my small eth rig of a 1200w hp common slot server psu. I use sidehacks breakout board and 6pin cables to run everything. Had a custom 6pin to 8pin (eps) cable made with a pigtail to run a 160w pico psu (plugs into 24pin mobo slot). Works great, theres a sata and 4pin molex for hdds so a nice little setup overall.

I know this may be a silly question, but what does PICO mean?

Also, can you explain the purpose of the pigtail?

Usually Server PSU-s do not have all the required PCIE express connectors to make a mining rig for lets say 5 GTX 1080 ti or 1080. They have the power to support it as they are really powerful but they are missing PCIE express connectors, they usually have only 2-4 maximum and since 1080 needs one 6 pin and one 8 pin connectors the maximum a HP 1200 watt can handle for example is only 2 graphic cards. I am not that knowledgeable but I have seen these kind of PSU at my work so I believe I am correct here.

Yes the server power supplies are a good option, however they require a minimum of 208v power to turn on. I use a mix of IBM 2000 watt psu and HP 2400 watt psu. In order to reduce complexity I have purchased the motherboard powering kit so that I can feed the video cards AND the motherboard off the breakout board. Parallel Miner sells the mobo power kit. It works well for me :)

A PICO 160w psu is a small device that powers a 24pin atx/itx motherboard with a 12v input line for power and a sata and molex connector for peripherals. If you google "160w pico psu" you will see it.

The pigtail from the custom 6 to 8pin cable is to power the pico psu. Otherwise they are designed to run off power bricks. I wanted to save electrical outlet space to had a pigtail put in to consolidate thigs.


HP server psus run at either 110-120v or 220-240v so will work pretty much anywhere. Also the kit that was purchased is the same kind of thing im trying to describe.

To comment on this - server PSUs are generally built to plug into a server backplane, and thus have zero PCIE connectors of their own. That's why some of us here build and sell breakout boards that convert the proprietary backplane connector into something usable, usually with anywhere from 6 to 30 PCIe jacks depending on the specific configuration. On top of that, cables can be had which convert one 6-pin to a 6-pin and 6+2 for powering a GPU. I've put together kits in the past for someone to run a PicoPSU and seven GPUs off a 1200W server PSU. I know people who run entire GPU datacenters off server PSUs.

you need this

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2040729.0


he sold one to me I am testing it.  It has a good design at a good price.

So, I see that Parallel Miner sells some of these items.

I also see that you build/offer breakout boards.  Can you suggest where I should get the needed components (PSUs, breakout boards, PICOs, etc) for my builds please?

I'm planning to build 5 rigs with 12 X 1080tis each based on the new Asrock or Biostar mobos that have 12/13 PCIE lanes.

The 1080tis pull 250w (ish) each. So each rig has a need of 3000w constant and that doesn't include the "internal components" (mobo, cpu etc).

So I'm thinking of just getting 2x 2400w ServerPSUs per rig and that should have me drawing less than 80% and still VERY cost effective.


Just wanna make sure I'm not missing any parts I'll need etc. Thoughts?

Given you have access to 240v power, there is not better way to do it! I've tried all of the combinations, multiple atx psus, large single atx psu, mix of atx and server psu, the BEST one for me has been the 2400 watt variant with the entire rig powered off the same psu. Do it, you wont regret it.

@fusion0389   So....I've received my 2x 2400w server PSUs from ParallelMiner.

Got em all set up as far as I can tell.

I've got 7x GTX 1080TI on 1 of the 2400w PSUs across two breakout boards on that single PSU.

I've got a 6-pin lead coming from the breakout board to a 6-pin splitter and one of those ends goes to the 6-Pin port on the GPU and the other end of the splitter goes to the riser for power. Then I've got another 6-pin to 8-pin cable (6+2) going from the breakout board to the 8-pin connector on each GPU.
Not sure if that's what I should be doing. Any advice would be appreciated.


I plan to power them down to under 250w each, so mathematically speaking, I should only be pulling 1750w on that PSU.

On the other 2400w PSU, I've got a PICU/Asrock H110 Pro BTC+ and 3 additional GTX 1080TIs. (my long term goal is to attach 3 more GTX 1080TIs to that 2nd 2400w PSU).

For some reason, when I plug the PSUs in, only the right side breakoutboard (if looking from the side that the breakoutboards are on) seems to be getting power on each PSU. I've tried swapping the breakout boards around but only the right side of each PSU seem to be working.

Separately, even though I can power on the Mobo, the other PSU (although having power on the breakoutboard) doesn't seem to "turn on/supply power to the GPUs". I can see the breakout board has power via the onboard LED, but the GPUs don't seem to be getting power.

Any ideas on what I might be doing wrong? Just had these 240v runs pulled for this purpose. I've pulled out my voltmeter and tested that both the left and right sides of my outlet have 125v going to them, so it's definitely 240v.  HALP!

Most likely a dead power supply. Since you have a multimeter, why not use it to test the psu breakout board pcie connections? You bought two right? try swapping out the power supply. If the issue persists, swap breakout boards.

And definitely talk to ParallelMiner about it!

UPDATE:


AHHHHH! so ParallelMiner (love those guys!) informed me that although the left breakout board doesn't show power to the LEDs etc, it DOES in fact get power.

I powered on the rig, and sure enough, every port on all the breakoutboards DID have power!

So I'm in business!


1x 2400w Server PSU (240v) w/ 7x 1080TIs across 2 breakout boards

1x 2400w Server PSU (240v) w/ 3x 1080TIs (will be 6 more in coming weeks) across 1 breakout board + Mobo etc via PICO unit


Mining ZCash and it's fantastic!   Boy she puts out some heat though! Whew!

I'm thinking of doing the same thing.  If you use 2 server powersupplies, is it necessary to get them synced up in some way or is that only for ATX supplies?