Bitcoin Forum

Hi all,

My computer is 5 years old so it's time for a new one!
For my studies I'm planning to buy an 15.6'' laptop and my budget is 1000 euro max (+-1300 dollar)

I was thinking, I saw a cool laptop with nice keyboard RGB light and so on (click (http://www.bto.eu/html/configureer.asp?PartnerID=1&DisplayPartnerID=1&ProductID=567&lang=nl)) for 1200 euro (+-1550 dollar)
This laptop has a HD 7970M 2GB GPU so:
650MHash/s
I pay 0,20 euro (0.25 dollars) for a kWh
300W (no idea if this is realistic)
Let's say I'll mine 20/24
When I used this calculator (click (http://www.bitcoinx.com/profit/)) , it said I'll have my money (+-250USD) back after +-6 months

Do you guys think this will work or are those calculators worthless over such time.
Is 300W realistic?
Can a laptop handle the heat with 24/24 mining?

Thanks for any help!
Stienoo

In my experience, nearly every laptop i've seen has issues when running on full load. Cooling systems aren't designed for that. They're designed for regular use. The only kinds of laptops I've seen that don't overheat are the Lenovo T and W series laptops. My T400 goes to ~60c when scrypt-mining for several hours straight, however my old HP would go up to ~75.

So, my answer is: idkman, I am doubting it.

a 7970m is not a desktop 7970. You are looking at <70% performance, if that, compared to desktop

I was under the impression that laptop GPU's would not have the same output as full size? Which leads me to question... If they did have the same hash rate, couldlnt one simply build smaller mining rigs if one were to get creative with cooling solutions?

Just look at the number of Stream Processors:

7970m (http://www.amd.com/us/products/notebook/graphics/7000m/7900m/Pages/radeon-7900m-series.aspx#2) = 1280 @ 850MHz
7970 GHz (http://www.amd.com/us/products/desktop/graphics/7000/7970ghz/Pages/radeon-7970GHz.aspx#3) = 2048 @ 1050MHz
7870 GHz (http://www.amd.com/us/products/desktop/graphics/7000/7870/Pages/radeon-7870.aspx#3) = 1280 @ 1000MHz

It will be a little slower than a 7870. Also, expect cooling to be an issue, and don't expect to overclock by very much (if at all).

You will damage your laptop by stress.
It's same to "Pizza delivery" using Maybach.

Maybe. We don't know for sure since it's different for each laptop. You'll have to try it out and see. I suggest you look into the lenovo T or W series laptops, on that you'll definitely be able to mine 24/7 without issues. (provided the cooling system is working properly)

If you going to do that, at least take sensible precautions, because that laptop will get very hot (trust me I know);

Get a laptop cooler:
http://www.zalman.com/global/product/Product_Read.php?Idx=490

The link above is an example, I got a similar one, excellent.

Just get a warranty on it.
If you permanently damage the GPU, or any part of the computer because of Bitcoin mining, and as long as you haven't overclocked, or modified any of the hardware, the manufacturer will replace it, for free.

Mining coins is not a very efficient way to reduce the purchase cost of hardware since it's going to be wearing that hardware out faster.  And as several people have stated above, most laptops will not be able to handle that type of stress.  So let's say you buy a cooler + extended warranty, that will easily increase the cost past anything you will generate in the next 6 months.  In addition to that your GPU's Mh/s will be worth much less as time goes on since a bunch of ASICs are due out within the next few months, so you won't come close to hitting that $250/6 month figure you generated.  You could always switch to a different cryptocoin if this happens, but so will many other people in the same situation.

I knew there was a difference between desktop and mobile GPU's but didn't realized it was that big :O
So it won't be more than +-1000 euro :(

Maybe I'll buy an second hands laptop for studys and a gaming desktop instead :p

Anyway, thanks for the answers!

If you put a couple cards in the desktop and buy it right away you will still get about 3 BTC in a year.  Maybe a little less depending on how much you pay for power.  So if you could get it to 2 GH and btc is 200 in a year that would be $1200 off.

I just posted this chart (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=209750.msg2291983#msg2291983) about return/GH with moving time frame.

Sneaky Sneaky! Good answer though.

I have a w520 and it get HOT while mining with the nvidia card in it, did it for 1 nigt only.  :'(

 

Hot hot? It's normal for it to get hot. Computers operate just fine at up to 50 degrees higher than what we feel is uncomfortable.

My T400 doesn't get too hot even when I'm running burn in tests.

Never had heat issues on the last two 17in laptops I had.  Alienware and MSI GT70.  I can actually slide the overclock all the way up its still not hot.

The only thing that will reduce the price is if something stops working.

Are you actually doing anything when you change that clock slider, or are you just sitting at the desktop with nothing open?

I was mining.  Hash rate went up.  Note it only goes +300Mhz

It's worth trying but you're going to want to be careful about monitoring your temps, especially in a 15in chassis like the one you're suggesting. spring for the artic silver usually the gpu and cpu share a cooling system in laptops so they likely apply it to both. the 20/24 mining is a bit high you'll most likely see around 16 hours daily average

 i've already got graphics glitches on my new 7970m, started couple weeks after mining. Not worth it on a $400 vid card.

I have a Alienware with the 7970m and I get about 300Mh running at around 60 C. I also know they have a great cooler where the CPU and GPU are cooled separately unlike most laptops.

My thinkpad actually has seperate heatpipes and heatfins for the CPU and GPU, but it shares the same fan. :P

I can't mine on it though, because the HD 3xxx series in this doesnt support openCL :(