Bitcoin Forum

Somebody is selling old laptops for dirt cheap...just wondering if I can use them to control BFL ASIC's?  Not sure how old is too old though...

is USB 2.0 needed?

1st laptop
Gateway Solo 5300  (from 1996?)
P3 900Mhz /w USB 1.1 & ethernet
128 MB ram?

and...

2nd laptop
IBM ThinkPad A31 (2001?)
P4 1.6Ghz, 256-512MB, USB 1.1

I'd ask the cgminer guys. I'm no expert, but i don't see a reason that they shouldn't work. mining isn't processor or bandwidth intensive.

The low end CPUs aren't a problem. People have been running them on low end ARM CPUs for a while now, with no issues. The controller that the Avalon guys decided to use for their 85GH/s machine is a 400MHz Atheros MIPS CPU.

The only thing that might be an issue is the USB1.1. I don't think mining uses very much bandwidth, but I think there have been some incompatibilities with anything not USB2.0.

Unless you're getting these laptops for free, they're not worth it. You can pick up any cheap, low end laptop/desktop/RaspberryPi/anything with USB2.0 and you won't have any issues.

"Should" be fine. The cgminer code is designed to work with usb1.1 but I don't think anyone's using it on anything less than usb2 at the moment.

do yourself a favor and just go buy a raspberry pi.

and a power supply, and a keyboard, and a monitor, or use one of the laptops to access it. I suggest that you try using what you have in hand before spending more money on stuff you may not need. ;)

Raspberry pi doesn't need a monitor or keyboard, can just ssh into it after initial setup. The power cable is like $5 (you will need an sd card tho)

If someone has a computer that they can ssh with, why not use that and forget the pi?

Because it is not energy efficient to run a big energy sucking computer 24/7 to mine Asics with. A pi utilizes something like 10w.
Can also run it as a controller wherever you want, doesn't have to be where your computer is (bedroom or what have you)

well, I think we've gone far enough off topic. The OP didn't ask for alternatives, just if those two could do the job.

Thanks for the reply guys.  I picked 'em up.  The price was too cheap too ignore.  I'll be your guinea pig ckolivas and see how 1.1 holds up.  I'm assuming zadig winusb should install just fine...

Yep I've got a pi...going to experiment with that.  Picked up a Kobo e-reader for $60 as well, going to test easyminer beta with it also.

Laptops really are best because yeah...monitor, mouse, keyboard all in one.

Also, as I understand it, Pi has some issues with certain USB hubs.

Funny how you have to have the last word....
When people present valid points you accuse them of going off topic, but then you do exactly the same.

Cost of power is a big part of miner profitability and unless you are running a very substantial mining operation, then it pays to get your power-consumption down as far as possible. I myself run >80 miners with a controller using ~ 1.5-2w

Since the guy already has a PI, then it is in his best interests to use that rather than the laptops.

And the reason you can use SSH from a portable with a PI is three fold.

1. You don't tie up a portable for mining
2. You don't need to ssh 24/7
3. Remote access.

Please feel free to have the last word.... Again....

He's just trying to help out. Why are you getting defensive? Geez.