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Other => CPU/GPU Bitcoin mining hardware => Topic started by: worldinacoin on September 24, 2011, 03:35:21 PM



Title: Advice on Building of Rigs using 2U Rack server
Post by: worldinacoin on September 24, 2011, 03:35:21 PM
I have quite a lot of used 2U which I managed to get PCI to PCI-E convertors.  Now trying to modify the 2U casing so that they can fit into the normal rack.  Any advice from those rack experts out here on the best positioning of the GPUs?


Title: Re: Advice on Building of Rigs using 2U Rack server
Post by: deslok on September 24, 2011, 03:43:44 PM
Because of the oddities of your particular setup(pci->pcie adapter) we would best be able to help you if you had some pictures we could look at


Title: Re: Advice on Building of Rigs using 2U Rack server
Post by: kirax on September 25, 2011, 12:07:07 AM
Because of the oddities of your particular setup(pci->pcie adapter) we would best be able to help you if you had some pictures we could look at

In 2U, you will likely pretty much have to mount them horizontally. The pictures might help... are the pci-pcie extenders cables so you have some wiggle room? It also depends what else you have in the case already...


Title: Re: Advice on Building of Rigs using 2U Rack server
Post by: worldinacoin on September 25, 2011, 01:07:39 AM
Thanks a million to the senior posters here who replied, yeap the PCI adaptors are cables, I am trying to find a picture of the interior of the 2U.  But it is something like

http://www.amazon.com/Chenbro-Rackmount-RM21600-Supply-Chassis/dp/B005ITOPWW

Power supply is normally quite high at least 750W to accomodate the Raid 5 etc.


Title: Re: Advice on Building of Rigs using 2U Rack server
Post by: deslok on September 25, 2011, 01:26:57 AM
Thanks a million to the senior posters here who replied, yeap the PCI adaptors are cables, I am trying to find a picture of the interior of the 2U.  But it is something like

http://www.amazon.com/Chenbro-Rackmount-RM21600-Supply-Chassis/dp/B005ITOPWW

Power supply is normally quite high at least 750W to accomodate the Raid 5 etc.

750 sounds good but without knowing the amperage distribution not very helpful, are these still equiped with the raid drives? One card horizontal is a given, two might be possible depending on the specifics of your units.


Title: Re: Advice on Building of Rigs using 2U Rack server
Post by: worldinacoin on September 25, 2011, 01:35:43 AM
I am taking out all the raid drives, CD ROMs etc to clear as much space as possible for fans and ventilation, there will be only a USB stick.  So most power will be for the motherboard and GPUs.


Title: Re: Advice on Building of Rigs using 2U Rack server
Post by: deslok on September 25, 2011, 01:48:29 AM
I am taking out all the raid drives, CD ROMs etc to clear as much space as possible for fans and ventilation, there will be only a USB stick.  So most power will be for the motherboard and GPUs.

Good to know the rest of the systems general configuration, the amp ratings per voltage are still critical you can get 2 diffrent 500w power supplies and find out one of them is useless for mining because a majority of it's power is on the 3.3 and 5 volt rails and has an abysmal 12v load rating

This 480
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817170016
although not a brand i would buy is a perfect example
+3.3V@28A, +5V@36A, +12V@16A, -5V@0.5A, -12V@0.8A, +5VSB@2.0A
only 192 watts of meaningful power as far as mining is concerned, you couldnt run a 5830 on that if your CPU pulled more than 20 watts without damaging the PSU and potentially the rest of the system

This 500
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139027
Is a trusted brand and look at the diffrences
+3.3V@25A, +5V@20A, +12V@34A, -12V@0.8A, +5VSB@3.0A
408 watts now on the 12 volt rail if your cpu is rated for less than 100w you can easily fit two 5770 or a 58xx card plus a 5770 (three 5770 would be tight but possible and two 5830 would requre a low wattage cpu to be used but still tight but possible not that i reccoment either configuration)

Long post short the atx standard has changed some and if you're using existing power supplies they might not have the 12volt power you actually need


Title: Re: Advice on Building of Rigs using 2U Rack server
Post by: kirax on September 25, 2011, 05:15:31 AM
Thanks a million to the senior posters here who replied, yeap the PCI adaptors are cables, I am trying to find a picture of the interior of the 2U.  But it is something like

http://www.amazon.com/Chenbro-Rackmount-RM21600-Supply-Chassis/dp/B005ITOPWW

Power supply is normally quite high at least 750W to accomodate the Raid 5 etc.

750 sounds good but without knowing the amperage distribution not very helpful, are these still equiped with the raid drives? One card horizontal is a given, two might be possible depending on the specifics of your units.

Agreed with Deslok about the power.

If it looks like the chenobro at: http://usa.chenbro.com/corporatesite/products_detail.php?sku=19

Then I'd say (just from eyeballing it) you could likely get two video cards "floating" horizontally over the motherboard if you could rig up a bracket. I don't know about more, would depend on the card, and if it is in a rack or not (if you can cut a hole and vent heat out the side or not :p)


Title: Re: Advice on Building of Rigs using 2U Rack server
Post by: worldinacoin on September 25, 2011, 11:55:08 AM
I have seen a lot of cheap boards with PCI-E x 16 and PCI-E x 16 (4x4) any differences between the two?  Does it mean I can put two GPUs?


Title: Re: Advice on Building of Rigs using 2U Rack server
Post by: kirax on September 25, 2011, 04:15:41 PM
I have seen a lot of cheap boards with PCI-E x 16 and PCI-E x 16 (4x4) any differences between the two?  Does it mean I can put two GPUs?

For mining, a pcie X1 slot is fine, a GPU will not fit in it, but you can get cables to convert the slot for reasonably cheap. You don't need nych bandiwdth to the card at all.