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Title: Simple question about PCIe x16 Extender Cables Post by: the joint on January 03, 2012, 07:38:32 PM I have a motherboard with a single PCIe x16 slot. If I buy a PCIe x16 extender cable and attach it between my PCIe x1 slot and a 2nd graphics card, can I expect a drop in hash rate with either graphics card?
Title: Re: Simple question about PCIe x16 Extender Cables Post by: DeathAndTaxes on January 03, 2012, 07:42:55 PM I have a motherboard with a single PCIe x16 slot. If I buy a PCIe x16 extender cable and attach it between my PCIe x1 slot and a 2nd graphics card, can I expect a drop in hash rate with either graphics card? No. Bitcoin mining uses a trivial amount of bandwidth. You could run multiple GH over an old fashion serial bus and bandwidth still wouldn't be a problem. Title: Re: Simple question about PCIe x16 Extender Cables Post by: the joint on January 03, 2012, 07:45:58 PM I have a motherboard with a single PCIe x16 slot. If I buy a PCIe x16 extender cable and attach it between my PCIe x1 slot and a 2nd graphics card, can I expect a drop in hash rate with either graphics card? No. Bitcoin mining uses a trivial amount of bandwidth. You could run multiple GH over serial interface. Ok. Will it be possible to use two different GPUs with this idea? Like a 6970 and a 5870 (6970 in regular PCIeX16 slot, 5870 attached to the extender cable)? My idea is that I would like to mine with both cards off the same mobo, but if this is not possible, I would still like the ability to switch between the two GPUs (i.e. 6970 for gaming and music production, 5870 for mining). Title: Re: Simple question about PCIe x16 Extender Cables Post by: DeathAndTaxes on January 04, 2012, 12:23:09 AM Yes you can mismatch GPU. The miner doesn't care. Each GPU works independently anyways.
Title: Re: Simple question about PCIe x16 Extender Cables Post by: the joint on January 04, 2012, 12:35:29 AM Yes you can mismatch GPU. The miner doesn't care. Each GPU works independently anyways. Amazingly awesome. Thank you, kind sir. Title: Re: Simple question about PCIe x16 Extender Cables Post by: tonto on January 05, 2012, 06:54:54 PM I wasn't aware of extender cables, thanks guys. :)
Before mining, would any of you guys have bought mis-matched video cards and installed them in your computers? Title: Re: Simple question about PCIe x16 Extender Cables Post by: DeathAndTaxes on January 05, 2012, 07:17:18 PM I wasn't aware of extender cables, thanks guys. :) Before mining, would any of you guys have bought mis-matched video cards and installed them in your computers? No. Gaming performance is going to suffer w/ unbalanced crossfire or SLI setup. So other than mining there is no reason. Now that being said if you have lots of rigs keeping everything the same makes it easier to keep track of settings, hardware, spare parts, etc. Title: Re: Simple question about PCIe x16 Extender Cables Post by: ssateneth on January 06, 2012, 03:21:45 AM FWIW, you can also use PCI -> PCI-E adapters if you're trying to really crunch a lot of cards in there. I bought this and it works fine for my overclocked 5830 @ 1050 core. http://www.ebay.com/itm/150619756121?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649
Title: Re: Simple question about PCIe x16 Extender Cables Post by: rjk on January 06, 2012, 03:14:39 PM FWIW, you can also use PCI -> PCI-E adapters if you're trying to really crunch a lot of cards in there. I bought this and it works fine for my overclocked 5830 @ 1050 core. http://www.ebay.com/itm/150619756121?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649 3 bucks cheaper at http://www.ebay.com/itm/390371034002 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/390371034002)! ;DEDIT: If you are using a powerful card though, you will want to use a powered PCIe extender cable after that - because plain PCI only has 25 watts, not 75. Title: Re: Simple question about PCIe x16 Extender Cables Post by: vapourminer on January 08, 2012, 12:00:03 PM Before mining, would any of you guys have bought mis-matched video cards and installed them in your computers? yup. folding @ home, contribute to research for cures to various diseases. best on nvidia hardware (as well as CPU clients). all GPUs run independently, same miners, so mix away. nvidias physx, gives more physics based eye candy for some games. you add a second, usually less powerful nvidia card (or sometimes 1st nvidia card with an ATI primary, but phsyx doesnt officially play nice with ATI cards) to your rig to let the 1st do rendering only instead of both rendering and physx. |