Bitcoin Forum

Hi Guys,

My desktop PC currently has an ATI 6950 and just the one PCIe x16 port.

I was looking at making a rig for mining separately but I'm a student so shorter on cash than I'd like to be.

Would it be possible to connect an additional two ATI 5850s, using a PCIe converter like this? (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PCIe-PCI-E-PCI-Express-x1-x16-riser-card-extender-converter-Flexible-cable-/150795693492?pt=UK_Computing_ComputerComponents_InterfaceCards&hash=item231c1fadb4#ht_2379wt_1163). My motherboard is a Asus P7P55-M P55 (http://uk.asus.com/Motherboards/Intel_Socket_1156/P7P55M/).

Also, assuming that is possible. Could I have the two 5850s mining whilst I gamed on the 6950? I've searched on here and Google for more information on this and the results were pretty inconclusive.

Appreciate it if anyone could shed some light.

Thanks

The extender card u pointed is just to bring the connector outside. You cannot connect two cards using this extender. If your mother board have one PCI-E slot, you can max support only one PCI-E card. Also you need to keep an eye on the total power ur system is going to need if you have a good graphics cards. What is the power supply you currently have?

Expansion Slots    1 x PCIe 2.0 x16
                         2 x PCIe 2.0 x1
those risers would be fine they are x1 ->x16, I have used x1 -> x1 and x16 -> x16

providing plenty of power to your gfx cards is essential though, make sure your psu will cope :)

I know of ppl that use cgminer to game and mine on the same card, play with the Intensity setting or you can disable the 6950 in cgminer on the fly for gaming leaving the other cards mining and fire it up again when you finish :)

gamer generally means windows, I wrote a guide to cgminer on win7 using a .bat file at
https://ozcoin.net/content/win7-cgminer-setup-guide
(guide works for other pools - just put appropriate info in)

hope thats a help :)


EDIT: Note if your 6950 covers the 1st x1 slot you will need to put it on a riser to access the 1st slot, bit hard to tell the spacing from the pic :)

Thanks for the replies guys.


I have an OCZ Stealth Xstream II 700W PSU, using the calculator found here (http://extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp) and factoring the additional 5850s, it seems to think I'll be using around 619 watts. Obviously I'll take that with a massive pinch of salt but it's a nice guideline, might invest in a power meter I think.

Unfortunately I wouldn't be able to put my 6950 on a riser unless I want to run my setup out of a cardboard box, which I wouldn't mind but it's also my main computer and gaming rig. I was hoping the x1 to x16 cable would fold under but it looks like the fit is too tight. Looks like I'll have to buy a PCI to PCIe (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PCI-E-Expresscard-X1-X4-X8-X16-PCI-Card-Adapter-New-/180802067046?pt=UK_Computing_CablesConnectors_RL&hash=item2a18a49a66#ht_2784wt_1163) card and just use a x16 extension, would the bandwidth be sufficient from a standard PCI slot?

Just to clarify, I could leave cgminer on with the two 5850s and game with the 6950? That's what I was hoping, good news if true  ;D

Thanks for the guide also, will have a read through and play now.

Nice question, i dunno, you can mine only on the two 5850 but as far as playing only on the 6950 i have no idea.

mining doesnt use much bandwith no experience with the pci -> pcie though