Bitcoin Forum

I've searched this forum, can't find my answer.

I'm acquiring 5 Block Eruptors, and hopefully/eventually some BFL ASICS.  I prefer a cheap laptop pc, preferably windows 7 to run the software.  I will NOT use the laptop's cpu's or gpu's for mining.  I'm not interested in a R.Pi.

Any suggestions on a model for power efficiency and cheap price?  I've considered a Nexus 7 but I've read there's issues with it suddenly stopping with easyminer, requiring a reboot.  And can a Nexus 7 run the icarus protocol with cgminer for the eruptors?

I prefer to buy on Amazon, I have a gift card.  And I'm partial to Asus and Samsung.

Thanks!

Any netbook, $300 new... $100 used.

And/or Chromebook. Both super cheap, just might need a little tweaking to get Windows 7 running. But for $199-$299, a netbook or chromebook is worth the little bit of hassle.

I'm using a Sony Vaio VGN-P25 netbook.  An old laptop that has an SSD and can run Win7 ok.

You want cheap, and functional... get an M1400 Motion-computing tablet. (Windows vista ok, win-7 not sure.)

Like $99, with a digitizer tablet (wacom built into the screen). Has WiFi, Bluetooth, finger-scanner... low power, low heat, low noise... perfect to display as a "cover" for the devices behind it. (The miners)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/M1400-T003-Tablet-Touch-Screen-/130917882927?pt=US_Tablets&hash=item1e7b505c2f

I use the M1400 and LE1600 ($100-$200) LE has 3G in addition to the above...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Motion-Computing-LE1600-Tablet-Slate-Laptop-1-5Gh-1-5GB-30GB-View-Anywhere-/281114184842?pt=Laptops_Nov05&hash=item4173b60c8a

not cheap, but it's cool: https://www.system76.com/laptops/model/lemu4

here you go, thinkpad t61 for 132
http://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-ThinkPad-T61-7658-Notebook/dp/B000UDISEW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1369837068&sr=8-1&keywords=t61
I used an R61 in college with vista, s2008 and w7 before i sold it damn thing took a hell of a beating and the t's are supposed to be tougher, a 2gb memory module wouldnt hurt it but won't be too expensive if you think you'll need more than one gig of ram

You ever purchased a used ThinkPad? If the BIOS has a password, you can't do SHIT. Can't reset, can't boot off CD/DVD/USB, can't do anything. The only way to get around it is to physically unsolder the BIOS chip from the motherboard, and solder a new, unpassword-protected BIOS chip on. They take their anti-theft measures very seriously.

My recommendation is to grab an old Dell or HP off ebay. Or a refurb unit from Newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834230808

There are all kinds of laptops/nettops for <$200 that would fit your bill.

Yes i have ... laptop bios password issues aren't unique to them and for reference desoldering the bios chip isn't required http://www.ehow.com/how_7385409_reset-bios-lenovo-t61.html

considering the build quality of dell and hp laptops you're just asking for broken hinges going on ebay.

Then don't purchase a used thinkpad that has a bios password.

Thanks guys, I like that Asus.  What's the most processing power a computer really needs to run those external ASICS?  Not much huh?

Well a rPi can do it, so pretty much ya.

I'll sell you this laptop for $400, I paid $800. I'll even throw in my laptop bag, its black with red trim like the laptop. It matches very well. :D
Its a little over 2 years old. I sent it in at 2 years which was the end of the warranty and they replaced the mobo, it didn't have anything really wrong with it but they gave me a new mobo. :D
Its in almost new condition, i take really good care of my electronics. I also upgraded it to windows 8.

I can set it up on bitmit if your interested and want to pay in bitcoins. If you want to pay cash I can set up an ebay auction.

http://www.msi.com/product/nb/GX633.html
http://www.pcdistrict.com/modules/productcatalog/product_images/132207-msi-gx633-044us-2062.jpg

Pm me if interested.

Windows 8, Blah!!   No offense.  Thanks bro!

I can put whatever on it, I have Windows 98 all the way up to windows 8. lol I also have a windows 95 CD and some windows 3.1 floppys in storage. lol
I put windows 8 on everything and then add the program Start8 to get the start menu back. Its exactly like windows 7 only with some extra windows 8 features.

I do like that referred asus though.  Gotta get my boy's thoughts.

You might think about checking your local craigslist. You could get away with a $50 pentium 4. :D

cool, thing is I have an amazon gift card to spend

http://www.amazon.com/Gateway-LT2016U-KAV60-1-60GHz-Windows/dp/B004KRZOT6/ref=sr_1_10?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1369858087&sr=1-10&keywords=netbook
http://www.amazon.com/Asus-Celeron-900MHz-512MB-7-Inch/dp/B0013NRQPU/ref=sr_1_11?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1369858087&sr=1-11&keywords=netbook
http://www.amazon.com/Acer-Aspire-One-Zg5/dp/B00CN5EMKE/ref=sr_1_13?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1369858087&sr=1-13&keywords=netbook

http://www.amazon.com/Dell-D600-Laptop-1-6ghz-Drive/dp/B000M8OX6W/ref=sr_1_55?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1369858277&sr=1-55&keywords=laptop

Since that guy's trying to sell one here, I have one for sale too. 2 bitcoins. 2GHZ Intel dual-core and 4 GB of RAM. It's three years old. One of these. No HDD though.

http://www.notebookcheck.net/uploads/tx_nbc2/pk-000000000061440-e127d10cf5b44c5ba03b65319db6c26d-30-1.jpg

PM me if interested. :P

Any random atom-based netbook with a broken screen (you can use an external monitor on it since you don't care about mobility) is the cheapest thing you're going to find for "cheap little servers" for the house.

However, I run Linux on them - not sure how well windows runs with that low of horsepower.

Keep in mind that if you run bitcoind at all, you might need to spec something higher than the typical Atom netbook - bitcoind uses around 1-1.5GB of RAM these days, and I know my dedicated wallet machine can get sluggish due to that fact.

Asus one's were cheap when they came out about 4-5 years ago.

I assume they should be enough for your needs, and pretty much dirt cheap.

Thank you everyone!!! I ended up getting this one used:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008OHRSOM/ref=ox_ya_os_product

also got these:

10 port usb hub
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005NGQWL2/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

usb fan
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003XN24GY/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

and all for $217.47 after gift card.  The gift card was from a credit card perk so I paid for it.

I make homemade version of those all the time. Take a standard PC fan, any old USB cable (like any old USB 1.1 extension cable), cut them up, splice the fan power into the USB 5V wires, and electrical tape it up. The fans only run at 5V instead of the 12V they're designed for, so they run slooow, but also whisper silent. They also have an outer guard, so you can prop them up against a miner, unlike that fan.

See here: http://www.maximumpc.com/article/features/get_your_hack_on

I was given an R500 because the person corrupted the Windows install and couldn't get it to work. I unlocked the bios with a pair of tweezers, installed a new OS, and it is running as we speak.