it's luck.  it's statistics.  you can solve a block CPU mining in ten minutes, or never solve one with 5 Gh/s.  that said, the more consistently you mine the better your results.


you could be the miner who solves the block (i've solved a few), but it goes to the pool.  that's what they call 'fair' - since we get paid for all the other miners who solve blocks on that (our) pool.


keep at it and you probably will - but like i said, it goes to the pool.


not sure - i use Diablo.  but generally, the bigger your hashing numbers (whatever the nomenclature) the more you make.  on slush's pool, the 'shares' on your account page are a reflection of your Mh/s.


you don't need to run the client when you're mining in a pool.  only when solo mining.  and when solo-ing, no - there's no effect.  it's all about the Mh/s.

mmmph.

sleep well.

ahhh... no.


the thrust of your argument post is this:


which boils down to the usual IT'S NOT FAAIIIRRRR!!!

but it is.  you just weren't smart enough, on top of stuff enough, or courageous enough to take the risk and devote the time and effort.

neither was i.

but those who did deserve everything they get - and i'm quite content to ride their coattails.  why aren't you?

personally, i'd stay away from politics (#1), paranoia (also #1), and illegal stuff (#2).

please understand that i am both political (very) and fully in support of most 'illegal' applications of Bitcoin (i think that's called 'freedom') - but that's just me.  and the presumption of speaking for anyone but myself is distasteful.

i do not want a libertarian, a right-wing, or a left-wing currency:  i want a currency that works for everyone:  because if it starts becoming a political thing we cut our potential user-base in half, or worse.

it's that simple.

they're kind of cute...

yes.

^^this.

as attracted as we all are to what will happen with ASICs, asicminer, you are walking and quacking like a duck...

kakigarden:


sounds like an implementation without the 21M coin limit.

i wonder how the amount of currency is controlled?  centrally?   

not much appeal, with this limited amount of info...

it should handle four 5870s just fine - they tested that one with two 5990s, as i recall.

dunno what it smells like - but it's pure mineral oil, not fry grease. 

i think i saw a window bracket you can get - if not, it shouldn't be too tough to cobble one together.  but yeah - not much point to it if you don't put the radiator outside.

that site is like crack.  i'll have to get one of those suckers, sometime...

get something like this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118217

you can get fan controllers that'll do up to six different fans, for less than the cost of one fan.  they're wonderful.  really.

70 is fine.  i worry about it until they get up to 80, although i do try to keep things at 70 or below.

my advice would be:  don't do it again.

i would also point out that quitting is truly silly:  you have just discovered one of the things that makes Bitcoin as good as it is.  the purpose of acquiring knowledge is to profit from it.

if i were gold again (i was once, but i can't take ebay/paypal anymore), i'd probably be too worried to try by including a Bitcoin payment option in my auctions.  i suppose the best way would be to include just a graphic with "we accept Bitcoin" as part of the image - that way the keyword scanning that eBay does wouldn't turn up the word 'Bitcoin'.

i don't know what you sell.  i sold antiquarian books, so i had a lot of repeat business:  by the time i quit, over 70%.  in that situation (lots of repeat buyers), i would probably send out notices to my entire customer base and include a mention of Bitcoin in my "you've won!" email.  YMMV.

best?

this:

http://www.pugetsystems.com/aquarium-computer.php

kinda expensive though...

wow!  great article.

no obligatory MtGox/allinvain ripoff mention.

nice to read...

it can't.  three more days of 0% at MtGox...

interesting.  you're lucky to have backed everything up, and learned how wallets, etc., worked.


maybe a little later?  was there any GPU mining software in early 2010?

nothing.  go for it.  see how you do...

and that is why we need the client upgraded with the ability to send specific coins.

the cost basis for a coin i mined in march is entirely different than one i mined last week.  if we don't get the ability to cost out Bitcoin, the IRS will do it for us, in some kind of catch-all fashion.  and they'll do that sooner, rather than later.  and it will suck.

no.

with PCIe extenders - or a little very careful jeweler's saw work - a GPU will run just fine in any PCIe slot; even an x1.

check the mining forums, and the trade wiki for extenders:

https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Trade