Since bandwidth isn't that big of an issue, I was wondering if this would be another way to utilize older gear (by adding PCI-E GPU... and PSU):

http://www.virtuavia.eu/shop/pci-32-bits-1-x-pci-express-adapter-.html

Thanks.

My attempt with an MSI 890FXA-GD70 failed miserably.  Had to resort to Win 7 - which is running great, but it [obviously] costs more, and I'm limited to 4 cards. 

My search is simple:

• cheap
• proven Ubuntu-friendliness (read: experience)
• as many PCI-e slots as possible (don't need to be 16x)
• would love for it to have an on/off switch on the mobo like the 890FXA-GD70
• AM3 socket preferred

Thanks!! 

I check Kitco mobile from my [company] BlackBerry regularly to see what's up with current prices of Gold and Silver.  Is there an equivalent for Bitcoin?  I can't install any apps - I just need a link to a mobile-friendly site.  Or hell - ANY site. 

Thanks.

I've lost too much sleep trying to get Ubuntu to do what I want it to.  Maybe  when I have more time...

In the meantime, I'm sticking with Win 7 (say what you will).  Where's the cheapest place to get a full version of the OS (non-upgrade)?  I shelled out 100 clams at Best Buy, but seem to recall seeing better deals somewhere.  Thanks in advance.

Does anyone know of a site/reference that shows differences between 1GB and 2GB cards?  This one: https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Mining_hardware_comparison only lists the card (not how much memory).

I'm specifically interested in the hashing rate for a 1GB 5850 or 5870 (since they're pretty cheap). 

Thanks.

I know this has probably been asked a hundred times already, but there are so many posts now - it's hard to search/find anything (information overload)!

Disregarding overheating/spacing issues... I have 3 x 6950s and want to add a 5850... is it possible from a software perspective?  I thought I remember reading somewhere that you can't mix like that...

I'm running Win 7 (32) and guiminer on an MSI mobo.  I've got PCIe risers on the way...

Thanks.

It seems like the liquid-cooled version of the 6990 is becoming more available (since the air-cooled one is TOTALLY unavailable).

I've read the [many] cons of water-cooling for mining.  I get it.  BUT... if it's the only flavor of 6990 you can buy?  I'd like to at least explore the possibility. 

So what do you think?  FOUR???  or only THREE?

BTW - I have a Kill-a-watt on the way, but it doesn't matter because I don't have any 6990s to test on it.

Also, one of those big-ass 3x120mm fan radiator rigs is supposed to suck out about 1000W of heat.  I'm thinking that's overkill for two 6990, but not quite enough for three.  Thoughts? 

Thanks in advance.

Hey... I just realized... I'm starting to love mining.    

[HOW DOES THE AIR FLOW THROUGH THESE CARDS? Does the fan pull IN from all the slots in the plastic shroud, and push OUT the opening in the back where the video connectors are? If so, why does 'blocking' the fan by putting the GPUs closer together have such a drastic impact on heat? Does the fan pull in air from it's 'hole' too?]

I am already pushing the cooling limit of my rig with 3 x 6950 OC'd.  There's an air gap between each card, a big-ass fan blowing directly on them, yada yada, yada...

I want more hashing power.  The wife isn't going to let me start a new rig until this one starts producing, so...

I ordered some flexible PCIe 'risers' in order to add another card (or two), but I need to get the heat under control before I do anything.  Here's my question:

HOW DOES THE AIR FLOW THROUGH THESE CARDS?  Does the fan pull IN from all the slots in the plastic shroud, and push OUT the opening in the back where the video connectors are?  If so, why does 'blocking' the fan by putting the GPUs closer together have such a drastic impact on heat?  Does the fan pull in air from it's 'hole' too?    A picture would be awesome!

Here's my plan: I have an old hot tub air blower (the thing that makes the bubbles) that I'd like to take advantage of.  I tried using it to blow on the tops of the cards (instead of the big-ass room fan that's doing it now - side panel is removed), but temperatures went all over the place.  Some up, some down... it was a mess.  I shut it off and put the room fan back. 

What I would like to do instead is rig up a shroud to place around the EXHAUSTS of the cards and use the blower to SUCK from there.  And believe me - this thing'll suck a golf ball through a garden hose faster than a Thai hooker.     I'm willing to give it a shot (the bitminer - not the hooker), but need to verify where the exhausts really are.  It seems like I can feel air coming out of some of the plastic vents on the GPU inside the case with my hand, but it's hard to tell with all those other fans blowing around. 

Any ideas how big of a PSU I'll need for such a beast?

There's a HUGE possibility (almost a certainty) that I screwed something up putting this all together, but here's the bottom line:

- I bought the following gear to set up a mining rig:
MSI 890FXA-GD70
HAF X case
1250W PSU
3 x HIS Radeon 6950s
1GB ram
AMD Sempron

I set up a bootable Ubuntu 11.04 USB (it works on other computers) with the intention of using this as the OS (yes - from the USB)

I get the little purplish Ubuntu USB screen with the little symbol at the bottom for a second, and then... this:



I tried someone's suggestion to reseat the memory, and remove two of the three GPUs to see if that helps.  No dice.

Help will be much appreciated and rewarded.  Thanks in advance.

I finally received all my mining rig parts and put most of it together last night (a few tweaks remain to get it operational apparently), but I was wondering...

I live in the U.S. and most circuits around my parts are either 15A or 20A.  How much insane hashing madness is it safe to plug into one outlet (or actually - one circuit, consisting of many electrical outlets)?  My PSU is 1250W, and I hope to run all three 6950s off of it - but have no idea how much power this will actually draw.  No HDD - I'll be running Ubuntu 11.04 off of a thumbdrive (if I can get it to work).  Haf X case with a bunch of fans - but those shouldn't matter too much. 

So anyway, assuming I get this thing working (please work, please work, please...), can I add another [similar] rig to the circuit?  And another?  Another?  How many?  Will adding a UPS to each do anything useful in mitigating the power draw? 

Thanks in advance!

I would like to avoid the extra step of converting to PayPal / credit card / etc if at all possible.  My prime directive is to convert BitCoins to GOLD (or Silver) as fast as humanly possible.

Any bullion coin vendors out there accepting bitcoins?

Thanks in advance.

I hope BitCoins last forever, but...

What if they don't?  There's talk of government intervention, the end of the world, etc.

My question is: if it becomes impractical, impossible, or illegal for us to mine BitCoins, is there another place we can use this gear for a profit?  Or is it all for naught?  Thanks.

Ok - took the plunge.  Here's what I ordered from Tiger Direct for ~$1400:

3 x 6950 2GB
1GB DDR3
890FXA-GD70 mobo
Sparkle 1250w Modular Power Supply 80+ Gold
AMD Sempron 145 2.8Ghz
***Cooler Master HAF X ATX Full Tower Black

The case was probably overkill, but DAMN! it has a lot of fans on it!!  I couldn't resist - and heard great reviews.  Plus, I had to cram everything into something, right?

Anyway, I'm hoping for 1GH/s (at LEAST).  I have a crap load of HDs laying around, but I have even more thumb drives.  What's the preference?

Also - what software should I use (I'm leaning 99% UNIX).  One I start mining these suckers, I can 'reward' folks who help me out.  I'm really new at this, and it would be worth it to me.   

OBTW - with those extender cables (or whatever) I was reading about, how many GPUs can I fit in this case/mobo combo.  I have PSU and cooling to spare, but not sure about the space available.  After the initial rig is paid for, I'll be adding GPU(s).

VERY new to this - basically just trying to mine some coins before the bottom falls out of the economy.  Yes - I've read the pros/cons of just using the $ to just purchase bitcoins directly, but - just for the sake of argument...

I'm tech 'savvy' (if I have enough reference materials to lean on) but this will be a stretch for me.  Need an assessment of the setup below for purely mining purposes.  Anything extra can/will be resold, and when the game becomes unprofitable, entire (remaining) rig will be sold/salvaged.  Please tell me what you'd pay (and what you'd replace/sell from it) for the following setup, and what I can expect to pull in in revenue.  BTW - can I add more GPUs (currently has 2 5770s)?  Remember - I'm willing to rip out stuff for the sake of increased mining performance (like - can that 7.1 sound card be replaced with another GPU - since I don't care what the thing sounds like?).

2 Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM
CORSAIR XMS3 8GB (4 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMX8GX3M4A1600C9
Sony Optiarc Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 2MB Cache SATA DVD Burner with LightScribe LightScribe Support - OEM
2 SAPPHIRE 100283L Radeon HD 5770 (Juniper XT) 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card (Running Crossfire)
ASUS Crosshair III Formula AM3 AMD 790FX ATX AMD Motherboard
Antec Twelve Hundred Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case
AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Deneb 3.4GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 140W Quad-Core Processor HDZ965FBGIBOX
CORSAIR HX Series CMPSU-850HX 850W ATX12V 2.3 / EPS12V 2.91 80 PLUS SILVER Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
Logitech Performance Black Tilt Wheel 2.4 GHz Wireless Laser Mouse MX
Rosewill RCR-IC001 40-in-1 USB 2.0 3.5" Internal Card Reader
HT | OMEGA STRIKER 7.1 Channels PCI Interface Sound Card

THANKS in advance!!!!