What's the most economical way to get into Silver?

I've looked @ SLV, but would prefer the tangible bullion; however, I'm not keen on the markup of coins...

So, do you guys have any ideas as to how to most wisely invest in silver?

Gold Bullion and Stocks (GLD) just seem to 'expensive' to get into.  I know, it's suppose to be based on 'percentage' not 'amount' but... if you only have $1000 to invest, you can by 25 pieces of silver, or .8 pieces of gold... through options I've learned about leverage, and miniscule growth times 25, just seems better than moderate growth times .8

Thanks,
CRYPT

I'm looking to buy ~ 20 bitcoins for USD $11.52 through my verified PP account

Or, ~5 for L$3350 with SLL through VirWox...

Anyone... Anyone... Anyone....

CRYPT

I'm trying to build a new GUI Mining Manager Consol, building on the great work of Kiv and the other miner developers - m0mchill; puddinpop; Diablo; etc...

I've got the front-end of the GUI developed, i.e. I know which widgets I want the user to be able to manimpulate, but I've no functional code behind the GUI, mainly due to my programming ignorance...

Anyone willing to help?

CRYPT

How do I change my signature block on here?  I've looked at all of the 'Account Settings', but can't remember where I set my signature block.  I can see it in my profile, but I can't change it.  Hopefully noone has donated to my ewallet address there, as it's no longer valid.

I'm putting together a new site to launch a Mining Co-Op on Second Life:

http://www.cryptbitcoinmining.com

I'm currently building a GUI Mining Manager Consol, but am finding much difficulty in my quest, as I'm not a programmer by nature.  I'm familiar with code, as a software application tester in real life, so I'm on a learn by trial and error quest as a way to spend my idle time here in Iraq.

Any developer/programmer types out there willing to assist would be greatly appreciated.  I've the GUI built, but there's no functional code behind it yet....

Thanks...

I've not had any problems with my laptop, but I ordered @ new gaming computer from NewEgg and had it shipped to me here in Iraq... so now, I'm mining @ ~ 297 Mhash/s on that.  I also have 2 x 6990's on backorder through PC Connection --- waiting.

CRYPT

Thanks all for the response... I'm still looking, I keep missing the Ebay and Craigslist rigs for sale.  I was actually looking on NewEgg at the HD 6990s.  I'm contemplating putting together a rig with 2 x HD 6990s, but what I'm finding is that either the motherboards are too flimsy, or, the HD 6990 is so big, that you can't fit 2 on a standard PCI x16 interface card.  Any other suggestions?

Thanks,
CRYPT

I came across bitcoins, while reading some world reports on fiat currencies, and one lil abscue refernce to "..moving towards bitcoins...", now, I've been bitten by some sort of bug, 'cuz now, it's all that occupies my mind, other than the rockets and mortars that frequently stream into our compound, oh, BTW, I'm deployed to Iraq, so, I'm mining with what I have with is a Dell Precision M6400 with a high end graphics card (though evidently, when I say 'nvidia, people turn up their noses like I'm farting or something.) but, even over here, I'm mining, and was een able to get some money Western Unioned to Naniama gold ---> now if I could just get the bitgold, er, coins into my new ewallet, so that I can sit and play at the betco.in poker room....

Is it only 5?  I thought it was 50...hhhmmm, this might be it then

I"m currently deployed to Iraq with the US Army, and would like to buy or build a bitcoin Mining Rig.  Though I live in a metal box, they do provide me with Air Conditioning, electricity, and I'm able to purchase the Internet... sooo,

Right now, I'm dabbling in the bitcoin mining world on the high end laptop that I brought with me, but would like to build/set up a 3 Ghash/s (or more) to use during my next 6 or 8 months here, while I do'nt have to foot the electric or cooling bill.

I saw where eintstienXX had a couple rigs for sale, then was going to ship the parts bck.  I've people in Orlando that can send the stuff to me, so...

Thanks,
The CRYPT

Oops, $1500, not $2300, but that's not really the point ...

Thanks, but you didn't really answer my qestion, at all, are you a lawyer?

I would LOVE to not use a laptop, but unfortunately, I'm in Iraq, and didn't have the forsight of bitcoins before I left to deploy here last March, so... I'm going with what I've got, until I can get a mining rig (or the components to put one together) over here.

I downloaded CoreTemp 0.99.8 to keep tabs on my CPU and internal temps, and while  I'm running all four of my Core 2 processors at 100%, I also have an AC blower pointed at my laptop, which I've proppedd atop empty Copenhagen cans for circulation.  The absolute HIGH on any of my Cores is 78 C, but usually around 65 C.

So, now that I've addressed teh ways and means of how I can't / shouldn't, back to my question...

Does anyone know how to configure this card to get more/better performnce?  It's NOT a cheap card ($2300); so certainly, I should be able to get better than 25 mhash/s.

ALSO, if anyone has a Mining Rig they wish to sale... I don't pay for AC nor electricity over here, so that solveds what most tend to say is the major drawback of running high end systems.

Thanks,
The CRYPT

I posted earlier about using the NVidia FX 3700 with 128 core CUDA processing.  When I try to run the CUDA miner, below is what I get:



C:\DOCUME~1\tacsim\Desktop\BONEIS~1\BitCoin\guiminer\miners\puddinpop>rpcminer-c
uda.exe AGGRESSION=7 --user=CRYPT.xxx --pass=xxxxxx -o api.bitcoin.cz -p 8332
--device=0 --platform=0 --verbose -v -w256
Client will start 1 miner threads
Work will be refreshed every 4000 ms
1 CUDA GPU devices found
Setting CUDA device to first device found
Loading module bitcoinminercuda_11.cubin
CUDA initialized
Done allocating CUDA resources for (16,16)
Finding best configuration step end (16,16) 1859ms  prev best=922337203685477580
7ms
Done allocating CUDA resources for (16,32)
Finding best configuration step end (16,32) 937ms  prev best=1859ms
Done allocating CUDA resources for (16,64)
Finding best configuration step end (16,64) 468ms  prev best=937ms
Done allocating CUDA resources for (16,128)
Finding best configuration step end (16,128) 250ms  prev best=468ms
Done allocating CUDA resources for (16,256)
Finding best configuration step end (16,256) 172ms  prev best=250ms
Done allocating CUDA resources for (32,16)
Finding best configuration step end (32,16) 937ms  prev best=172ms
Done allocating CUDA resources for (32,32)
Finding best configuration step end (32,32) 468ms  prev best=172ms
Done allocating CUDA resources for (32,64)
Finding best configuration step end (32,64) 250ms  prev best=172ms
Done allocating CUDA resources for (32,128)
Finding best configuration step end (32,128) 172ms  prev best=172ms
Done allocating CUDA resources for (32,256)
Finding best configuration step end (32,256) 156ms  prev best=172ms
Done allocating CUDA resources for (64,16)
Finding best configuration step end (64,16) 500ms  prev best=156ms
Done allocating CUDA resources for (64,32)
Finding best configuration step end (64,32) 250ms  prev best=156ms
Done allocating CUDA resources for (64,64)
Finding best configuration step end (64,64) 172ms  prev best=156ms
Done allocating CUDA resources for (64,128)
Finding best configuration step end (64,128) 172ms  prev best=156ms
Done allocating CUDA resources for (64,256)
Finding best configuration step end (64,256) 172ms  prev best=156ms
Done allocating CUDA resources for (128,16)
Finding best configuration step end (128,16) 500ms  prev best=156ms
Done allocating CUDA resources for (128,32)
Finding best configuration step end (128,32) 234ms  prev best=156ms
Done allocating CUDA resources for (128,64)
Finding best configuration step end (128,64) 172ms  prev best=156ms
Done allocating CUDA resources for (128,128)
Finding best configuration step end (128,128) 172ms  prev best=156ms
Done allocating CUDA resources for (128,256)
Finding best configuration step end (128,256) 172ms  prev best=156ms
Done allocating CUDA resources for (32,256)
0 khash/s
0 khash/s
0 khash/s
0 khash/s


and the 0 khash/s just continues...

Again, am I missing something?

thanks,
V/R
The CRYPT

I'm using the GUIminer V2011-06-14 (and everything bundled with it); and for a few days, just did the CPU mining, getting about 12mhash/s.  Then, I researched the LAPTOP I'm using, and discovered that it had a NVidia Quadro XM3700 (I don't see it listed in the bitcoin.blog on mining machines specs)

I'm using a Dell Precision M6400 with a Quadro FX 3700:
Specs:
The Quadro® FX 3700M high-end mobile workstation graphics solution with its revolutionary unified architecture, delivers 1 GB memory, excellent image quality, and optimized visual computing application performance pushing the limits of a 17" mobile workstation. The reference standard for OpenGL 2.1, DirectX 10, and Shader Model 4.0, Quadro FX 3700M enables next generation applications with new levels of interactivity to meet the demands of CAD engineers, graphics designers, and other technical design professionals.
NVIDIA® CUDA™ Parallel Computing Processor
Unleashes new capabilities with 128-core CUDA parallel computing processor to solve highly complex challenges such as real-time ray tracing, video encoding, and interactive volume rendering.

When I downloaded all of the new drivers for the card, I was able to connect via the OpenCL miner in the gui, but am only able to push about 25 mhash/s, if I run 2 miners, thye each do about 11.6 mhash/s.  (I can still run my CPU miners at about 12 mhash/s in tandem, for a total of about 32 ~ 38 mhash/s spread across CPU miners, and and OpenCL miners.

For S&J's I decided to try and launch from a comd line (running WinXP), so I could see what was happening (then I discovered the console feature in the GUIMiner too).  Anyhow, I've tried all myriad of external flags -v -w128 or 256 or 512, etc, various -f values.  whenever I try to break the 25mhash/s on any of these, which I can do, and actually get up into the 1 - 3 Ghash/s range, but with the following...  I keep getting the warning: job finished, miner is idle... and I never seem to accept any jobs.

Below is my attempt to glean anything from the command window, which is essentially the same thing I get from teh GUIMiner windows and conslol log.

C:\DOCUME~1\Desktop\BONEIS~1\BitCoin\guiminer>poclbm.exe AGGRESSION=5 --
user=xxxx.xxx --pass=xxxxxxx -o api.bitcoin.cz -p 8332 --device=0 --platform=0
 --verbose -v -w256 -f60
04/07/2011 16:19:14, 3933449 khash/s
04/07/2011 16:19:14, warning: job finished, miner is idle
04/07/2011 16:19:15, warning: job finished, miner is idle
04/07/2011 16:19:16, 2903748 khash/s
04/07/2011 16:19:16, warning: job finished, miner is idle
04/07/2011 16:19:17, 3488278 khash/s
04/07/2011 16:19:17, warning: job finished, miner is idle
04/07/2011 16:19:18, 3572491 khash/s
04/07/2011 16:19:18, warning: job finished, miner is idle
04/07/2011 16:19:20, 3197025 khash/s
04/07/2011 16:19:20, warning: job finished, miner is idle
04/07/2011 16:19:21, 3524858 khash/s
04/07/2011 16:19:21, warning: job finished, miner is idle
04/07/2011 16:19:22, 3354256 khash/s
04/07/2011 16:19:22, warning: job finished, miner is idle


I've searched through numerous forums and blogs, and severel reference the -v -wXXX tags, but this doesn't work to increase the work, only when I increase the -w to 256 oe 512, do I actually see a spike in the mhash/s, but then, I keep getting these 'miner is idle messages.

Given that card, can ANYONE recommend some way for me to get the most out of it?  I've not explored more in detail the CUDA opearions, as those didn't seem as proficient as the OpenCL, nor has phoenix seemed to differ much.

After 5 days of mining, I'm up like 0.04563342 (yeah)

thanks,

The CRYPT