Mining Machines - are YOU doing it wrong?

[RaTTuS]

get £96
http://www.amazon.co.uk/ASUS-ATOM-AT3IONT-I-Mini-Motherboard/dp/B003A8DVT6/ref=sr_1_2?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1307003638&sr=1-2
and £146
http://www.amazon.co.uk/XFX-Radeon-HD-5870-DisplayPort/dp/B0037YMWXO/ref=sr_1_1?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1307004344&sr=1-1
and
1GB RAM £12
4GB USB stick [to put OS on]
PSU - umm not sure need help on this one
1 copy of Ubuntu 11.04

Rather than running a multi PCI slot motherboard and processor just get a mini ITX one with onboard CPU/ USB/NIC etc...
and spend more cash on the GPU , [upgrade in 6mnth and sell the old on on ebay etc]
would this work ?

[tito13kfm]

The processor overhead for 5x cards is almost nothing.  The only cost concern is the motherboard.  With the cables to run x16 cards off an x1 slot you can get 5x cards on many $80-100 boards.

The cost of buying a separate motherboard for every GPU in your mining rig is just not cost efficient.

GPU Mining WILL become unprofitable at some point.  I've seen estimates from 1 month to 2 years.  I just dropped $280 on 2 5850's (I got my sources), and I should be able to pay them off within 1 month.

The best part is, the 5850 is also a great gaming board and should hold its value fairly well until the 7 series cards debut.

[RaTTuS]

OK ;-p
[I just have a few mini ITX boards lying round]

[phelix]

bigger PSUs are usually of better quality than small ones

[tito13kfm]

OK ;-p
[I just have a few mini ITX boards lying round]

You could run 4x cards on that board, the wiring would get a bit tricky, but it could be done.  You'd probably want to power the ports individually, and you'd have to find a way to mount them, but it could be done.

[RaTTuS]

you can ?
how ... not that I have the GPU's though

[tito13kfm]

you can ?
how ... not that I have the GPU's though

There are x16 -> 4 x4 risers out there, I'm sure one could be made with some connectors and ribbon cables if you had the talents.

Of course you'd have to power the slots separately.

I'm not 100% sure on how this would work, but I know it's technically possible.