newbie with some newbie questions

[buzzby]

Hi Everyone,

After reading about bit coins in last weeks new scientist magasine, i've  been thinking this could be something fun for me to do. As i'm a bit or a computer nerd i'm looking at setting up a mining rig (one for now) and have a few questions around setups.

I've been reading all i can find and seem to think that the 5870's offer the best compromise between price and speed.

The main issue i am trying to work out is weather to go for a 3 card setup or try and push for a 4 card setup. I'm not sure what motherboards would be best for this and what power supplies.

So a list of questions

1) what motherboards can support 3/4 cards
2) what power supplies can supprt 4 cards, all 1kw PSU seem to support 3 but not 4
3) I'm guessing it would be fairly simple to get 3 card and then add a 4th later assuming the mobo and psu support this? or is it better to do it all at once
4)do the cards need to be setup in crossfire mode or just all run on there own
5)Given that the setup should yield 1.2gh/s - 1.6 gh/s can anyone offer a btc/day rate

Thanks in advance.

Does this post now mean i can post in other sections?

Buzz

[wegotpickles]

1. any motherboard with the required number of pci-e x16 slots (or pci-e x1 if you have adapters). See newegg's motherboard slection and filter for the desired cpu type and slot count.

2. Depends on the card and if you are over clocking. a 1200w should support 4, or 3 over clocked. It's cheaper to buy multiple 1kw power supplies and hot wire the the extras though.

3. Starting with a few and adding more latter is fine.

4. depends on your operating system i think. If i recall correctly in windows you will need crossfire, but in Linux you are actually required NOT to use it.

5. 2.13 - 2.84 per day at current difficulty


No, sorry. you need 50 posts, or to be added to the white list.  

EDIT: I goofed on my numbers.

[tictok]

5. 21.27 - 28.36 per day at current difficulty

Sorry to barge in, I'm just wondering with 1.2gh/s - 1.6 gh/s how you'd get 21 - 28 bitcoins per day?

I'm running one overclocked 5870 at approx 420mhash/sec and generate just less that 1btc per day on slushes pool.

Would adding an extra 2 or 3 cards really increase turnover by over 20x??

Am I doing something wrong? The quoted figure seems *really* high to me.

Just curious - thanks

[wegotpickles]

5. 21.27 - 28.36 per day at current difficulty

Sorry to barge in, I'm just wondering with 1.2gh/s - 1.6 gh/s how you'd get 21 - 28 bitcoins per day?

I'm running one overclocked 5870 at approx 420mhash/sec and generate just less that 1btc per day on slushes pool.

Would adding an extra 2 or 3 cards really increase turnover by over 20x??

Am I doing something wrong? The quoted figure seems *really* high to me.

Just curious - thanks

oops, heh. I accidently added a 0 

Let me just edit that.

[tictok]

lol - easy mistake! 

I was half hoping I was missing something obvious and you were going to tell me how to increase my rate of return.  Wishful thinking me thinks. 

[buzzby]

Thanks,

2 coins a day would be great as it means the miner should pay for itself with about 6 weeks. Think i'll start with 3 cards and add the 4th later on.

[buzzby]

the 5870 seem pretty easy to get hold of in the UK.

Here is what i am thinking of getting. can anyone see any issues with this setup?

http://img846.imageshack.us/img846/5427/bitcoinminer.png

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

I already have some spare 80mm fans.

[wegotpickles]

two problems

1. you haven't selected a CPU
2. you don't need that cooler. The CPU gets very little use in mining, all the work is done by the GPUs

Other than that you're fine. The PSU and mobo seem a little pricey though.

[steyast012]

280X*6,Sounds good

[bctmasterer]

1 power supply or 2