My second ZEC + XMR+ ETH thread builds info links thoughts and photos.

[djole]

@philipma1957 What are the operating temps at your 4 card rigs? Aren't they too close ? I know that stock rx 470-480 can get pretty hot when mining ETH. How did you solve that problem?

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[philipma1957]

@philipma1957 What are the operating temps at your 4 card rigs? Aren't they too close ? I know that stock rx 470-480 can get pretty hot when mining ETH. How did you solve that problem?

all are 60-73c

most of the issues of heat are solved due to no overclocks  setting wattman to -20 to -32 power and the fans to  high limits like 3000-5000  the temps to  65c - 73c.


 plus all are open air rigs.


Also the front card runs coolest the back card second coolest the two center warmest.

  that is true with the two reference rx 480 builds.   finally no card has a back plate



the last build is rx 470's   it has staggered msi 2 fan cards and 1 fan sapphire cards.  the msi do not have back plates  the sapphires do

it is critical to not do 4 cards with back plates.



I don't dual mine .  I don't over clock .  I lower power limits .

[QuintLeo]

All rigs are windows 7.  

I just don't have the time to play linux ubuntu.

 Given that you're building essentially identical rigs, you get one Ubuntu setup working, clone it to a USB stick, the clone the rest FROM that stick - makes for a VERY fast system setup.

 Technically, you could do the same with Windows, but the "authentication" stuff makes that a cast iron PAIN to get working fully.

[philipma1957]

All rigs are windows 7.  

I just don't have the time to play linux ubuntu.

 Given that you're building essentially identical rigs, you get one Ubuntu setup working, clone it to a USB stick, the clone the rest FROM that stick - makes for a VERY fast system setup.

 Technically, you could do the same with Windows, but the "authentication" stuff makes that a cast iron PAIN to get working fully.

you are right  the three biostar rigs  could clone.

 I also have 2 gigabyte b75m builds that could clone.

that would be 16 of my 24 cards.

 I am just not familiar with linux  and a bit lazy to do the learning curve.

I don't mind the windows 7 builds.  

I grabbed 20 windows 7 pro coa's a while back and still have some left.

[citronick]

All rigs are windows 7.  

I just don't have the time to play linux ubuntu.

 Given that you're building essentially identical rigs, you get one Ubuntu setup working, clone it to a USB stick, the clone the rest FROM that stick - makes for a VERY fast system setup.

 Technically, you could do the same with Windows, but the "authentication" stuff makes that a cast iron PAIN to get working fully.

you are right  the three biostar rigs  could clone.

 I also have 2 gigabyte b75m builds that could clone.

that would be 16 of my 24 cards.

 I am just not familiar with linux  and a bit lazy to do the learning curve.

I don't mind the windows 7 builds.  

I grabbed 20 windows 7 pro coa's a while back and still have some left.

I have started to un-lazy myself to learn Ubuntu, with Claymore's miner - with auto launch, central config.txt etc.

I will share the Linux image once I am done. This will be the ultimate clone strategy for fast installation.

In the end, I ended up with Win 7, 8.1 and Win 10 builds for "easy" management. I hate Win 10 but no choice on getting the RX480s a smoother mining operation.

[QuintLeo]

The one major problem with "cloning" under LINUX is the xorg.conf file - if the cards don't end up on the same pci-E addresses, it messes up.

 Oddly enough, they do NOT have to be the same model card, or even all that close, as long as the card at each address can use the same driver - so any AMD card HD7750 and up if you're using recent enough drivers can replace any other in that group, and pretty much any NVidia GTX-series card (though if you're using drivers recent enough to support the 10xx series you ARE somewhat limited in HOW OLD you can go) form a group.


 Autostart is a lot easier to set up if you use the XFCE desktop instead of the Ubuntu-default "Trinity" thing - XFCE makes "autostart AFTER X has started up" a very easy thing to set up, which is critical for some software that needs the X drivers running before *IT* starts.

[philipma1957]

yeah  I know i need to work on linux skills.  but just not enough time.

last night a solar array miner crashed I need to drive to the array to check out why.

my s9 gear is starting to run really unreliably.

Driving the 3 miles and climbing a ladder into a hot loft  1 or 2 times a month is fine.

But doing it 2 or 3 times a week is not so fine.

I am heat capped at my house with the gpu setup.  

I sold two 2 card mobos  each has gpu ram m2 sd cooler and just needs a pair of cards.

I purchased this mobo as a replacement
it has 3 full slots and 2 riser slots
it would allow for a 3-5 card build.
  I want four since it would replace the two 2 card mobos.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157672

[citronick]

The one major problem with "cloning" under LINUX is the xorg.conf file - if the cards don't end up on the same pci-E addresses, it messes up.

 Oddly enough, they do NOT have to be the same model card, or even all that close, as long as the card at each address can use the same driver - so any AMD card HD7750 and up if you're using recent enough drivers can replace any other in that group, and pretty much any NVidia GTX-series card (though if you're using drivers recent enough to support the 10xx series you ARE somewhat limited in HOW OLD you can go) form a group.


 Autostart is a lot easier to set up if you use the XFCE desktop instead of the Ubuntu-default "Trinity" thing - XFCE makes "autostart AFTER X has started up" a very easy thing to set up, which is critical for some software that needs the X drivers running before *IT* starts.

good pointers QuintLeo.... like Philip, I am a newbie in Linux but learning something new everyday.

I could get the auto start to work - I tried to edit the local rc file but that didnt get me any where.

[LoneRangir]

I purchased this mobo as a replacement
it has 3 full slots and 2 riser slots
it would allow for a 3-5 card build.
  I want four since it would replace the two 2 card mobos.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157672

So there is enough clearance under the slotted cards to fit the riser cables? I've been wondering this myself. Please confirm.

[philipma1957]

I purchased this mobo as a replacement
it has 3 full slots and 2 riser slots
it would allow for a 3-5 card build.
  I want four since it would replace the two 2 card mobos.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157672

So there is enough clearance under the slotted cards to fit the riser cables? I've been wondering this myself. Please confirm.

board is due to arrive today.

I will take the cards from the other setups and see if I can get 4 or 5 cards to fire up.

based on my biostar z170 I think one riser will allow a fit see below
one with blank arrow would be a maybe
last one would not work thus no arrow

[LoneRangir]

Thanks, Phil. Your explanation makes sense.

What kind of enclosure are you going to use for a mixed approach? 

I may build a wood/aluminum open air frame. I saw a video on YouTube on how to build one

[philipma1957]

Thanks, Phil. Your explanation makes sense.

What kind of enclosure are you going to use for a mixed approach? 

I may build a wood/aluminum open air frame. I saw a video on YouTube on how to build one

All wood  I have a wooden breakfast tray.

I will post photos

[GabryRox]

yeah  I know i need to work on linux skills.  but just not enough time.

last night a solar array miner crashed I need to drive to the array to check out why.

my s9 gear is starting to run really unreliably.

Driving the 3 miles and climbing a ladder into a hot loft  1 or 2 times a month is fine.

But doing it 2 or 3 times a week is not so fine.

I am heat capped at my house with the gpu setup.  

I sold two 2 card mobos  each has gpu ram m2 sd cooler and just needs a pair of cards.

I purchased this mobo as a replacement
it has 3 full slots and 2 riser slots
it would allow for a 3-5 card build.
  I want four since it would replace the two 2 card mobos.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157672

I really like that Mobo a lot Phil.  In fact, that was on my short list had I ended up with an 1151 socket CPU for my initial build. But, I thought that when I asked it about around a week ago, the feedback was that Z170 MoBo's would not support any more than 5 CPUs, which kind of knocked it down on my list since I want to try for 5.  Will be very interesting to see if you can get 5 GPU's running on this thing. If you do, I will likely pick one up for my 2nd build and dedicate it solely to ETH mining. I'm leaning towards exclusive XMR mining on my first rig with the i7-6800K as I have read posts from you and others indicating it's not the best idea to dual mine on the same rig. Looking forward to see what you can do with that ASRock Z170 Extreme3!

[philipma1957]

yeah  I know i need to work on linux skills.  but just not enough time.

last night a solar array miner crashed I need to drive to the array to check out why.

my s9 gear is starting to run really unreliably.

Driving the 3 miles and climbing a ladder into a hot loft  1 or 2 times a month is fine.

But doing it 2 or 3 times a week is not so fine.

I am heat capped at my house with the gpu setup.  

I sold two 2 card mobos  each has gpu ram m2 sd cooler and just needs a pair of cards.

I purchased this mobo as a replacement
it has 3 full slots and 2 riser slots
it would allow for a 3-5 card build.
  I want four since it would replace the two 2 card mobos.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157672

I really like that Mobo a lot Phil.  In fact, that was on my short list had I ended up with an 1151 socket CPU for my initial build. But, I thought that when I asked it about around a week ago, the feedback was that Z170 MoBo's would not support any more than 5 CPUs, which kind of knocked it down on my list since I want to try for 5.  Will be very interesting to see if you can get 5 GPU's running on this thing. If you do, I will likely pick one up for my 2nd build and dedicate it solely to ETH mining. I'm leaning towards exclusive XMR mining on my first rig with the i7-6800K as I have read posts from you and others indicating it's not the best idea to dual mine on the same rig. Looking forward to see what you can do with that ASRock Z170 Extreme3!

Late and a long long long day.

This board runs three cards with ease.  Two rx 470 and a rx 480.

I do not have the fourth card it comes tomorrow. Will soon see if I can do four

[xleejohnx]

@phil i have 470s modded bioses that will run 27mhs at a 5.8/mhs draw
if you want to take a look into that.
temps running in the low to high 60s

[LoneRangir]

Can anyone share their 'idle' power, as measured from a kill-a-watt?  All cards plugged in, just not hashing. I get 110 to 120w, and that seems high to me.

[xleejohnx]

Can anyone share their 'idle' power, as measured from a kill-a-watt?  All cards plugged in, just not hashing. I get 110 to 120w, and that seems high to me.

mine is actually higher sitting in the 120-135 range idle with 6 cards
can post a pic if you really want one

[LoneRangir]

No, your word if fine. I just didn't want a guess. I wanted an actual measurement.

Thanks!

[philipma1957]

I am in the process of reworking my rig setup in prep for the fall.

Shout out to HerbPean  he found a good deal for me.  an asrock 81 board with ram cpu and cooler.

[xleejohnx]

I am in the process of reworking my rig setup in prep for the fall.

Shout out to HerbPean  he found a good deal for me.  an arosck 81 board with ram cpu and cooler.

someone pulled some strings!!!