Help with new Mining Rig

[Dreampod]

Hey guys, I'm just getting started Mining and would like to get a moderately affordable rid that isn't awful. So far I have what I believe to be a decent rig to get started with that won't be a waste of cash. I have read quite a few documents and checked out the mining hardware comparison found on the wiki.

Over all goal would be to make 1BTC a week minimum
http://i36.tinypic.com/qrf1h3.jpg


Reasons why I picked X part
Case: I like the # of fans, should keep it cool. The 1xUSB 3.0 is perfect because I'd like to run linuxcoin off a usb instead of getting a new HDD

Motherboard: Has a PCIe x16 slot for 1 card, also has a x1 slot I can convert to a x16

Powersupply: I believe that 900W should be good, also has multiple 12v rails

Ram: Read that 1GB is fine and that ddr2 is relatively cheap and that I won't need it to be super hefty to run the machine

CPU: Cheap CPU that fits the mobo

Video Card: Relatively cheap, 1GB of GDDR5 doesn't seem awful


Concerns
I feel that the Video card is not going to be a good investment because it seems that it only gets 200 or so M/hashes. I like the case, but I have never actually built a computer from scratch (put parts together) in a completely empty case and this one seems straight forward (WOOHOO FLASHY LIGHTS). I did some more research today and I'd like to do one of two things: 1) Get a mobo with 2x PCIe x16 slots and get 2 5830s for a total of 400 or so MHashes/s or 2) Convert the x1 to x16 and get a 2nd 6670 to try and make it a better rig.

Any help you guys can give me on parts and preferably the card would be fantastic.

Hey guys, After doing some research I found this guy on walmart.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/21152488?wmlspartner=wlpa&adid=22222222227000000000&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=&wl3=21486607510&wl4=&wl5=pla&veh=sem#Product+Reviews
Any thoughts? Better than the current one I have selected?

[tahar]

If you're going for a 900 watt PSU it would make sense to consider 2 Graphics cards for mining. That would make your machine more cost efficient.

As for the hardware, maybe others might be best to assist. Best of luck!

[Dreampod]

shameless self bumb

[BrewCrewFan]

spend a few more bucks and get something better for a PSU. Wattage is not as big of a factor as it does for supplying a nice steady current to your Video card. If that thing fuluxuates and stuff you could end up frying your whole rig. Spend the extra money and get a SS-850KM3 Active PFC F3...or something along those lines.... nice solid stream without the worries of beating it to heck and back and then have it fail on you.

[jambaman42]

Hey guys, After doing some research I found this guy on walmart.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/21152488?wmlspartner=wlpa&adid=22222222227000000000&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=&wl3=21486607510&wl4=&wl5=pla&veh=sem#Product+Reviews
Any thoughts? Better than the current one I have selected?

If you're going to go lower end might I recommend the 6870. On newegg it's cheaper and will probably be about 2x faster than a 7770. (I have one right now, well 2 but I'm waiting for connectors. It's pumping out 414khash/s. Yes I'm mining litecoin and yes most sites say about 350. Don't expect too much more than that I just got lucky I figured out a good arrangement.)

Edit: Forgot the link to the card I got. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202032&IsVirtualParent=1

[w1seguy]

If your goal is to make 1BTC a week minimum, that would require 2500+ mH/s.  With that set up, you will make .06-.08BTC per week.  But you have room to add more video cards.  Consider an ASIC Miner maybe?

[jambaman42]

If your goal is to make 1BTC a week minimum, that would require 2500+ mH/s.  With that set up, you will make .06-.08BTC per week.  But you have room to add more video cards.  Consider an ASIC Miner maybe?

ASICs are expensive and he said he's trying to go cheap. If you want to wait for a while I know of one DIY ASIC project. It's in the planning stages still but it seems to be coming along nicely. I don't have the link at the moment but I'll post it later. Low cost you probably won't get an asic outside of that. There's also 28nm FPGAs coming. I've only seen one but they quoted a 200-300 price range if I remember properly. But that might be a few months off as well.

[MrNoSox]

I would definitely bump up that video card and certainly see if you can fine two cards... Craigslist is full of gamers selling off old video cards to get the latest and greatest. They have no idea what they have. I found a 5870 for $99 and traded for another. With those two I'm getting ~700mhash on an 850w PSU. I could get about 100mhash faster if I overclock the cards, but I plan to use the cards for other things once my ASIC arrives

[bitterdog]

Your going to need a lot more hashing power for 1btc a week as has already been mentioned. BUT.. If you go after TRC and convert it to BTC in my experience you make out better

[H4sh]

If the CPU is the brain, the GPU is the muscle, the case is the skin, then the PSU is the blood. Don't skimp on the power supply. Get a lower power PSU from a better manufacturer. It can make all the difference, believe me.

[jambaman42]

If the CPU is the brain, the GPU is the muscle, the case is the skin, then the PSU is the blood. Don't skimp on the power supply. Get a lower power PSU from a better manufacturer. It can make all the difference, believe me.

Also get 80+ gold certified at least. That'll insure you have a good efficiency and aren't wasting watts at the wall.

Edit: and whether you have one or multiple rails shouldn't matter if it's a quality PSU

[Dreampod]

Thanks guys for all the help. I found a new set up that I'd like some feedback on. I'd like to keep it under $1000 so I know the 1 btc a week goal is out of question. I'll post the potential rig when I get home today around 6pm est if you guys are still interested. Thanks for all the help so far.

[bitchess]

how cheap are 5830s going for these days?  Anybody purchase one in the last few weeks?  I feel like the recent attention to bitcoin mining have skyrocketed the published prices (eg. $65-105 for a used card on the main BTC wiki.)

[MrNoSox]

Thanks guys for all the help. I found a new set up that I'd like some feedback on. I'd like to keep it under $1000 so I know the 1 btc a week goal is out of question. I'll post the potential rig when I get home today around 6pm est if you guys are still interested. Thanks for all the help so far.

Can't wait to see it! I'm in the Eastern US also. Ohio Valley area. Where are you?

[MrNoSox]

how cheap are 5830s going for these days?  Anybody purchase one in the last few weeks?  I feel like the recent attention to bitcoin mining have skyrocketed the published prices (eg. $65-105 for a used card on the main BTC wiki.)

Not really sure but I know that the reason 58XX series of cards are more expensive is just because they are hard to come by. Amazon has 5830s at $200 and more (some over $300). I feel like I got pretty sweet deals on my 5870s because Amazon has those for over $400.

This Mining hardware wiki prices the 5830 at ~$100.

https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Mining_hardware_comparison

[JX8P]

I wouldn't agree with your choice of a Radeon 6670 as your GPU. Not a very good card for mining at all. I tried one out and got 100mhash from it only.

[JessicaMILFson]

What are you mining? It won't be worth it to use it for BTC now with ASICS comming

[Dreampod]

To start, Here is the new rig that I would like to make.
http://i37.tinypic.com/2dcd4kp.jpg

I'd like to turn a profit mining BTC because honestly it's the only coin I know much about and I've already started a bit with my current computer.

I picked X why (new parts)?

Mobo - 3 PCIe slots for expansion, all x16
Case - Cheaper, fits better
PSU - Will be able to hold all three cards
GPU - Can turn a profit and will buy 2 more once the rig breaks even

I also picked this GPU because it's a powerhouse and I read in multiple threads that it was a great miner with stock clock getting around 600MHashes/s and overclocking to around 800.

Things I need help with
At the current low price from mtgox, BTC are $120. What is the projected date to break even with one card running 700MHashes/s? (Does not include the cost of electricity)

What is a rough estimate of this rig making in profit per week?

Is this rig worth investing in?

Whats the best and safest way to exchange BTC to USD?

If not BTC then what's a coin that will turn a decent profit (hopefully +15-20$ more than profit per week)?

Thanks again for all your help.

[jambaman42]

To start, Here is the new rig that I would like to make.
http://i37.tinypic.com/2dcd4kp.jpg

I'd like to turn a profit mining BTC because honestly it's the only coin I know much about and I've already started a bit with my current computer.

I picked X why (new parts)?

Mobo - 3 PCIe slots for expansion, all x16
Case - Cheaper, fits better
PSU - Will be able to hold all three cards
GPU - Can turn a profit and will buy 2 more once the rig breaks even

I also picked this GPU because it's a powerhouse and I read in multiple threads that it was a great miner with stock clock getting around 600MHashes/s and overclocking to around 800.

Things I need help with
At the current low price from mtgox, BTC are $120. What is the projected date to break even with one card running 700MHashes/s? (Does not include the cost of electricity)

What is a rough estimate of this rig making in profit per week?

Is this rig worth investing in?

Whats the best and safest way to exchange BTC to USD?

If not BTC then what's a coin that will turn a decent profit (hopefully +15-20$ more than profit per week)?

Thanks again for all your help.

http://www.alloscomp.com/bitcoin/calculator

http://dustcoin.com/mining

[PantsParty]

Your main enemy here is going to be when you put those 7970 beside each other. I would almost say you would need a water block at least on the middle card or else you're going to have them start throttling due to heat. I have two of them in one case and side by side the top card would max out at 97 and the bottom at 92 once I put a space between them they both I was getting 88 and 86 for temps. This was without over clocking.

I like this calculator http://www.bitcoinx.com/profit/

as it is pretty accurate even though it was not designed to give profit for a pps pool. Just put in the cost of your mining hardware and your hash rate.