Mining Rig Suggestions for a straight-up Newb

[rlh]

I have a PC that is about 4 years old and has three empty PCI slots and one PCI Express.  I'm not looking to make a crazy mining rig (yet).  This is a "starter system" that I can tinker with and swap hardware in and out of as it is acquired.

I also have a very limited budget (no more than $50).  What type of hardware could I buy to make this worth my while on such a budget.  Preferably, I'd like to have a rig that's capable of mining enough BTC to make it worth the minimal effort, possibly make a bit of extra $$ so that I can upgrade the units hardware in a couple months.

Are my standards to low or am I on the right track?

Also, I am a software engineer by trade.  I understand much of the technical jargon for hardware but it's been about 10 years since I was into hardware modding and upgrading (it's so much easier to let IT at work take care of all of that when all I want to do is write code...)

What should I be looking for in a graphics hardware that's reasonably priced?  I would assume that for this type of work I am most interested in Ghz speed and not so much the amount of available, on board RAM on the card.  Is that correct?  Also, doing a bit of google product searching, I've found a few Graphics cards with ATI chips that were less that $10.  Yes, I know these things are going to crank out minimal hashes compared to top-of-the-line hardware, but would 4 cards at less that $40 (total) be able to mine enough to make it worth the price in a reasonable amount of time (say 2-3 months)?

Well, I know this post is a bit open-ended.  I guess I'm asking for thoughts on the whole mining process for someone who is a newb but capable of learning exceptionally fast and also has minimal resources.  I'm becoming quite the bitcoin nerd.  What profit I do make, I'll probably role straight back into hardware.

I'm already dreaming of one day owning a couple of racks mounted in my garage... oh the day.

[computerparts]

I hate to tell you this, but if you're not mining already then don't even think about it. You WILL lose money at this point in the game. Just take a look around and look at the posts of people who are regretting mining this late. I would recommend just buy the bitcoins at this point. You would make far more than you ever would mining.

[fascistmuffin]

If you're running low hashrates, usually the electricity cost of running the computer is going to be more than the amount generated. Aiming to only spend $50 now is going to be a waste. Wait until you have $100 or $200 to buy hardware that is efficient for this task.

[rlh]

...Wait until you have $100 or $200 to buy hardware that is efficient for this task.

Fair enough. 

@computerparts-- Are people complaining because the value of a bitcoin as dropped or is it because you have to have a significant amount of hardware to even earn any bitcoins.

I don't mind waiting until I have a couple hundred to spend, which should only take about a month and a half.  I'm not so interested in turning ridiculous profits.  For now, I'm more interested in being a part of the process.

[Kain]

With 50$, you would probably be better of buying a really nice dinner than mining hardware.

When you have a few hundred to spend, check out this site:
https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Mining_hardware_comparison
And pick the card in your price range with the highest hash/s.

[computerparts]

...Wait until you have $100 or $200 to buy hardware that is efficient for this task.

Fair enough. 

@computerparts-- Are people complaining because the value of a bitcoin as dropped or is it because you have to have a significant amount of hardware to even earn any bitcoins.

I don't mind waiting until I have a couple hundred to spend, which should only take about a month and a half.  I'm not so interested in turning ridiculous profits.  For now, I'm more interested in being a part of the process.

Both. So you have a pc with only pci-e express slot. The problem is mining is so saturated at this point, even the most powerful card in that slot would not let you break even. Rather, it would be a waste due to how inefficient it is. You would need a new motherboard that can support more than one pci-e card, preferably 3. You would also need a new psu. Also a new case, depending on if your current one would allow adequate cooling. Then you would need an efficient  cpu as well. Basically, forget spending only a couple hundred because you would need an entire new setup.

[CubedRoot]

Im not going to be a debbie downer for this guy.  It will be up to him to decide if mining is worth the investment or not.

Heres my suggestions:

Case:
I would go with any of the open air bench kits.  They are stackable and allow good cooling. Heres a few:
http://amzn.to/jPdb7e
http://amzn.to/mzWGQR

GPU's:
the tried and true HD5850 is a workhorse and will get about 350 MHash a second.  I also like HD5870 since they can get about 420 MHash.  BUT, good luck finding them. Amazon gets them in every now and again, so keep an eye on these.  I have had luck ordering them, and then they ship shortly after:
HD5850 --
http://amzn.to/kHLNcn

Here is a 5850 that is actually in stock, but its a little pricey (around $200)
http://amzn.to/iI2e2U


Motherboard:
This is about the best bet for a multi-GPU motherboard without having to mess with PCIe extenders:
http://amzn.to/lUnsNh

Processor:
Go with a cheap reliable Sempron 140.  They can be found for around 30 to 40 bucks:
Amazon has it for $34 bucks:
http://amzn.to/mnrxbS

RAM:
1 gig will be plenty for a linux rig, or you can do 2 gig for not much more money and run windows or linux. Heres 2 gig for $20
http://amzn.to/jT34bV

And finally a good PSU will save you ALOT of heartache.  This will vary depending on how many GPUs you go with. If you going to run 3 or 4 HD5850's get a 850 watt.  Anything less, a 650w might do.  Heres a few suggestions:

Corsair 650 watt:  http://amzn.to/io1aNM
Corsair 850 watt:  http://amzn.to/lHdtiw


Hope that helps!

[fascistmuffin]

Im not going to be a debbie downer for this guy.  It will be up to him to decide if mining is worth the investment or not.

Heres my suggestions:

Case:
I would go with any of the open air bench kits.  They are stackable and allow good cooling. Heres a few:
http://amzn.to/jPdb7e
http://amzn.to/mzWGQR

GPU's:
the tried and true HD5850 is a workhorse and will get about 350 MHash a second.  I also like HD5870 since they can get about 420 MHash.  BUT, good luck finding them. Amazon gets them in every now and again, so keep an eye on these.  I have had luck ordering them, and then they ship shortly after:
HD5850 --
http://amzn.to/kHLNcn

Here is a 5850 that is actually in stock, but its a little pricey (around $200)
http://amzn.to/iI2e2U


Motherboard:
This is about the best bet for a multi-GPU motherboard without having to mess with PCIe extenders:
http://amzn.to/lUnsNh

Processor:
Go with a cheap reliable Sempron 140.  They can be found for around 30 to 40 bucks:
Amazon has it for $34 bucks:
http://amzn.to/mnrxbS

RAM:
1 gig will be plenty for a linux rig, or you can do 2 gig for not much more money and run windows or linux. Heres 2 gig for $20
http://amzn.to/jT34bV

And finally a good PSU will save you ALOT of heartache.  This will vary depending on how many GPUs you go with. If you going to run 3 or 4 HD5850's get a 850 watt.  Anything less, a 650w might do.  Heres a few suggestions:

Corsair 650 watt:  http://amzn.to/io1aNM
Corsair 850 watt:  http://amzn.to/lHdtiw


Hope that helps!

Did you read the original post? That's a bit more than $50.

[CubedRoot]

Oh crap... I missed the $50 part.  Sorry.

[rlh]

Ah, well, I appreciate all the comments (even the downers.)

I may forgo the whole $50 budget.  It was a limitation I had set on myself because I wanted to learn about the process while make a few buck on the side.

[rlh]

Ok,

I just purchased a Radeon HD 6750 but the problem is that I have a 400W power supply, and the card recommends a 450.  Can I use 400W without any problems?  I don't want destroy my hardware but I'd rather not buy an additional piece of hardware if this can work for a while.

I hate to be so cheap but I'd really like to avoid spending another $90 this month if I can get away with it.  Otherwise, I'll keep on waiting...

Thanks guys! 

[fascistmuffin]

Ok,

I just purchased a Radeon HD 6750 but the problem is that I have a 400W power supply, and the card recommends a 450.  Can I use 400W without any problems?  I don't want destroy my hardware but I'd rather not buy an additional piece of hardware if this can work for a while.

I hate to be so cheap but I'd really like to avoid spending another $90 this month if I can get away with it.  Otherwise, I'll keep on waiting...

Thanks guys!  

It'd probably burn out soonish if you're running the card at 100% 24/7.

[rlh]

What would?  The card, the power supply or both?

[godofal]

Ok,

I just purchased a Radeon HD 6750 but the problem is that I have a 400W power supply, and the card recommends a 450.  Can I use 400W without any problems?  I don't want destroy my hardware but I'd rather not buy an additional piece of hardware if this can work for a while.

I hate to be so cheap but I'd really like to avoid spending another $90 this month if I can get away with it.  Otherwise, I'll keep on waiting...

Thanks guys!  

It'd probably burn out soonish if you're running the card at 100% 24/7.

he forgets to mention that if its not a good PSU, itl take the rest of the hardware (mobo, CPU, GPU, RAM) with it
you can skimp on anything, except PSU imo

[rlh]

Ok,

I just purchased a Radeon HD 6750 but the problem is that I have a 400W power supply, and the card recommends a 450.  Can I use 400W without any problems?  I don't want destroy my hardware but I'd rather not buy an additional piece of hardware if this can work for a while.

I hate to be so cheap but I'd really like to avoid spending another $90 this month if I can get away with it.  Otherwise, I'll keep on waiting...

Thanks guys! 

It'd probably burn out soonish if you're running the card at 100% 24/7.

he forgets to mention that if its not a good PSU, itl take the rest of the hardware (mobo, CPU, GPU, RAM) with it
you can skimp on anything, except PSU imo

Ok, I get it.  I won't use the card until I can get a new PSU.  Thanks for the warnings.

[FreeJAC]

Thanks for this post with all the hardware. Being out of the white box PC or boutique PCs for the last 10 years, it has been helpful for sure.

As far as using the new card with a slightly underpowered PSU, I'd try it, I just wouldn't try to OC it. Worst case the system just won't boot or it will shutdown after a while of mining. I don't see an underpowered PSU taking out all the other components unless there was some sort of surge which can happen with any PSU.