Building Cheap Miners : My "Secret"

[ephraim_90]

Thanks for sharing man, Damn this is a useful idea to a newbie in crypto mining like me. Thank you so much.

[sundownz]

Thanks for sharing man, Damn this is a useful idea to a newbie in crypto mining like me. Thank you so much.

No problem. Hope it works out for you as well as it has for me!

[sundownz]

So I have had a few folks on social media heavily criticizing my methods... so I drew up a chart:



For someone like me with essentially unlimited space... it's a winner, IMHO... also for anyone wanting a simple base for 3-4 GPUs for a first rig.

----------

Furthermore... a few other points of why I personally choose this method:

1 ) Setting up 3-4 GPUs is basically fool proof... if you browse the forums & groups they are full of troubleshooting 6+ GPU rigs. Also finding a problem in a rig with fewer cards is faster & easier.

2 ) I like the *value* I get in the 750-850 watt PSUs... price goes up substantially past this sweet spot.

3 ) If I do have a rig go down for any reason... I have fewer GPUs offline while I fix it.

4 ) I get a fast six-core CPU in every system. I am making quite a bit extra on the CPUs... they make enough to more than cover my mining electrical bill, in fact! Either cryptonight or yescrypt is quite worth the effort.

5 ) In the case of a catastrophic failure I have a nice steel box to help contain a fire... and also fewer other GPUs can be affected by a catastrophic failure of one card, motherboard, PSU, etc.

6 ) Replacement parts, if needed, are CHEAP for the Z400s... RAM, motherboards, CPUs, etc. All very cheap.

7 ) RELIABILITY -- These Z400s have done me better than any consumer grade piece of hardware I've used. They are beasts in terms of stability & reliability.

8 ) When it comes time to SELL all of my hardware if I quit mining... I have complete & usable computers with cases, legit Win10 licenses, so on & so forth that I can re-sell as budget gaming systems and/or use at my business. If there is a mining crash... specialized mining boards will be all but worthless.

-----

DOWN-SIDE:

1 ) Takes alot of space.

2 ) Takes longer to update systems as there are more of them. Also a bit more setup time (assuming you aren't fighting the 6+ GPU rigs).

3 ) More network / outlet wiring.

4 ) Get teased on social media (LoL)

[rs1x]

So I have had a few folks on social media heavily criticizing my methods... so I drew up a chart:



For someone like me with essentially unlimited space... it's a winner, IMHO... also for anyone wanting a simple base for 3-4 GPUs for a first rig.

----------

Furthermore... a few other points of why I personally choose this method:

1 ) Setting up 3-4 GPUs is basically fool proof... if you browse the forums & groups they are full of troubleshooting 6+ GPU rigs. Also finding a problem in a rig with fewer cards is faster & easier.

2 ) I like the *value* I get in the 750-850 watt PSUs... price goes up substantially past this sweet spot.

3 ) If I do have a rig go down for any reason... I have fewer GPUs offline while I fix it.

4 ) I get a fast six-core CPU in every system. I am making quite a bit extra on the CPUs... they make enough to more than cover my mining electrical bill, in fact! Either cryptonight or yescrypt is quite worth the effort.

5 ) In the case of a catastrophic failure I have a nice steel box to help contain a fire... and also fewer other GPUs can be affected by a catastrophic failure of one card, motherboard, PSU, etc.

6 ) Replacement parts, if needed, are CHEAP for the Z400s... RAM, motherboards, CPUs, etc. All very cheap.

7 ) RELIABILITY -- These Z400s have done me better than any consumer grade piece of hardware I've used. They are beasts in terms of stability & reliability.

8 ) When it comes time to SELL all of my hardware if I quit mining... I have complete & usable computers with cases, legit Win10 licenses, so on & so forth that I can re-sell as budget gaming systems and/or use at my business. If there is a mining crash... specialized mining boards will be all but worthless.

-----

DOWN-SIDE:

1 ) Takes alot of space.

2 ) Takes longer to update systems as there are more of them. Also a bit more setup time (assuming you aren't fighting the 6+ GPU rigs).

3 ) More network / outlet wiring.

4 ) Get teased on social media (LoL)

your method is genius.  I have a place i can pick refurb Z400's up 2 miles from my work, for $80 cash.  Its darn near impossible to build a mb/cpu/ram combo.  The only downside is space which i dont have a lot of , like you.

if you decide you want to lease some of your space out please let me know!

[dhouse]

Dang where do you find Z400s or T5500s so cheap?? I've got to look around some more...

And maybe i missed this, but how do you deal with heat?

Awesome thread, thank you!!

[RFisher]

Paul,

1) Windows 10 Pro on all systems - I keep them all 100% updated as well.

2) I use built-in Windows Defender & also my whole network is behind a hardware firewall

3) Right now I user a variety of miners:
    a) Nemosminer on all nVidia GPUs - running on ZPOOL
    b) I use Cpuminer 2.4 on all my CPUs to mine Yescrypt - running on ZPOOL
        * I used to do ITNS on all my CPUs but had issues getting IP banned on the pools... but Yescrypt is doing me well.
    c) I use SGminer on most of my AMD GPUs for Cryptonight (ITNS)
    d) I do have one system with 3x VEGA-64 and I use Cast-XMR on it (ITNS)

4) Right now I don't have any remote admin capacity setup but I am working on that after my vacation:
    a) I am looking into the iBOOT Web PDU units : http://dataprobe.com/iboot/
    b) Software side I am looking at either putting Team Viewer on every system or getting minerstat.com setup
    c) Right now... I check my pool stats to see if miners are online and I have someone at work reset them if needed & I'm not around as my mining setup is at my business.
[/quote]









Hi Sundownz

I have taken your advice and started Mining Yescrypt on Zpool with my T5500 Xeon X5550 processor but I am getting alot of Yays and Booos which is something I have not seen before. I was wondering if you are seeing the same errors as below and why the connection times out???




[2018-01-03 18:20:24] accepted: 34/354 (9.605%), 16.350 KH/s (yay!!!)
[2018-01-03 18:20:24] accepted: 35/355 (9.859%), 16.350 KH/s (yay!!!)
[2018-01-03 18:20:24] accepted: 36/356 (10.112%), 16.350 KH/s (yay!!!)
[2018-01-03 18:20:24] accepted: 37/357 (10.364%), 16.350 KH/s (yay!!!)
[2018-01-03 18:20:24] accepted: 38/358 (10.615%), 16.350 KH/s (yay!!!)
[2018-01-03 18:20:24] accepted: 39/359 (10.864%), 16.350 KH/s (yay!!!)
[2018-01-03 18:20:25] thread 1: 9864 hashes, 4.079 KH/s
[2018-01-03 18:20:26] thread 3: 14476 hashes, 4.105 KH/s
[2018-01-03 18:20:30] accepted: 39/360 (10.833%), 16.371 KH/s (booooo)
[2018-01-03 18:20:40] accepted: 39/361 (10.803%), 16.371 KH/s (booooo)
[2018-01-03 18:20:42] Stratum requested work restart
[2018-01-03 18:20:42] thread 1: 69424 hashes, 4.077 KH/s
[2018-01-03 18:20:42] thread 0: 79776 hashes, 4.103 KH/s
[2018-01-03 18:20:42] thread 2: 79636 hashes, 4.096 KH/s
[2018-01-03 18:20:42] thread 3: 65016 hashes, 4.088 KH/s
[2018-01-03 18:20:47] thread 3: 21244 hashes, 4.101 KH/s
[2018-01-03 18:20:52] thread 2: 40675 hashes, 4.086 KH/s
[2018-01-03 18:20:52] accepted: 39/362 (10.773%), 16.367 KH/s (booooo)
[2018-01-03 18:20:54] Stratum requested work restart
[2018-01-03 18:20:54] thread 1: 47944 hashes, 4.075 KH/s
[2018-01-03 18:20:54] thread 0: 48232 hashes, 4.099 KH/s
[2018-01-03 18:20:54] thread 3: 26836 hashes, 4.085 KH/s
[2018-01-03 18:20:54] thread 2: 7380 hashes, 4.078 KH/s
[2018-01-03 18:20:54] thread 3: 2380 hashes, 4.015 KH/s
[2018-01-03 18:20:55] thread 1: 3459 hashes, 4.031 KH/s
[2018-01-03 18:20:56] thread 0: 10816 hashes, 4.101 KH/s
[2018-01-03 18:20:58] accepted: 40/363 (11.019%), 16.226 KH/s (yay!!!)
[2018-01-03 18:20:59] thread 3: 17443 hashes, 4.095 KH/s
[2018-01-03 18:20:59] thread 3: 523 hashes, 4.191 KH/s
[2018-01-03 18:21:02] thread 2: 35077 hashes, 4.087 KH/s
[2018-01-03 18:21:04] thread 1: 36378 hashes, 4.090 KH/s
[2018-01-03 18:21:04] accepted: 40/364 (10.989%), 16.469 KH/s (booooo)
[2018-01-03 18:21:07] thread 2: 18383 hashes, 4.078 KH/s
[2018-01-03 18:21:07] thread 1: 14024 hashes, 3.979 KH/s
[2018-01-03 18:21:08] thread 2: 5452 hashes, 4.058 KH/s
[2018-01-03 18:21:09] thread 0: 52222 hashes, 4.091 KH/s
[2018-01-03 18:21:17] thread 2: 36745 hashes, 4.072 KH/s
[2018-01-03 18:21:18] thread 3: 80018 hashes, 4.069 KH/s
[2018-01-03 18:21:19] thread 0: 39391 hashes, 4.090 KH/s
[2018-01-03 18:21:22] thread 1: 61193 hashes, 4.054 KH/s
[2018-01-03 18:21:25] thread 2: 30594 hashes, 4.085 KH/s
[2018-01-03 18:21:28] thread 1: 24264 hashes, 4.071 KH/s
[2018-01-03 18:21:29] thread 0: 39873 hashes, 4.102 KH/s
[2018-01-03 18:21:29] Stratum requested work restart
[2018-01-03 18:21:29] thread 2: 16624 hashes, 4.082 KH/s
[2018-01-03 18:21:29] thread 0: 1096 hashes, 4.133 KH/s
[2018-01-03 18:21:29] thread 3: 42396 hashes, 4.086 KH/s
[2018-01-03 18:21:29] thread 1: 2776 hashes, 3.954 KH/s
[2018-01-03 18:21:35] thread 1: 26467 hashes, 4.078 KH/s
[2018-01-03 18:21:37] thread 1: 7981 hashes, 4.038 KH/s
[2018-01-03 18:21:43] thread 3: 56607 hashes, 4.070 KH/s
[2018-01-03 18:21:59] thread 0: 122919 hashes, 4.083 KH/s
[2018-01-03 18:22:29] thread 2: 244908 hashes, 4.050 KH/s
[2018-01-03 18:22:34] thread 2: 19799 hashes, 4.079 KH/s
[2018-01-03 18:22:37] thread 1: 242280 hashes, 4.054 KH/s
[2018-01-03 18:22:38] thread 3: 226187 hashes, 4.080 KH/s
[2018-01-03 18:22:41] thread 3: 13516 hashes, 4.083 KH/s
[2018-01-03 18:22:50] thread 1: 54684 hashes, 4.065 KH/s
[2018-01-03 18:22:52] thread 0: 216931 hashes, 4.103 KH/s
[2018-01-03 18:22:56] thread 1: 24019 hashes, 4.073 KH/s
[2018-01-03 18:23:04] thread 3: 92986 hashes, 4.085 KH/s
[2018-01-03 18:23:07] thread 2: 134356 hashes, 4.079 KH/s
[2018-01-03 18:23:13] thread 0: 87341 hashes, 4.101 KH/s
[2018-01-03 18:23:17] thread 2: 40427 hashes, 4.086 KH/s
[2018-01-03 18:23:20] thread 2: 13211 hashes, 4.071 KH/s
[2018-01-03 18:23:20] thread 2: 228 hashes, 3.654 KH/s
[2018-01-03 18:23:25] thread 0: 48702 hashes, 4.101 KH/s
[2018-01-03 18:23:28] thread 0: 12790 hashes, 4.098 KH/s
[2018-01-03 18:23:29] Stratum connection timed out
[2018-01-03 18:23:29] Stratum connection interrupted
[2018-01-03 18:23:29] thread 3: 100348 hashes, 4.083 KH/s
[2018-01-03 18:23:29] thread 2: 34832 hashes, 4.080 KH/s
[2018-01-03 18:23:29] thread 0: 2588 hashes, 4.046 KH/s
[2018-01-03 18:23:29] thread 1: 131868 hashes, 4.069 KH/s
[2018-01-03 18:23:59] stratum_subscribe timed out
[2018-01-03 18:23:59] ...retry after 30 seconds
[2018-01-03 18:24:59] Stratum connection failed: Failed to connect to yescrypt.m
ine.zpool.ca port 6233: Timed out
[2018-01-03 18:24:59] ...retry after 30 seconds
[2018-01-03 18:25:58] Stratum connection failed: Failed to connect to yescrypt.m
ine.zpool.ca port 6233: Timed out
[2018-01-03 18:25:58] ...retry after 30 seconds


Thanks for your help

[minh75]

In any event... there is a "secret" to these things... the power supply plug on the motherboard is "EPS" and an ATX supply will NOT work.

So what you do... is buy a PSU extension cable and modify it like so:

https://plus.google.com/photos/111388964237560787781/album/5362166283613539361/5366587361195860994


Hi does the PSU etension cable be EPS version or any ATX dual psu extension as I can not find EPS psu dual extension cable when searching online

thank you for your time

[sundownz]

In any event... there is a "secret" to these things... the power supply plug on the motherboard is "EPS" and an ATX supply will NOT work.

So what you do... is buy a PSU extension cable and modify it like so:

https://plus.google.com/photos/111388964237560787781/album/5362166283613539361/5366587361195860994


Hi does the PSU etension cable be EPS version or any ATX dual psu extension as I can not find EPS psu dual extension cable when searching online

thank you for your time

Luckily there is a company selling them ready to go now!

https://www.moddiy.com/products/ATX-to-HP-Z400-24%252dPin-Non%252dStandard-ATX-Pinout-Main-Power-Adapter-Cable.html

If you do still want to DIY them like my original post then the extension will just be an ATX extension that you modify.

[sundownz]

Hi Sundownz

I have taken your advice and started Mining Yescrypt on Zpool with my T5500 Xeon X5550 processor but I am getting alot of Yays and Booos which is something I have not seen before. I was wondering if you are seeing the same errors as below and why the connection times out.

Thanks for your help

The server may be getting overloaded. I've seen some choppiness on my graphs over the last few days. Following a time out / reconnect it will reject shares.

[sundownz]

Dang where do you find Z400s or T5500s so cheap?? I've got to look around some more...

And maybe i missed this, but how do you deal with heat?

Awesome thread, thank you!!

I keep my eye on Newegg and E-Bay for deals. Some days may not be any for a good price so patience is key.

As far as heat I'm in a huge warehouse so it largely disperses on its own. In the summer I do use some big fans across the racks and an extractor fan in the ceiling.

[minh75]

If you do still want to DIY them like my original post then the extension will just be an ATX extension that you modify
?


thanks for your help.... do you mean buy another EPS psu with higher wattage and replace hp475 psu?

cheers

[minh75]

If I use two z400 psu and use this ATX  cable will it work? with z400 pc i just need extra wattage for the GPU

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Power-Supply-24-Pin-Motherboard-Adapter/dp/B077JY4Q66/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1515016465&sr=8-2-fkmr0&keywords=dual+psu+link+cable

thank you

[Michael20]

You also tested 4gpu on z400, also stable? You are running 3 because of psu?

[sundownz]

You also tested 4gpu on z400, also stable? You are running 3 because of psu?

For GTX-1060 I do use four GPUs -- no problem.

[RFisher]

For GTX-1060 I do use four GPUs -- no problem.
[/quote]


Hi Sundownz

I am using 3 Geforce GTX 1060 3GB in my T5500 Rig and I seem to be getting the below message and my GPU's stop mining. Have you seen this before? I have been searching the net reinstalled my drivers and a new copy of windows 7 but still no joy any advice is much appreciated.

When I disable the GPU's in device manager and re enable this starts Mining again and then may take a number of hours/days and then stops again!!!


Log Name:      System
Source:        Display
Date:          06/01/2018 21:44:22
Event ID:      4101
Task Category: None
Level:         Warning
Keywords:      Classic
User:          N/A
Computer:      Richard-PC
Description:
Display driver nvlddmkm stopped responding and has successfully recovered.

[gftrdr]

You also tested 4gpu on z400, also stable? You are running 3 because of psu?

For GTX-1060 I do use four GPUs -- no problem.

I have just ordered two units of the build you have done with z400. Thank you for the information.   my cost for each unit was $1178 excluding x5660 with 4 1060 gpu running. Once up and running I plan on adding after the learning curve.

What do you recommend for wallet in terms of your long term holds? Hardware based offline ? any recommendations ?

thanks
Have a great 2018!

[Amstellodamois]

Thanks for the topic guys, most interesting!

[elink34]

other than z400 and t5500 did one of you found other cheap rig to use?

[bigjee]

Been on vacation since Dec 22nd.

No issues related to the Z400s at all.

I did have one system go down due to either a bad GPU or PSU -- which I will troubleshoot when I get home. The Z400 will produce a beep code if something is bad (so I have yet to see any failure of PSU, GPU, or Riser cause a cascade and take out any other hardware) -- I simply had one of my employees shut that one system down and unplug it in the meantime.

Cannot complain about these things at all... ROCK SOLID.

Ordered 12 more for the 5th rack that I'll start later this month =)

nice info, hope you had a good vacay. 
Have you tried using pci extenders on the z400 to expand to say 6 or 8 cards?

[bubislav]

other than z400 and t5500 did one of you found other cheap rig to use?

i ordered two of Dell Vostro 260 .... it has 4 pci express ports and it.s 100€