Building Cheap Miners : My "Secret"

[e97]

My cheap build:

Xeon E5 v2 - $75
8 x 8GB DDR3 ECC - $100
Motherboard - $130
240W PicoPSU - $20
Server PSU 94% 1200W - $75

Total: $400

GPUs:           

    4 x GPU Vega 64 - $2000     

                   OR   

    4 x GPU 1080 Ti - $2800

[PharmEcis]

You and me both.  I've worked in IT my whole life and I still fail to grasp how I didn't get into mining until last summer.    How much did you pay for your 1060s and 1080s?

The 1080s were ~560-600 depending on if tax had to be paid or not.  Snagged one from Newegg and 2 from Amazon.
The 1060s were $260 each including tax and a 4 year replacement plan.

I also have a amazon business acct.  I bought 3 of the 1060s through my personal account because that was the limit.  I then switched to the business account Amazon luckily just referred me to a few days ago and I could have bought as many as I wanted but I limited myself to 6.  It was also $3 cheaper per card... lol

In retrospect, I probably should have only bought 1 warranty per type of card....  LOLOL

[Dtrucksguitarfan]

Sundownz thank you for the great info. But a quick question... have you ever tried using these in the 16x slots. I know you would need a second psu, but will this allow you to go further than 3 cards...in looking at dells specs, there are 40 pci lanes on the chipset, and with two 16x dedicated for video, I would assume all 32 video lanes in theory could be split in 1x intervals.  Just wondering your thoughts or experiences. I have several T7500s im looking to profit from and if i can build at least an 8 gpu rig (2 -4x risers) id be a happy camper.

THIS!  I'm curious if this would work.  I have a motherboard with 24 pcie lanes as well but only 6 slots.  Could I put one of those in the two pcie/3.0 clots to get more gpu?

[greyday]

I suppose its my turn to contribute something.  If you are into Cryptonight mining, which it sounds like a few of you are, check out this Gigabyte mini-pc for $250:  https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856164036

You won't be adding any graphics cards (unless you are using eGPUS) but this thing will hash at 614 H/S.  You might be wondering how its possible to get that kind of performance out of a cpu with a 6 mb l3 cache.  The game changer is that this processor has an embedded Iris Pro GPU with a 128 MB L4 cache.  XMR-Stak recently included an optimization to take advantage of this cache space.  It should ROI itself in 2.5 months.  You have to provide your own ram and HD, but it does come with a wifi card so you could put this thing anywhere.

...and it's already almost doubled in price.

[bovineplane]

I suppose its my turn to contribute something.  If you are into Cryptonight mining, which it sounds like a few of you are, check out this Gigabyte mini-pc for $250:  https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856164036

You won't be adding any graphics cards (unless you are using eGPUS) but this thing will hash at 614 H/S.  You might be wondering how its possible to get that kind of performance out of a cpu with a 6 mb l3 cache.  The game changer is that this processor has an embedded Iris Pro GPU with a 128 MB L4 cache.  XMR-Stak recently included an optimization to take advantage of this cache space.  It should ROI itself in 2.5 months.  You have to provide your own ram and HD, but it does come with a wifi card so you could put this thing anywhere.

...and it's already almost doubled in price.

Thats a third party seller "Fateka". Not Newegg. It likely sold out from Newegg. Or Fateeka bought out Newegg and is looking to profit.

[greyday]

I suppose its my turn to contribute something.  If you are into Cryptonight mining, which it sounds like a few of you are, check out this Gigabyte mini-pc for $250:  https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856164036

You won't be adding any graphics cards (unless you are using eGPUS) but this thing will hash at 614 H/S.  You might be wondering how its possible to get that kind of performance out of a cpu with a 6 mb l3 cache.  The game changer is that this processor has an embedded Iris Pro GPU with a 128 MB L4 cache.  XMR-Stak recently included an optimization to take advantage of this cache space.  It should ROI itself in 2.5 months.  You have to provide your own ram and HD, but it does come with a wifi card so you could put this thing anywhere.

...and it's already almost doubled in price.

Thats a third party seller "Fateka". Not Newegg. It likely sold out from Newegg. Or Fateeka bought out Newegg and is looking to profit.

The latter. The link bypasses the sold out page and takes you directly to their third party offers.

EDIT TO ADD: also the average ebay price jumped up from around $260-80 just a few hours ago to $340 and up now.

EDIT2: I WAS able to find an i5 model at a reasonable rate (comparing the two on the Gigabyte page, the specs are identical other than the CPU i class, so I'm assuming it should come pretty close to the above estimates). Picked up one to play with.

[Amstellodamois]

Let us know when you get it

[spinx]

haha, that one lonely DL580 G7 up there. Did you get 12 cards working on it? Just today I ran some pricing figures for it in another thread when I was arguing with some guy who wanted people to pay $29999 for 24x 1080-TI system.



24x 1080-TI $710/each (https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814126188)
2x DL580 G7 $300/each (https://www.ebay.com/itm/HP-Proliant-DL580-G7-4U-E7-4830-2-13GHz-16-Core-64GB-RAM-2-x-72GB-P410i-W-RAILS/282660829215?epid=129658107&hash=item41cfe5f81f:g:rWIAAOSwufpZwV7I)
2x DL580 G7 IO Board $66/each (https://www.ebay.com/itm/HP-DL580-G7-PCI-E-Riser-Card-588137-B21/172984027345?hash=item2846a6c8d1:g:BaUAAOSwCU1YwEqh)
24x Riser cables $5/each (https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA72562E8994&cm_re=pci-e_extender_mining-_-17Z-00AT-00003-_-Product)
6x additional 1200W PSU $40/each  (can only run 4 1080TI per 1200W) - (https://www.ebay.com/itm/HP-Proliant-G6-G7-Power-Supply-1200W-490594-001-500172-B21-438203-001-HSTNS-PL11/172979235302?hash=item28465da9e6:g:mD4AAOSw9KhaCkkb)
6x PSU breakout boards $17/each (https://www.ebay.com/i/182897146692?rt=nc) -- includes PCIE cables.. If the 1080TI needs 8 pin (I don't know because I've never owned one), it's also possible to get the PSU breakout board in 8x 8 pin instead of 10x 6pin... For roughly the same price.

Total cost: $18234 for 24x 1080-TI including systems -- cost per GPU = $759/GPU.. Cost per PCI-E slot is $49/each. It's probably possible to get that a little lower per pcie slot.

Those expansion boards are pretty cheap


Edit: Wait, is that DL580 G7? On closer inspection just looks like a mid tower. I want to see that DL580 up there with your other systems

Whoever bought all the DL580 G7 boxes, you're welcome. Send me pics of your setup.

I still just have one -- would be interesting to see where they all went!

Hi, i just got myself a DL580 G7 to use as a platform for my new gpu mining rig, but i cant get more than 1 gpu (rx570) to work simultainusly, i guess there is a software bios setting for this? Any ideas? Im using SMOS, 1 card works great.

[PharmEcis]

Hi, i just got myself a DL580 G7 to use as a platform for my new gpu mining rig, but i cant get more than 1 gpu (rx570) to work simultainusly, i guess there is a software bios setting for this? Any ideas? Im using SMOS, 1 card works great.

That doesn't bode well!  The documentation for the Server says it supports up to 4 GPU's so you should be able to get more running.  (I believe that is due to the power connectors available on the power breakout board) However, I'm hoping that someone who has experience with the DL580 and running more GPUs on it can chime in since I've got one on the way too!

Anymore info on how you have your setup connected?  Cards plugged straight into box?  Using risers?  Using onboard power source or external for the cards, etc.

[Amstellodamois]

I suppose its my turn to contribute something.  If you are into Cryptonight mining, which it sounds like a few of you are, check out this Gigabyte mini-pc for $250:  https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856164036

You won't be adding any graphics cards (unless you are using eGPUS) but this thing will hash at 614 H/S.  You might be wondering how its possible to get that kind of performance out of a cpu with a 6 mb l3 cache.  The game changer is that this processor has an embedded Iris Pro GPU with a 128 MB L4 cache.  XMR-Stak recently included an optimization to take advantage of this cache space.  It should ROI itself in 2.5 months.  You have to provide your own ram and HD, but it does come with a wifi card so you could put this thing anywhere.

What kind of hashrate would this one yield?
http://www.ebay.fr/itm/PC-Gigabyte-Brix-GB-BSi7HA-6500-Intel-Core-i7-6500U-2x-2-50GHz-GB-BSi7HA-6500/152714522870?hash=item238e7eb0f6:g:SW0AAOSw8-xZ2AHF

[PharmEcis]

http://www.ebay.fr/itm/PC-Gigabyte-Brix-GB-BSi7HA-6500-Intel-Core-i7-6500U-2x-2-50GHz-GB-BSi7HA-6500/152714522870?hash=item238e7eb0f6:g:SW0AAOSw8-xZ2AHF

Minimal since it has no GPU assist w/ only Intel HD video and not Iris Pro w/ 128mb of RAM.

[spinx]

Hi, i just got myself a DL580 G7 to use as a platform for my new gpu mining rig, but i cant get more than 1 gpu (rx570) to work simultainusly, i guess there is a software bios setting for this? Any ideas? Im using SMOS, 1 card works great.

That doesn't bode well!  The documentation for the Server says it supports up to 4 GPU's so you should be able to get more running.  (I believe that is due to the power connectors available on the power breakout board) However, I'm hoping that someone who has experience with the DL580 and running more GPUs on it can chime in since I've got one on the way too!

Anymore info on how you have your setup connected?  Cards plugged straight into box?  Using risers?  Using onboard power source or external for the cards, etc.

I didnt spend to much time on it today as i am hoping its a software related issue, the gpus and the risers all worked well in another system later. I really hope someone can point me in the right direction...


My setup:
HP PROLIANT DL580 G7 4U RACK SERVER 4x E7-8837, 16GB, P410i/256MB, 2x 146GB, DVD
591205-001 HP DL580 G7 PCI EXPRESS RISER CARD
4x 1200W HP POWER SUPPLY
2x Parallel Miner X7 BREAKOUT BOARD ADAPTER (12x 6pin PCI-E)
24x 24 inch 16AWG 6 Pin Male to 6 Pin Male PCIE Power Cable
12x 18AWG PCI-E 6pin to Dual 8-pin Y-Splitter Extension Cable 2X (6+2pin) Cable. 6in each side
12x 008S usb3 riser
12x Gigabyte AORUS Radeon RX 570 4G[/li][/list]
Usb with SimpleMiner OS

[PharmEcis]

Spinx, sounds like we are barking up the same tree except I'll be using Nvidia cards.  You have better CPUs than mine though.

Hopefully you get things worked out.  My G7 is slated for delivery this coming Wed along w/ most of the cards so I'll report back sometime Thursday probably as to my success or failure.

[spinx]

Spinx, sounds like we are barking up the same tree except I'll be using Nvidia cards.  You have better CPUs than mine though.

Hopefully you get things worked out.  My G7 is slated for delivery this coming Wed along w/ most of the cards so I'll report back sometime Thursday probably as to my success or failure.

Mine was shipped with E7-4807's cpus, but i found a set of 4 pcs E7-8837 dirt cheap (10$/each!) so i couldnt resist, gonna try to do some cryptonight mining aswell in the background. Should pull around 900-950 H/s which currently makess 170-180$/month.

Thanks i appreciate all info, i will keep you posted aswell.

[PharmEcis]

Mine was shipped with E7-4807's cpus, but i found a set of 4 pcs E7-8837 dirt cheap (10$/each!) so i couldnt resist, gonna try to do some cryptonight mining aswell in the background. Should pull around 900-950 H/s which currently makess 170-180$/month.

Thanks i appreciate all info, i will keep you posted aswell.

There are even better E7 CPUs that can go in that aren't listed in the spec sheet but you have to make sure you have the proper revision main I/O board.  I've already been looking into replacements since mine come with X7542's.

[spinx]

Mine was shipped with E7-4807's cpus, but i found a set of 4 pcs E7-8837 dirt cheap (10$/each!) so i couldnt resist, gonna try to do some cryptonight mining aswell in the background. Should pull around 900-950 H/s which currently makess 170-180$/month.

Thanks i appreciate all info, i will keep you posted aswell.

There are even better E7 CPUs that can go in that aren't listed in the spec sheet but you have to make sure you have the proper revision main I/O board.  I've already been looking into replacements since mine come with X7542's.

Ohh, i thought E7-4870 was top of the line? Cant see a better one in this list: https://ark.intel.com/products/series/59139/Intel-Xeon-Processor-E7-Family - Care to share your knowledge?

[Amstellodamois]

http://www.ebay.fr/itm/PC-Gigabyte-Brix-GB-BSi7HA-6500-Intel-Core-i7-6500U-2x-2-50GHz-GB-BSi7HA-6500/152714522870?hash=item238e7eb0f6:g:SW0AAOSw8-xZ2AHF

Minimal since it has no GPU assist w/ only Intel HD video and not Iris Pro w/ 128mb of RAM.

Thanks! Is there something in the product number that says "Iris Pro thingy"?

[PharmEcis]

Thanks! Is there something in the product number that says "Iris Pro thingy"?

In the product description, yes.  Look at the link the nsummy posted, it clearly states the mini pc comes with an Iris Pro graphics.  If it states Iris Pro you are good to go.  If it states Intel HD graphics, you would not be.

[VyprBTC]

http://www.ebay.fr/itm/PC-Gigabyte-Brix-GB-BSi7HA-6500-Intel-Core-i7-6500U-2x-2-50GHz-GB-BSi7HA-6500/152714522870?hash=item238e7eb0f6:g:SW0AAOSw8-xZ2AHF

Minimal since it has no GPU assist w/ only Intel HD video and not Iris Pro w/ 128mb of RAM.

Thanks! Is there something in the product number that says "Iris Pro thingy"?

i7's that have Iris are
5950HQ
5850HQ
5750HQ
5755C
5775R

i5's that have Iris are
5675C
5675R
5575R

[PharmEcis]

Ohh, i thought E7-4870 was top of the line? Cant see a better one in this list: https://ark.intel.com/products/series/59139/Intel-Xeon-Processor-E7-Family - Care to share your knowledge?

Well now I feel like a dummy.  I saw E7-8870s in the list before and thought it would be more of a boost than just double the accessible RAM which won't do us any good.    8870s can address 4.1TB while the lowly 4870 can only address 2.05TB  I don't think that will give us the kind of performance boost we are looking for.  I guess next time I'll make sure to check the specs instead of just going... Ooooh bigger numbers, has to be faster right?

Found 4 8837s for 35 shipped, they are on the way... LOL