Advise please

[ajg007]

I'm currently GPU mining bitcoin in slush's pool.

Now i have a meaty ATI gpu coming and want to build a dedicated rig for it.

I have an old pc with the specs below:

3800xp
4gb ram
pcie (not sure of the speed)

Now i know its not gonna break the sound barrier but Bitcoin mining is (mostly) about the GPU?

So would it be ok.

Now as to operating system,  i've been looking at Bamt,  would that be a good operating system for it?


So what you think?   Scrap the idea and go back to the drawing board?

[1715325171]

1715325171

[1715325171]

1715325171

[1715325171]

1715325171

[1715325171]

1715325171

[malevolent]

What's the GPU you are using? And only one?

1 GB of RAM is enough for BAMT it spares you the need to use a HDD as you can boot it from a cheap memory stick, run headless (without a monitor) and control through SSH.

[ajg007]

Jusat one 5830 card at the moment.   Will add new cards each month.  It only has 1xpcie anyway.

I have BAMT installed now.


Just a question.  Riser cables.  I know they allow you to have the cards outside the system but would they convert normal pci connectors for use with more graphics cards?

[malevolent]

Jusat one 5830 card at the moment.   Will add new cards each month.  It only has 1xpcie anyway.
I have BAMT installed now.
Just a question.  Riser cables.  I know they allow you to have the cards outside the system but would they convert normal pci connectors for use with more graphics cards?

Yes, there are PCI to PCI-E risers but I wouldn't risk it. PCI can provide 25W max. while PCI-E can provide up to 75W (this only according to specifications, exceptions occur). If you use your GPU for SHA hashing it doesn't really use memory much and you can underclock it so it takes less power. You can also mitigate the risk of overstraining your motherboard by using powered risers but I don't recommend doing so. Also last time I checked PCI to PCI-E risers where at least $40-50 each. It would be better to buy a new motherboard.

Of course you are aware that you can connect your GPUs to PCI-E slots of any size? (with risers ofc; x1, x4, x8 and x16)

[Biomech]

Jusat one 5830 card at the moment.   Will add new cards each month.  It only has 1xpcie anyway.
I have BAMT installed now.
Just a question.  Riser cables.  I know they allow you to have the cards outside the system but would they convert normal pci connectors for use with more graphics cards?

Yes, there are PCI to PCI-E risers but I wouldn't risk it. PCI can provide 25W max. while PCI-E can provide up to 75W (this only according to specifications, exceptions occur). If you use your GPU for SHA hashing it doesn't really use memory much and you can underclock it so it takes less power. You can also mitigate the risk of overstraining your motherboard by using powered risers but I don't recommend doing so. Also last time I checked PCI to PCI-E risers where at least $40-50 each. It would be better to buy a new motherboard.

Of course you are aware that you can connect your GPUs to PCI-E slots of any size? (with risers ofc; x1, x4, x8 and x16)

No, I wasn't, and I thank you for the tip!

[ajg007]

Thanks for the reply and info.   Ive decided to ditch the board and get one with 2xpcie slots of fleabay.  One i'm looking at uses a sempron processor and a meaty heatsink and no fan!

[malevolent]

Thanks for the reply and info.   Ive decided to ditch the board and get one with 2xpcie slots of fleabay.  One i'm looking at uses a sempron processor and a meaty heatsink and no fan!

What is your budget? Most miners throw in 4-6 cards 1-2 GPU each (but no more than 8 GPUs in total (more than that is possible but very difficult and not worth spending time on with current mining profitabilities).

P.S. Just a reminder - it might not be the best moment to invest in GPU farms now as the difficulty is increasing very quickly and the price stays more or less at the same level; unless you have free or very cheap electricity or only doing it for fun (or for mining other SHA or scrypt based altcoins).