Rigs

[The Goat Master]

What are the main components of a rig, how do I use them, and how do I make sure it doesn't explode or anything?
(I just graduated from being a n00b)

[notaek]

Cheap CPU
Motherboard with a lot of slots
USB stick
A little RAM
Beefy power supply
A lot of nice GPUs
Riser Cables

These are the main parts of a mining rig.  If you don't know how to build a computer at all, you can find out online how to piece it together.  It really isn't that hard, but you will need some sort of guide if you have never done it before.

[sniffinpoprocks]

also, usb stick or small hdd to run OS....and an OS

[notaek]

also, usb stick or small hdd to run OS....and an OS

Yeah, I wrote USB stick but that would require the use of Linux.

[The Goat Master]

also, usb stick or small hdd to run OS....and an OS

Yeah, I wrote USB stick but that would require the use of Linux.

So we use a live usb?

[notaek]

also, usb stick or small hdd to run OS....and an OS

Yeah, I wrote USB stick but that would require the use of Linux.

So we use a live usb?

Yeah.  You can go the Linux route and use a live USB.  You got the cost of an 8GB USB.  With windows, you have to buy the OS (or pirate it) and buy a HDD for around $40.

[The Goat Master]

also, usb stick or small hdd to run OS....and an OS

Yeah, I wrote USB stick but that would require the use of Linux.

So we use a live usb?

Yeah.  You can go the Linux route and use a live USB.  You got the cost of an 8GB USB.  With windows, you have to buy the OS (or pirate it) and buy a HDD for around $40.

So you can't get a Live Windows USB.
And the object is to get the least GPU-intesive OS?

[ryepdx]

And the object is to get the least GPU-intesive OS?

I've mined with both Ubuntu Linux and Windows 8. Neither one is noticeably more GPU-intensive. Windows 8 was a *lot* easier to set up and had fewer stability problems, though. I'm not sure if Windows 8 needs null plugs to trick it into thinking monitors are plugged into the video cards like previous versions of Windows did. I have them on my rigs, but I've mined without them and not noticed any difference in output.

TL;DR: Neither OS is going to make much difference in your mining output, but Windows is easier to set up.

[notaek]

And the object is to get the least GPU-intesive OS?

I've mined with both Ubuntu Linux and Windows 8. Neither one is noticeably more GPU-intensive. Windows 8 was a *lot* easier to set up and had fewer stability problems, though. I'm not sure if Windows 8 needs null plugs to trick it into thinking monitors are plugged into the video cards like previous versions of Windows did. I have them on my rigs, but I've mined without them and not noticed any difference in output.

TL;DR: Neither OS is going to make much difference in your mining output, but Windows is easier to set up.

I don't know, Linux is pretty easy to set up if you follow the Scrypt mining guide they have floating around here.

[ryepdx]

YMMV. The guides didn't work perfectly for me when I was putting together my Linux rigs. I had problems with not all of my GPUs being detected and with the OS hanging after a while.

[snowcrashed]

And the object is to get the least GPU-intesive OS?

I've mined with both Ubuntu Linux and Windows 8. Neither one is noticeably more GPU-intensive. Windows 8 was a *lot* easier to set up and had fewer stability problems, though. I'm not sure if Windows 8 needs null plugs to trick it into thinking monitors are plugged into the video cards like previous versions of Windows did. I have them on my rigs, but I've mined without them and not noticed any difference in output.

TL;DR: Neither OS is going to make much difference in your mining output, but Windows is easier to set up.

I don't know, Linux is pretty easy to set up if you follow the Scrypt mining guide they have floating around here.

It is fairly easy to setup, however if something goes wrong it's much harder to troubleshoot.  Especially for someone who doesn't have much experience with computers like the OP.

[ryepdx]

It is fairly easy to setup, however if something goes wrong it's much harder to troubleshoot.

Yeah, that's a better way of putting it.