If USB Block Erupters are not worth the trouble, what is?

[HellDiverUK]

You will not be able to plug Bitfury-based USB miners into your PC until the drivers are written for them.

EFA.   

[balanghai]

Another boost in sales for the rPi!

[kano]

I don't understand why you NEED a Pi for the BitFurys?  That doesn't really make any sense.  Yes, the BitFury Blades, but the USB ones?  I call BS.

There are no drivers for standard computers as i know. CGminer is not able to use them nor any other miner atm.
Bitfury uses their own program called chainminer (?) for mining with them

Yes, and chainminer is currently only on the RPi.
One day that may change, but not yet.

So they can work on normal computers, and don't need a RPi?  They just need some drivers written.  Glad we sorted that one out then. 

Yes, but at the moment "you NEED a Pi for the BitFurys", so it's not BS.

[Buffer Overflow]

Why no just buy the Bitcoins instead of messing about mining them?

[HellDiverUK]

I don't understand why you NEED a Pi for the BitFurys?  That doesn't really make any sense.  Yes, the BitFury Blades, but the USB ones?  I call BS.

There are no drivers for standard computers as i know. CGminer is not able to use them nor any other miner atm.
Bitfury uses their own program called chainminer (?) for mining with them

Yes, and chainminer is currently only on the RPi.
One day that may change, but not yet.

So they can work on normal computers, and don't need a RPi?  They just need some drivers written.  Glad we sorted that one out then. 

Yes, but at the moment "you NEED a Pi for the BitFurys", so it's not BS.

Technically, at the moment you don't need anything at all, because they're not for sale...

You do know I'm not talking about the blades?  You do know I am talking about the Block Erupter style BitFury USB sticks? 

[kano]

I don't understand why you NEED a Pi for the BitFurys?  That doesn't really make any sense.  Yes, the BitFury Blades, but the USB ones?  I call BS.

There are no drivers for standard computers as i know. CGminer is not able to use them nor any other miner atm.
Bitfury uses their own program called chainminer (?) for mining with them

Yes, and chainminer is currently only on the RPi.
One day that may change, but not yet.

So they can work on normal computers, and don't need a RPi?  They just need some drivers written.  Glad we sorted that one out then. 

Yes, but at the moment "you NEED a Pi for the BitFurys", so it's not BS.

Technically, at the moment you don't need anything at all, because they're not for sale...

You do know I'm not talking about the blades?  You do know I am talking about the Block Erupter style BitFury USB sticks? 

... and yet ... still the only drivers for both of them are on the RPi ... and yes they do exist.

Someone does have one ............

[HellDiverUK]

Oh man?  You said "You need a RPi to run the BitFury USB stick".   To me that's final.  As in, it'll NEVER work on PC.  Well, yes, it will work on a PC once drivers are written.

You write as if it's final.  It's not.  It's just a matter of time.

[fumble]

i got my erupters connected to my pi and its running just fine.   i guess i am confused as to what you are saying.??

You will never get back your roi unless you bought them super cheap

roi roi ROI roi thats all ya talk about... its a hobby not a freaking business.

and besides if you must know i have made roi already about daily to every other day.. paid cash for it. not bitcoin.

I think the "hobby" boat sailed away about a year ago.  Its now a monsterous runaway freight train fueled by greed and millions of dollars.
If i wanted to mine and lose money for "hobby" purposes, I would just CPU/GPU mine.

[OldGeek]

Only you can decide where on that spectrum you wish, if at all, to jump in.

I've already jumped in.  My mini rig will be delivered tomorrow or the next day.  I'll have 6 BE's ready to hash by Friday morning.  I consider that this route provides the least exposure and will let me assess if I want to take another, and larger, step.

My best results with any hobby, or business venture, is to start small and only expand if it appears worthwhile.  'Worth' is relative, of course.  My goal with this thread was to pick your collective minds.

/Frank

I've never seen "mini rig" and "lease exposure" in the same sentence.  How much money do you have where tens of thousands of dollars is considered minimal risk?  Lol.  Did you mean Jalapeño?

LOL.  Sorry 'mini rig' was my term (used out of ignorance) to describe six USB Block Erupters plugged into a D Link.  Total cost, including shipping and taxes, $216.00 US*.  To me that is 'least exposure' for a rig that will be fun.

I don't believe that I could take up the game of golf, or most other hobbies, for that small of an investment.

* Hey don't laugh.  US$ are backed by China.  No worries!

/Frank

[OldGeek]

Getting back to the statement by ckolivas :  “Highest risk + Highest potential gain<---> Lowest risk + Guaranteed loss”

I used the calculator at http://mining.thegenesisblock.com/ to see what the various hardware would produce.  I was surprised to note that even the fastest, and most expensive, unit advertised (the Virtual Mining Platinum Unit, 6 module + 6 cases) at 24,576 GHs will only be running at a profit for 8 months.  After that, the electricity costs take all of the efforts.  Note:  I don’t have a clue how accurate the calculator is, YMMV.  If the calculator is close to accurate, the days of mining for a profit are almost over. 

I keep reading about all of the PHs coming onboard and have to wonder how long it will be before I see used 500 GHs units for sale cheap.

/Frank   

[tempestb]

Here is the thing about Bitcoin mining.  You will more than likely mine at a loss.  The secret is if you believe in Bitcoin's future, that the coins you earn today will be worth double, triple, or more.  What you mine at a loss today may make you rich in the future.  As many people have said before, however, that if you believe that, it's better to buy Bitcoins straight up than mine for them.  Many factors at play.  Very high risk gamble.  If it was that easy, everyone would do it.

[kendog77]

Why no just buy the Bitcoins instead of messing about mining them?

Ding ding ding, we have a winner! Based on the current rate of difficulty increase and cost of mining hardware, most folks will do better simply buying Bitcoin directly and holding it.

Mining is a fun hobby, but it's hard to find an ASIC hardware purchase right now that will ever ROI.

[BR0KK]

Oh man?  You said "You need a RPi to run the BitFury USB stick".   To me that's final.  As in, it'll NEVER work on PC.  Well, yes, it will work on a PC once drivers are written.

You write as if it's final.  It's not.  It's just a matter of time.

A matter of time.... unless you write one

[-ck]

You will not be able to plug Bitfury-based USB miners into your PC until the drivers are written for them.

EFA.   

Oooh that must have felt good.

[kano]

Oh man?  You said "You need a RPi to run the BitFury USB stick".   To me that's final.  As in, it'll NEVER work on PC.  Well, yes, it will work on a PC once drivers are written.

You write as if it's final.  It's not.  It's just a matter of time.

So ... below is my first post I did here in this thread ... and is included in EVERY post I have posted in this thread ...

...
Yes, and chainminer is currently only on the RPi.
One day that may change, but not yet.

I called BS and I was wrong, now how can I pretend I'm right, coz I can't ever be wrong on the nets

EFA

[Bicknellski]

You will not be able to plug Bitfury-based USB miners into your PC until the drivers are written for them.

EFA.  

Oooh that must have felt good.

Want a RedFury https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=292433.0 to write the firmware / drivers?

PM me.

[Trongersoll]

This has been one confusing thread to read due to lack of clear concise terminology. Can we not call USB sticks using Bitfury chips anything Bitfury. Bitfury doesn't make or sell them. Can we only call ASICminer Block Erupters by any of those words? Can we only call ASICminer Blades, Blades? Can we only call the Starter Kits and Cards that Bitfury makes Bitfury.

I think you get my drift. I'm not certain that the people arguing in this thread are talking about the same hardware.

[HellDiverUK]

I think you get my drift. I'm not certain that the people arguing in this thread are talking about the same hardware.

Some of in this thread have a grasp of the English language.  Others seem to use English as a second or third language after C++ and Gibberish.

[wlwesq]

Why no just buy the Bitcoins instead of messing about mining them?

Ding ding ding, we have a winner! Based on the current rate of difficulty increase and cost of mining hardware, most folks will do better simply buying Bitcoin directly and holding it.

Mining is a fun hobby, but it's hard to find an ASIC hardware purchase right now that will ever ROI.

Where does the global need to mine Bitcoins come into the analysis? By need, I mean the idea that all Bitcoins should be mined so they are in circulation, so to speak. If everyone gives up mining now, does that mean Bitcoin "failed"? Or does it mean the value of Bitcoins goes up because of limited supply?

Just a few of the questions that bother us so...

[Soros Shorts]

Others seem to use English as a second or third language after C++ and Gibberish.

Code:

while (!ROI())
{
    buy_usb_hardware();
    mine();
}

retire_to_tropical_island(); <--- Warning! Unreachable code detected!