BBT Episode 7: 6 GPU Mining Rig with ASRock H81 PRO BTC

[RickJamesBTC]

People keep asking this, but the main thing to consider is that with the usb risers you can put the gpu cards far away from the motherboard, which allows for much better use of space and cooling options.

Is it true that USB risers are only working if they are powered?

Yes, the power connection to the riser card has to be there or the cards won't be turned on and the fans won't work.

[Ritual]

RickJamesBTC - are you still selling risers? If so, could I ask you to check your PMs please? I need to buy some and had sent you a message for details, as requested in your thread. Hoping for a reply soon

Rit.

[coincowboy]

I have some non-powered 16x to 16x risers if you are interested.  PM me.

[Ritual]

Hi coincowboy,

I'm really sorry man, but it's 6 card rigs I'm looking at building, and I wouldn't feel good about non-powered risers with that kind of build.

Thanks tho, I appreciate your reply!

Rit.

[RickJamesBTC]

I'm always selling them! I just shipped the last ones of last week though. Taking orders for the next shipments now.

[Ritual]

Hiya Rick,

Thanks for your PM. Looking forward to ordering ASAP!

Rit.

[searrching]

http://youtu.be/t3iup26oUN4

That board is worth its weight in gold! Super easy setup and configuration - 6 cards, ultra stable! Highly recommend

Great video!  In it you mentioned that one card wouldn't come up in Windows 8.1 (exclamation mark in device manager), but that you just uninstalled/reinstalled it and all came good...

I'm having the same issue with my sixth Sapphire R9 290 card in my H81 PRO BTC - except it doesn't come good after uninstalling / reinstalling.  Any ideas?

BAMT does recognise all cards on the same machine and work ok, so seems to be a Windows thing...

Any help appreciated!

Cheers

[K01N]

I'm rocking 6x 290 Sapphire Tri-X on the H81 with BAMT, so far so good, 3 days now.  Only frustration is that I can't get it to boot headless.

Anyone found a work around to this?  I also can't get it to boot on the USB 3.0 slots, even though I'm using a very high quality ultra fast USB 3.0 stick.

From googling around, looks like I'm not the only one with the headless problem. 

Conversely, some say they can boot to the USB 3.0 slots fine... but no-one seems to be able to boot headless.

Bueller?  Thanks in advance!  Happy to toss some Doge for anyone who has Much Solution.

[K01N]

May have found a work around...  Plugged a monitor in to a 290 HDMI port in order to boot.  The moment I saw the ASROCK bios logo pop up, I unplugged the HDMI cable.  RDC worked after that, and I've got all 6 290's working great at solid has rates (just under 900khs/ea).  In the past if I've yanked the cable the card it was on would loose hash rate after and eventually go kaput.  But pulling it before I'm in the BAMT OS seems to have worked.

The real question will be when I restart the rig again...will everything be happy?  Doubting it but will report back later when I do.  For now want to see if this rig stays stable at 5300+ kh/s headless.

[RickJamesBTC]

I've got zero problems booting headless on pro btc boards with xubuntu. Six cards on risers, no dummy plugs, no monitors.

[K01N]

I've got zero problems booting headless on pro btc boards with xubuntu. Six cards on risers, no dummy plugs, no monitors.

There goes the theory everyone has that the BTC boards' BIOS is what is preventing it from booting...   I don't think BAMT would be the issue, right?  (if only because I can boot headless on all my other rigs with BAMT just fine... just not the ones with BTC H81 mobos)

RickJamesBTC:  are you also able to boot to USB 3.0 ports on the H81, or only the 2.0 ports?

[RickJamesBTC]

Both on the USB slots, at least I think. I don't change that often but I usually plug into the 3.0 slots on everything else. These boards were very easy to setup for me, no issues at all. Fire them up first time with a single card mounted on the mobo for the linux install, get everything installed, turn it off and plug in 6 cards on risers. They all start perfectly.

[NameTaken]

Anyone also tried the BIOSTAR mining board?

[dloganbill]

Anyone also tried the BIOSTAR mining board?

Unless it's dirt cheap, I don't see any advantages with this board over most others.

[NameTaken]

Anyone also tried the BIOSTAR mining board?

Unless it's dirt cheap, I don't see any advantages with this board over most others.

Actually it is cheap and in stock.

[Yamabushi]

I like the video series actually - very well done, nice clear info.

Cheers

Me too, can't wait for more episodes Kudos

[RickJamesBTC]

Anyone also tried the BIOSTAR mining board?

Unless it's dirt cheap, I don't see any advantages with this board over most others.

Actually it is cheap and in stock.

That's the exact same board as the pro btc, isn't it. Also, not in stock.

[dloganbill]

It looks very similar, but I didn't see the two 4 pin power ports.

[NameTaken]

Anyone also tried the BIOSTAR mining board?

Unless it's dirt cheap, I don't see any advantages with this board over most others.

Actually it is cheap and in stock.

That's the exact same board as the pro btc, isn't it. Also, not in stock.

It is in stock atleast here in Canada.

[Amph]

cheapest 4gb ram block with this board?