Small portable rig? / External Laptop GPU

[jago25_98]

 There are times when I have access to free or cheap electric.

The thing is, I don't want to cart a tower unit around with me. FPGA makes no sense because that's cheaper on electric anyway.

 What's the smallest a mining rig can be? It doesn't need to be efficient on power, quiet or light. But small is good.

I have to carry round a laptop anyway. How's about this:
http://hackaday.com/2011/10/19/beefing-up-your-laptops-gaming-chops-with-an-external-gpu/

How fast a GPU can it take I wonder? My laptop is on the compatible list:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/gaming-software-graphics-cards/418851-diy-egpu-experiences.html

Lugging round the PSU would be a pain too.

 Found this on ebay but when I look in my PCI express slot it appears it wouldn't fit (confused):
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PE4H-v2-4a-60cm-Flat-mini-HDMI-EC2C-SPB087-ExpressCard-PCI-E-Adapter-/180808629729?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a1908bde1#ht_3307wt_905

"ExpressCard (54, 34)" in my laptop.

 Hope this has inspired

 -j


p.s.
Sorry if this is a silly thing to say but it should be pointed out that you don't need a client or blockchain for mining with a pool. Took me a while to figure this out as most guides mention downloading a bitcoin client

[rjk]

If BFL's FPGA product ever materializes, (4-6 weeks?) it will be one of the least efficient - but also fastest - FPGA solutions ever produced. It will take a sizeable power brick though, 135 watts apparently.

You could also build an SFF PC with a 7990 whenever they get released. The Silverstone Sugo SG-07 works for me with a 600 watt PSU - but other cases have a carying handle. Depends on how truly portable you wish to be.

[jago25_98]

Thanks I'll check that out.

Didn't realise but with plugging the numbers into a profitability calc even with free electric it still takes a year to get the money back:


and when the block reward drops to 25 it then takes over 5 years!

This doesn't make sense unless I can find a free source of electric 24/7 and I don't think that's going to happen.