What hardware would be best for a hobbyist?

[taipo]

I've been thinking about getting a small miner just to feel like I am a little bigger part of this movement, and was wondering if anyone would have any advice on what hardware to buy.  I don't expect a ROI, though it would be nice, but am looking for something < $500 if possible.  Is there any hardware on the market worth buying at that price point?  I'd consider both SHA-256 and Scrypt ASICs.

The one's I've given the most thought to are the Antminer S1 now that it's on super sale, and the Zeusminer Blizzard.  The antminer seems like a safer bet with  all the huge Scrypt asics coming online soon, but I was wondering if anyone had any input and if I had perhaps missed a better hardware deal.

Thanks!

The Antminer S3 would be the best bang for your buck but currently they are only selling them in sets of 2. You could try emailing Bitmain and petition them just to sell you one.

[jonnybravo0311]

I've been thinking about getting a small miner just to feel like I am a little bigger part of this movement, and was wondering if anyone would have any advice on what hardware to buy.  I don't expect a ROI, though it would be nice, but am looking for something < $500 if possible.  Is there any hardware on the market worth buying at that price point?  I'd consider both SHA-256 and Scrypt ASICs.

The one's I've given the most thought to are the Antminer S1 now that it's on super sale, and the Zeusminer Blizzard.  The antminer seems like a safer bet with  all the huge Scrypt asics coming online soon, but I was wondering if anyone had any input and if I had perhaps missed a better hardware deal.

Thanks!

The Antminer S3 would be the best bang for your buck but currently they are only selling them in sets of 2. You could try emailing Bitmain and petition them just to sell you one.

There are resellers that will sell in single quantities.  As for the original poster's budget, I'm not sure you'll be able to sneak under that $500, however.

If you truly are capped at $500, your options are to pick up a few (3 or 4) S1s (try the market here, Amazon, eBay, etc).  You might be able to pick up some of the Rockminer rigs as well.  If you want scrypt, check out gawminers, zoomhash, minersource, etc to see what they've got on sale.

[bigreddmachine]

There are resellers that will sell in single quantities.  As for the original poster's budget, I'm not sure you'll be able to sneak under that $500, however.

If you truly are capped at $500, your options are to pick up a few (3 or 4) S1s (try the market here, Amazon, eBay, etc).  You might be able to pick up some of the Rockminer rigs as well.  If you want scrypt, check out gawminers, zoomhash, minersource, etc to see what they've got on sale.

Thanks for the reply.  I've had my eyes on those S3's for a while now.  Do you know if there are any safe ways to split a 2-pack with someone?  You know, like one person order both and split the cost with someone so they each get 1?

[philipma1957]

yes there is a seller that takes amazon payments.  you can use your amazon cc and get a discount he sells one for 500? maybe 470? I will find his link for you




https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=682528.0


he should be safe.

when you get it.  mine 1 day out of 10 at www.bitsolo.net   and mine the other 9 days out of ten at your favorite pool.

If you need a psu I have a few extra ones and a I have some cables.

My psu deal is very good if you decide to get an s-3 

[bigreddmachine]

yes there is a seller that takes amazon payments.  you can use your amazon cc and get a discount he sells one for 500? maybe 470? I will find his link for you




https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=682528.0


he should be safe.

when you get it.  mine 1 day out of 10 at www.bitsolo.net   and mine the other 9 days out of ten at your favorite pool.

If you need a psu I have a few extra ones and a I have some cables.

My psu deal is very good if you decide to get an s-3 

1 day out of 10 as a lottery ticket of sorts?

[jonnybravo0311]

yes there is a seller that takes amazon payments.  you can use your amazon cc and get a discount he sells one for 500? maybe 470? I will find his link for you




https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=682528.0


he should be safe.

when you get it.  mine 1 day out of 10 at www.bitsolo.net   and mine the other 9 days out of ten at your favorite pool.

If you need a psu I have a few extra ones and a I have some cables.

My psu deal is very good if you decide to get an s-3 

1 day out of 10 as a lottery ticket of sorts?

Yup.  For 1 day out of 10, you try your luck solo mining.  It's an interesting thought... lose a day's mining (which, at current difficulty with the S3 means you lose 0.0128BTC) for a chance at 25BTC.  You a gambler?

[bigreddmachine]

yes there is a seller that takes amazon payments.  you can use your amazon cc and get a discount he sells one for 500? maybe 470? I will find his link for you




https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=682528.0


he should be safe.

when you get it.  mine 1 day out of 10 at www.bitsolo.net   and mine the other 9 days out of ten at your favorite pool.

If you need a psu I have a few extra ones and a I have some cables.

My psu deal is very good if you decide to get an s-3 

1 day out of 10 as a lottery ticket of sorts?

Yup.  For 1 day out of 10, you try your luck solo mining.  It's an interesting thought... lose a day's mining (which, at current difficulty with the S3 means you lose 0.0128BTC) for a chance at 25BTC.  You a gambler?

It's an interesting idea...  but if you do 1/10, you might get tempted to say, ahh, lets do 1/7, then 1/5, etc... must exercise self restraint!