starting mining with free electricity

[giorgione77]

Hello guys,
i'd like to ask you which is the easiest way to start mining (for fun) considering i have FREE electricity.

I have an outdated desktop with an ATI 4850 or 4870 (need to check) that i can use for start putting
it in a friend office that will pay the electricity for me.

I NEVER used bitcoin before so im really noob to this. i read about the fact that people organize themself
in pools to obtain better results, that the difficult is self balanced by the system itself according to
how many "miners" join the system. I dont have an account on bitcoin.

Considering this what i could do? the objective of starting this will be just fun, understanding how
the bitcoin-mining works and maybe in the future plan something better and just collect my first
0.000000000000000001 part of a bitcoin 

Can you please give me advices, links (user friendly, step by step) for begin? Suggest also a pool
to join etc.

Thanks in advance,
g77.

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[1715164108]

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[byt411]

Hello guys,
i'd like to ask you which is the easiest way to start mining (for fun) considering i have FREE electricity.

I have an outdated desktop with an ATI 4850 or 4870 (need to check) that i can use for start putting
it in a friend office that will pay the electricity for me.

I NEVER used bitcoin before so im really noob to this. i read about the fact that people organize themself
in pools to obtain better results, that the difficult is self balanced by the system itself according to
how many "miners" join the system. I dont have an account on bitcoin.

Considering this what i could do? the objective of starting this will be just fun, understanding how
the bitcoin-mining works and maybe in the future plan something better and just collect my first
0.000000000000000001 part of a bitcoin 

Can you please give me advices, links (user friendly, step by step) for begin? Suggest also a pool
to join etc.

Thanks in advance,
g77.

A crappy desktop computer won't mine anything at all. Please watch this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmOzih6I1zs

You don't have a hope for profit unless you are willing to spend hundreds and thousands of dollars.

[Newar]

0.000000000000000001

Start with the basics

[notlist3d]

Sadly GPU days are dead for most.  It is just very inefficient compared to asics.  I suggest for starting a straight bitcoin miner (you could get scrypt) but plain sha is easiest.

With "free" electricity you have a advantage one thing to consider is source.  If it's parents, dorm, roomates, etc.  They will notice a rise in bill depending on amount of equipment. Also keep in mind electricity limits when ordering gear.

Do ROI math and invest in a asic if you can afford that route.