Basic mining questions: PCIe x16,x8,x1, extenders, ASIC?

mikeo

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Quote from: pandemic on July 16, 2011, 11:41:31 AM

Yes but in the configuration of that mobo, the 4x and 16x would be the best two to use. If I get extenders, I'd have no way to mount them in the case. I don't have a whole lot of extra room to build risers, etc either.

Dump the case. There are many examples on this board of cheap, homemade caseless systems that work fine and run cool.

pandemic

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Quote from: NetTecture on July 16, 2011, 10:51:50 AM

No, you are better of not putting the cards into the slots.

* Get pci-e 1x -> 16x cables.
* Raise the cards, use all slows

=> Max number of cards, good airflow and cooling, most cost efficient.

Yes but in the configuration of that mobo, the 4x and 16x would be the best two to use. If I get extenders, I'd have no way to mount them in the case. I don't have a whole lot of extra room to build risers, etc either.

NetTecture

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No, you are better of not putting the cards into the slots.

* Get pci-e 1x -> 16x cables.
* Raise the cards, use all slows

=> Max number of cards, good airflow and cooling, most cost efficient.

pandemic

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Quote from: Jack of Diamonds on July 05, 2011, 11:24:17 AM

Quote from: pandemic on July 05, 2011, 08:32:26 AM

Quote from: rethaw on June 17, 2011, 02:27:45 AM

x1 is fine for mining. PCI-extenders just use a ribbon cable to allow you to raise your card from the board.

Application-specific integrated circuits, or ASICS, would be much more energy efficient for mining. As far as I know no one has done this yet. Field programmable gated arrays, or FPGAs, have been used. These also are highly efficient but can be prohibitively expensive... though cheaper than an ASIC.

Are you sure 1x is OK for mining? No card seems like it'd fit that slot. Do you mean 4x?

The card wont fit into the x1 extender on it's own, the end has to be sawed off.
Some sellers already do it for you before shipping though.

Or I'd be better off using the 4x because that and the 16x are doubles paced anyway. Right?

Jack of Diamonds

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Quote from: pandemic on July 05, 2011, 08:32:26 AM

Quote from: rethaw on June 17, 2011, 02:27:45 AM

x1 is fine for mining. PCI-extenders just use a ribbon cable to allow you to raise your card from the board.

Application-specific integrated circuits, or ASICS, would be much more energy efficient for mining. As far as I know no one has done this yet. Field programmable gated arrays, or FPGAs, have been used. These also are highly efficient but can be prohibitively expensive... though cheaper than an ASIC.

Are you sure 1x is OK for mining? No card seems like it'd fit that slot. Do you mean 4x?

The card wont fit into the x1 extender on it's own, the end has to be sawed off.
Some sellers already do it for you before shipping though.

rethaw

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You will need to use a 1x extender and file down the connector to allow a 16x card to fit.

pandemic

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Quote from: rethaw on June 17, 2011, 02:27:45 AM

x1 is fine for mining. PCI-extenders just use a ribbon cable to allow you to raise your card from the board.

Application-specific integrated circuits, or ASICS, would be much more energy efficient for mining. As far as I know no one has done this yet. Field programmable gated arrays, or FPGAs, have been used. These also are highly efficient but can be prohibitively expensive... though cheaper than an ASIC.

Are you sure 1x is OK for mining? No card seems like it'd fit that slot. Do you mean 4x?

rethaw

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Quote from: no_alone on June 20, 2011, 05:57:20 AM

Quote from: pandemic on June 19, 2011, 10:59:13 PM

Is there any type of a PCIe splitter that'd make one slot into 2? I forget the thread but I thought someone mentioned something like that.

http://www.amfeltec.com/products/x4pcie-splitter4.php

pretty expensive ..

How much?

teflone

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You're fat, because you dont have any pics on FB

Quote from: NetTecture on June 20, 2011, 06:42:41 AM

Quote from: pandemic on June 16, 2011, 10:12:38 PM

Also, I heard something about ASIC for mining. What is ASIC and how do they work?

Homework: Write a 1000 word essay on what google and wikipedia are and how to find information for the very specific term "asic" on them. Then explain in 2 sentences what an ASIC is.

At least dont be that lazy as asking this here, please.

Whoa!

Tough crowd!

NetTecture

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Quote from: pandemic on June 16, 2011, 10:12:38 PM

Also, I heard something about ASIC for mining. What is ASIC and how do they work?

Homework: Write a 1000 word essay on what google and wikipedia are and how to find information for the very specific term "asic" on them. Then explain in 2 sentences what an ASIC is.

At least dont be that lazy as asking this here, please.

no_alone

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Quote from: pandemic on June 19, 2011, 10:59:13 PM

Is there any type of a PCIe splitter that'd make one slot into 2? I forget the thread but I thought someone mentioned something like that.

http://www.amfeltec.com/products/x4pcie-splitter4.php

pretty expensive ..

pandemic

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Is there any type of a PCIe splitter that'd make one slot into 2? I forget the thread but I thought someone mentioned something like that.

pandemic

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Question - PCIe 1x and 4x will work fine, right?

Looking at getting a cheap machine with 1 x16 slot and 1 x4 slot. This is the board:

From left to right, I think, x4, x1, x16

Just wanted to make sure that this WOULD, in fact, work.

I was reading this thread:
https://forum.bitcoin.org/index.php?topic=14910.0;all

About someone funding an ASIC setup. Paying attention to that one.

smell

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Quote from: rethaw on June 17, 2011, 02:27:45 AM

Application-specific integrated circuits, or ASICS, would be much more energy efficient for mining. As far as I know no one has done this yet. Field programmable gated arrays, or FPGAs, have been used. These also are highly efficient but can be prohibitively expensive... though cheaper than an ASIC.

There's one guy who has done asics, name of artforz. Also, have heard rumblings of someone that wanted technical expertise and wanted to spend some money. Search is your friend

ovoskeuiks

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No need to crossfire they should work fine separately but if using windows you may need dummy vga or dvi plugs for any card not plugged into a monitor

pandemic

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That's cool, I didn't realize you could mine with anything other than x16. Should open up a lot of cheaper motherboards for me.

What about cards, I think you can but wanted to check - can you have a 5870 and a 4870 on the same motherboard and crossfired together?

Cablesaurus

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x1 slots are fine for mining and you will see no loss in hash speed from doing so.

rethaw

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x1 is fine for mining. PCI-extenders just use a ribbon cable to allow you to raise your card from the board.

Application-specific integrated circuits, or ASICS, would be much more energy efficient for mining. As far as I know no one has done this yet. Field programmable gated arrays, or FPGAs, have been used. These also are highly efficient but can be prohibitively expensive... though cheaper than an ASIC.

pandemic

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Activity: 434

Merit: 250