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Topic: Best Hash/Watt GPU Setup, Undervolting - page 4. (Read 24070 times)

legendary
Activity: 1946
Merit: 1005
My mule don't like people laughing
November 20, 2013, 07:03:47 PM
#37
I read somewhere that Windows 7 has trouble seeing more than 3 video cards. Is this still a problem? Was it ever?

I also want to build something to mine scrypt coins. Right now I have some USB asics and a few computers doing some CPU mining. If you were going to build a rig, lets say with 6 video cards R9 280x. Which motherboard would you choose? Has anyone tried that new asrock?

hero member
Activity: 812
Merit: 1000
November 20, 2013, 03:50:26 PM
#36
my preference is the 290 (non-x) as well, since some report 880 hasrates with good hash/power ration, also gives a good hash-density at the machine.
but since i don't like the reference layout/blower, I will go for a 280x right now. technology has been around, so I expect them to be more reliable for now. (also good deals available)

ordered a sapphire 280x dual-x to see if it is voltage unlocked (40G full retail model, since it was cheaper than the lite retail).
will put it on an old amd64 board to see/check and wait until other components arrive.

for testing i want to go with windows first, should i go with win7 /8 /8.1 or doesn't that matter?

recommendations of drivers/software and versions? installation order?

thanks for any advice, will keep you updated...



dual 280X is nice...win 7 64 bit, driver: 12.8 for optimal hash rate.
Settings see consolidated litecoin mining guide here.
full member
Activity: 196
Merit: 100
November 20, 2013, 09:50:40 AM
#35
my preference is the 290 (non-x) as well, since some report 880 hasrates with good hash/power ration, also gives a good hash-density at the machine.
but since i don't like the reference layout/blower, I will go for a 280x right now. technology has been around, so I expect them to be more reliable for now. (also good deals available)

ordered a sapphire 280x dual-x to see if it is voltage unlocked (40G full retail model, since it was cheaper than the lite retail).
will put it on an old amd64 board to see/check and wait until other components arrive.

for testing i want to go with windows first, should i go with win7 /8 /8.1 or doesn't that matter?

recommendations of drivers/software and versions? installation order?

thanks for any advice, will keep you updated...

hero member
Activity: 812
Merit: 1000
November 09, 2013, 07:39:23 AM
#34
If somebody can varifiy if the said model is voltage unlocked, I might actually give it a shot. it is a buy right now...

can you elaborate, what "sucks" with the boost cards? which one gets better hash/watt now? boost or non-boost 7950?





in another thread (https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/m.3527036) somebody says that the 7990 (dual GPU?) is the most efficient.
not speaking about price and money efficiency, is it more efficent hash/watt-wise than 7950s?

From what I gather the R9 290 is more efficient, for a 270w power draw it pulls 880-1000kh/s.
Boost bioses used to make reaching high hash rate on 7970s a pain, but I think you can reliably get 700kh/s+ (up to 760) on 280X cards like the Dual X now. At least I now know how to configure them for that hash.
full member
Activity: 196
Merit: 100
November 09, 2013, 05:11:38 AM
#33
If somebody can varifiy if the said model is voltage unlocked, I might actually give it a shot. it is a buy right now...

can you elaborate, what "sucks" with the boost cards? which one gets better hash/watt now? boost or non-boost 7950?





in another thread (https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/m.3527036) somebody says that the 7990 (dual GPU?) is the most efficient.
not speaking about price and money efficiency, is it more efficent hash/watt-wise than 7950s?
hero member
Activity: 812
Merit: 1000
November 08, 2013, 08:37:02 PM
#32
new questions:

going for a 7950
right now the PC AX7950 3GBD5-2DHPP is a cheap deal. Does anyone know if that one is voltage unlocked? (for undervolting?)

in general, do the "standard" versions or the boost versions get better hash/watt? what type should I get?

I'd reccomend dual x r9 280x for mining, or the new r9 290 cards.
Boost tends to suck but I know how to configure it now (thanks to a guy from mcxnow).
full member
Activity: 196
Merit: 100
November 08, 2013, 07:48:08 PM
#31
new questions:

going for a 7950
right now the PC AX7950 3GBD5-2DHPP is a cheap deal. Does anyone know if that one is voltage unlocked? (for undervolting?)

in general, do the "standard" versions or the boost versions get better hash/watt? what type should I get?
full member
Activity: 196
Merit: 100
October 30, 2013, 03:00:11 PM
#30
well, low voltage and regular voltage are about same price, so I might try the low voltage RAM;
is it more likeley to run into problems with that?


CPUs are slow compared to GPUs, but what ist the Hash/Watt (compared to a regular/optimzed 7950 setup)? any numbers?
hero member
Activity: 812
Merit: 1000
October 30, 2013, 02:36:39 PM
#29
Low voltage ram is a gimmick...maybe for a server rig with a gazillion sticks it'll make a difference.
If you can find Samsung 1.35v sticks get them though, they are nice and cheap.

As for the gpus, undervolt to 1.1v and oc ram and core slightly. You have to find the sweetspot and the correct settings.
Refer to this guide: https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/consolidated-litecoin-mining-guide-for-5xxx-6xxx-and-7xxx-gpus-117221

cpu mining, yeah, it makes a half decent income...I cpu mine with my i7 3820. Using a lesser cpu makes no sense. Maybe an fx8320.
full member
Activity: 196
Merit: 100
October 30, 2013, 09:51:02 AM
#28
also speculating on a 290 (no x), but until it is availabe and more results are around, I will wait, or go fot the 7950s
Though too many of them are voltage locked.

What is the way to go for bet Hash/Watt? Lower orignal clockspeed? Lower original Voltage? Any recommendation (with exact hard info)?


if I get the sempron 145, there is "other" core left ;-)
but does CPU mining make sense khas/watt-wise? If so, then maybe a slightly stronger CPU would do the trick.


Anybody have used Low Voltage RAM? pricewise they are the ~same as regular RAM
hero member
Activity: 812
Merit: 1000
October 30, 2013, 03:27:10 AM
#27
Mining with the cpu is fine as long as you leave a core free for cgminer.

I mine with 7 threads off my i7 3820 at 4.4ghz and leave one for cgminer...

And btw, r9 290x results are out there: I've seen 880kh/s at 276w and 890-1050kh/s undervolted with intensity 20 and two threads. No hw, and good perf all around.
I think the r9 290 non x will be the winner.

http://www.overclock.net/t/1437876/290x-mining-performance
legendary
Activity: 1596
Merit: 1000
October 29, 2013, 09:58:12 PM
#26
Whatever is cheaper. Again, CPU makes zero difference to GPU mining.

CPU is still good to mine those CPU and not so GPU efficient coins like primecoin....

Eh, cheap CPUs like that won't really get anywhere anymore. Mining with the CPU will just drag the GPUs down IMO.
legendary
Activity: 1596
Merit: 1000
October 29, 2013, 09:56:55 PM
#25
i stumbled onto two other things that I was unaware before... slightly off topic, but maybe someone can give a quick answer

* Dummy plugs for GPUs if no display is installed: still needed, or solved with newer AMD Catalyst drivers?  (Win/Linux)
(if required, what is there proper name to look in electronics shop)

No longer an issue, no dummy plugs required

* RAM requirement for Litecoin: Does scrypt mining require a certain amount of RAM? (or was that due to bugs in the miner software?) how much?
* if RAM is required, does Speed/CL-timings make a difference?

CGminer uses about 100MB of RAM. I have 6card rigs with 4GB of RAM and they work just fine.




(PS: Sempron 145 with possible/probable option to unlock 2nd core sounds good; any reasons not to go with ASROCK 970 extreme 4?)

Nothing wrong with that board if the PCI-e slots suit your needs.
sr. member
Activity: 364
Merit: 250
October 29, 2013, 09:19:13 PM
#24
Whatever is cheaper. Again, CPU makes zero difference to GPU mining.

CPU is still good to mine those CPU and not so GPU efficient coins like primecoin....
full member
Activity: 196
Merit: 100
October 29, 2013, 09:17:11 PM
#23
i stumbled onto two other things that I was unaware before... slightly off topic, but maybe someone can give a quick answer

* Dummy plugs for GPUs if no display is installed: still needed, or solved with newer AMD Catalyst drivers?  (Win/Linux)
(if required, what is there proper name to look in electronics shop)

* RAM requirement for Litecoin: Does scrypt mining require a certain amount of RAM? (or was that due to bugs in the miner software?) how much?
* if RAM is required, does Speed/CL-timings make a difference?




(PS: Sempron 145 with possible/probable option to unlock 2nd core sounds good; any reasons not to go with ASROCK 970 extreme 4?)
legendary
Activity: 1596
Merit: 1000
October 29, 2013, 08:51:59 PM
#22
Whatever is cheaper. Again, CPU makes zero difference to GPU mining.
full member
Activity: 196
Merit: 100
October 29, 2013, 08:21:14 PM
#21
i am still deciding which board/CPU kombination..

going with AMD, I might go for Asrock 970 Extreme 4

but should I go with Sempron 145 or X2 180/190 ?
legendary
Activity: 1596
Merit: 1000
October 29, 2013, 08:08:29 PM
#20
Yep, if buying new 280X is the way to go until we get results from 290/290X.
full member
Activity: 148
Merit: 100
October 29, 2013, 08:08:17 PM
#19
Here is the guide that shows how to flash 7970 bios. I did this to my 2 vapor-x 7970's and hashrate increased from 550 to 750 and could lower voltage to 1.100.
https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/low-hashrate-on-7970-scrypt-under-700khs-heres-what-to-do-200777
hero member
Activity: 812
Merit: 1000
October 29, 2013, 08:00:22 PM
#18
Get the cheapest...yeah, dual x might be good, I wasn't sure it was unlocked.
And r9 280x tends to be cheaper than 7950s these days. unless you buy used gear.
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