Best mining case | Bitcointalksearch.org

catfish

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Quote from: marvinmartian on July 30, 2011, 09:43:13 AM

If you can't find 20" (or similar) box fans in a local store, I'm sure you can order them online someplace. They're not the kinds of things you need to see up-close and personal (usually).

It's be a neat and tidy solution, and size / cable length / power requirements were things I was interested in...

...however the open wooden frame thing I built last night seems perfectly capable of staying cool *without* forced air (other than the fans on the GPUs), so a single 7" clip-on cheapo desk fan seems more than adequate for the job.

I was thinking I'd need a monster high-flow fan on the back pushing air through, and another on the front pulling the air out (front being the ports of the GPUs) - sounds like I was thinking in full-on OVERKILL mode here!!!! Haha.

Though an arrangement like this WOULD assist with ducting the hot air out in a controlled fashion. With my open frame thing, the hot air goes everywhere (I assume)...

Thanks for the help

forexmasterja

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Kitchen / Mining Cart Mod -

marvinmartian

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If you can't find 20" (or similar) box fans in a local store, I'm sure you can order them online someplace. They're not the kinds of things you need to see up-close and personal (usually).

rearwheels

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I have a rubber/plastic floor mat between the motherboard and the plastic coated wire frame.

marvinmartian

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Quote from: Iyeman on July 28, 2011, 02:51:23 PM

Pretty much any metal that deals with clothes (which is what the main purpose of these cubes are for) is plastic coated to make sure there is no chance of it rusting onto the clothes. But if you are worried about it, just cut some plywood to slide in and mount everything to it.

I'd advise against plywood. In the 1/10000 chance that something sparks, shorts, or overheats critically you want as little flammable fuel possible nearby. Plus, wood does actually conduct electricity. It also retains moisture. Some plywood can also emit toxic fumes when heated up.

I know that all sounds paranoid. So take it as you will.

That being said, in more than 20 years of professional experience working with computing technology, I've only seen one machine come close to igniting. A NeXT cube optical drive in my lab (back in the 1990s) got hot enough to start smoldering. Thankfully, I smelled the smoke in time. I'm 99% sure it was the dust that had built up in the drive over the years.

I suppose you could also use some adhesive spray on glue and aluminum foil to create "fire resistant" plywood slabs too. But you'd run into the fume issue there too I suspect.

Iyeman

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Quote from: marvinmartian on July 28, 2011, 02:16:38 PM

Quote from: release on July 28, 2011, 01:37:32 PM

would laying the bare motherboard on exposed metal short the motherboard? Those cubes seem extremely efficient other wise.

The cubes I linked are plastic-coated metal. You'd have to tear the plastic (eg., with a set of pliers or some other sharp tool) then be unlucky enough to short.

A very basic modicum of common sense should prevent the above.

That being said, you can also fry a mobo by not properly grounding yourself before touching it too.

Pretty much any metal that deals with clothes (which is what the main purpose of these cubes are for) is plastic coated to make sure there is no chance of it rusting onto the clothes. But if you are worried about it, just cut some plywood to slide in and mount everything to it.

marvinmartian

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Quote from: release on July 28, 2011, 01:37:32 PM

would laying the bare motherboard on exposed metal short the motherboard? Those cubes seem extremely efficient other wise.

The cubes I linked are plastic-coated metal. You'd have to tear the plastic (eg., with a set of pliers or some other sharp tool) then be unlucky enough to short.

A very basic modicum of common sense should prevent the above.

That being said, you can also fry a mobo by not properly grounding yourself before touching it too.

release

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would laying the bare motherboard on exposed metal short the motherboard? Those cubes seem extremely efficient other wise.

marvinmartian

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Quote from: ?? on ??

Desk fans are a pain due to their bulk where the motor is.

Anyone know where to get box fans that can fit in a wind-tunnel like arrangement??

I considered using automotive parts - radiator fans from high-power cars can push a LOT of air, and are typically 12V items too - but they need a LOT of current and are very expensive new.

I suppose I ought to stop being lazy and go to a scrapyard to pick up some cheap fans from wrecks where the entire car cost less than £100... I think they'd do a much better job than desk fans.

You can get 20" box fans at Lowes or Home Depot for like $15. I've found they don't pull much current (on mid speed) and move more air than the rest.

It's all about the size of your fan blade imho so the 20" works really well. Smaller fans may rev higher but have to work harder to blow the same amount of air.

TIP: blow your exhaust air someplace outside, or at the very least to a part of your server room that doesn't mind being very warm AND where it won't spill into your fresh supply of cool air.

Sheet metal (or aluminum if you can find it) and a nice pair of metal sheers work well for this.

marvinmartian

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Quote from: Transisto on July 27, 2011, 11:08:51 PM

Quote from: marvinmartian on July 27, 2011, 09:52:23 PM

Besides "no case" which gets hard to maintain when dealing with larger numbers, I humbly submit the following:

http://www.target.com/Wire-Cube-Shelving-System/dp/B000789RSQ

Rack and stack. The above and zip ties are really all you should need. Why waste money on a case?

I want to see a setup in these Shelves so bad... Tell me you did please

Coming in v2.0 of my rigs. Currently they're just PCs on standard metal shop shelves with fans circulating air accordingly. My BTC profit model has been to get up and running as fast as possible first, then optimize for electrical efficiency using the profits. As I pull hardware out of OEM cases, they'll be going into the cube stacks.

I've seen a few other rigs put into these kinds of things, not necessarily exactly the same, but close. I think they're the way to go IMHO. Can't beat the price and they're great for airflow.

I still fail to understand why you'd want a "real" for bitcoin mining.

Iyeman

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Here is a 12 cube setup lol

http://www.amazon.com/KCF-Clothes-Organizer-3-Foot-4-Foot/dp/B001BRD2N8/ref=sr_1_124?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1311858076&sr=1-124

Would probably take a little creativity to get it all in a 14x14x14 in cube but that's what zip ties were created for lol.

NetTecture

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Quote from: johnyj on July 28, 2011, 07:31:53 AM

By the way, I think the best setup will be card exhaust in up direction, this will suck the cold air from under

It sadly also means the upper computers get the heat from lower.

I think the optimium is a "wall of computers" with ventilators, sucking in cold airfrom one room, putting hot into another vetilated one. EIther install them in a door, or put some cardboard around them in front of an open / half open window.

johnyj

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Beyond Imagination

Quote from: rearwheels on July 27, 2011, 11:53:44 PM

Mine have got wheels!

This one is sweet!

I will put the rig in the balcony most of the time to get cold enough air, but the dirt and rain is a big concern

By the way, I think the best setup will be card exhaust in up direction, this will suck the cold air from under

rearwheels

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Quote from: Slab Squathrust on July 28, 2011, 12:06:36 AM

HAHAHAHHA rearwheels that made my day. How are the temps on those cards?

Just added the big ass fan last week. Dropped most cards (5850s) about 5deg, except the inner most ones.

Also I've reduced all cards fan speed from 95% to 80%.

Removed 8x 120mm fans from the rigs.

Most value for money in terms of fans. (Big Ass fan ~= US$80).

Anyway, this wire tray is from Ikea. Look under the laundry section.

Transisto

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Quote from: rearwheels on July 27, 2011, 11:53:44 PM

Mine have got wheels!

LOL, rearwheels, gotta love taking it for a ride.

Slab Squathrust

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HAHAHAHHA rearwheels that made my day. How are the temps on those cards?

rearwheels

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Quote from: Transisto on July 27, 2011, 11:08:51 PM

Quote from: marvinmartian on July 27, 2011, 09:52:23 PM

Besides "no case" which gets hard to maintain when dealing with larger numbers, I humbly submit the following:

http://www.target.com/Wire-Cube-Shelving-System/dp/B000789RSQ

Rack and stack. The above and zip ties are really all you should need. Why waste money on a case?

I want to see a setup in these Shelves so bad... Tell me you did please

Mine have got wheels!

Transisto

donator

Activity: 1731

Merit: 1008

Quote from: marvinmartian on July 27, 2011, 09:52:23 PM

Besides "no case" which gets hard to maintain when dealing with larger numbers, I humbly submit the following:

http://www.target.com/Wire-Cube-Shelving-System/dp/B000789RSQ

Rack and stack. The above and zip ties are really all you should need. Why waste money on a case?

I want to see a setup in these Shelves so bad... Tell me you did please

marvinmartian

full member

Activity: 224

Merit: 100

Besides "no case" which gets hard to maintain when dealing with larger numbers, I humbly submit the following:

http://www.target.com/Wire-Cube-Shelving-System/dp/B000789RSQ

Rack and stack. The above and zip ties are really all you should need. Why waste money on a case?

rethaw

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I have had this case. I can tell you its only good for 2 cards, there is no room within the chassis for more. If you plan on only using two then it is great.

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