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Topic: Building Cheap Miners : My "Secret" - page 50. (Read 60235 times)

hero member
Activity: 714
Merit: 512
June 16, 2017, 12:24:32 PM
#52
Well some bad news.

The 4th PCI-E slot on the board appears to have failed during benchmarking on Nicehash (I walked off & it had rebooted when I came back).

Any card plugged into that slot is no longer recognized.

Looks like this will be a 3-card machine!
hero member
Activity: 714
Merit: 512
June 16, 2017, 12:01:24 PM
#51
So here is some more info on my T5500 rig and how it is set up as of today :


* 4x Geforce 1060 Cards


* I have used several adapters.

-----

I ordered the following to replaces both SATA to 6-pin connections that I am doing right now :

https://www.moddiy.com/products/Bitcoin-Mining-CPU-8pin-TO-2-PCI%252dE-6%252b2pin-Splitter-Cable.html

This converts the 8-pin CPU plug to 2x PCI-E power plugs.

-----

In the mean-time... I tested with 3x 1060 cards for a few days (so only one SATA to 6-pin plug) and it was totally stable. So I put the 4th card in with another SATA to 6-pin plug (on a separate wire run from PSU).

The SATA to 6-pin MAY work... but I am a little concerned for the long-term. I am only doing that because the 8-pin to PCI-E plugs will take 1-2 weeks to arrive.
full member
Activity: 190
Merit: 100
June 16, 2017, 03:52:54 AM
#50
I have even cheaper:
I bought several Dell T5500,100$ each. They have plenty of Ram, 4 PCIe and 875W PSU. The case comes with a HDD support plate where you can put a GC.
with some risers and adapters you're setup for less than 150$

Link to Dell T5500s? I can't seem to find the one you're talking about.

https://www.ebay.fr/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2380057.m570.l1313.TR11.TRC1.A0.H0.Xdell+t5500.TRS0&_nkw=dell+t5500&_sacat=0
newbie
Activity: 19
Merit: 0
June 16, 2017, 03:36:27 AM
#49
I have even cheaper:
I bought several Dell T5500,100$ each. They have plenty of Ram, 4 PCIe and 875W PSU. The case comes with a HDD support plate where you can put a GC.
with some risers and adapters you're setup for less than 150$

Link to Dell T5500s? I can't seem to find the one you're talking about.
full member
Activity: 190
Merit: 100
June 16, 2017, 02:51:08 AM
#48
I have 3 t5500 under win7, no lag at all.
full member
Activity: 322
Merit: 233
June 15, 2017, 06:04:13 PM
#47
Question for you, trying to gauge if i got a bad t5500, i booted it up ran it through the paces of updating everything... but god this computer has a painfully slow lag between the time i try to do something to the moment it computes it on the screen... simple things like pressing start menu and trying to type windows update to search for it has like a 3-10 second delay... ive never had a xeon pc or dell pc like this so im not sure what to expect...just seems very lagging and slow.. when i check task manager its always at 99% cpu it seems...

A few of the refurbs I've built up were super slow for a while until they finished updating -- high CPU & Hard Disk usage while it did that.

hmm ok, well ive had it running for about 14hrs now letting it update or do its thing while i assemble a rig... the speed has not changed, i hope it gets better...
hero member
Activity: 714
Merit: 512
June 15, 2017, 03:30:36 PM
#46
Question for you, trying to gauge if i got a bad t5500, i booted it up ran it through the paces of updating everything... but god this computer has a painfully slow lag between the time i try to do something to the moment it computes it on the screen... simple things like pressing start menu and trying to type windows update to search for it has like a 3-10 second delay... ive never had a xeon pc or dell pc like this so im not sure what to expect...just seems very lagging and slow.. when i check task manager its always at 99% cpu it seems...

A few of the refurbs I've built up were super slow for a while until they finished updating -- high CPU & Hard Disk usage while it did that.
full member
Activity: 322
Merit: 233
June 15, 2017, 03:23:23 PM
#45
Question for you, trying to gauge if i got a bad t5500, i booted it up ran it through the paces of updating everything... but god this computer has a painfully slow lag between the time i try to do something to the moment it computes it on the screen... simple things like pressing start menu and trying to type windows update to search for it has like a 3-10 second delay... ive never had a xeon pc or dell pc like this so im not sure what to expect...just seems very lagging and slow.. when i check task manager its always at 99% cpu it seems...
hero member
Activity: 714
Merit: 512
June 15, 2017, 01:17:05 PM
#44
I'd not touch those b stock cards with a 10 foot pole man...

a 1 year warranty on a $200+ card is the definition of gambling, plus the card was refurbished to begin with, so they have a history of problems ?

last time i bought used video cards in bulk from a supposedly reputable seller online all my cards died after six months of heavy mining, they barely paid for themsleves are are now sitting in the trash
and I only paid 125 per card.  Paying 350+ is maddness man

I will be sure to update the forum if I have any issues with these cards and/or if I have NO issues as well.

Although, direct from the MFG a B-Stock and/or Refurbished product should be pretty good.

Rolling the dice on this batch I suppose -- all my other cards have been new.

One card that I've used so far had a DOA fan. I've got an RMA and it's going smoothly so far.

Otherwise these cards look basically brand new.
full member
Activity: 322
Merit: 233
June 14, 2017, 04:53:59 PM
#43

Question, the 875 said it comes with 2 x 8 pins and 2 x 6 pins, is this true?


yes but no ;-)

as I stated before the 8 pins are not PEG connectors, there motherboard cpu connectors.
One is used by the motherboard. The other can be used with an adapter.

Sorry i meant to say is the 2 x 8pins "Free" to be used, since mine doesnt have the same PSU, i didnt have one in front of me to know.. thinking of ordering another as i have 4 more GPU's coming......but you just answered what i was asking.. i forgot to add the free word to the statement... so now i kow if i get the 875w unit i will only have 1 8pin and 2 6pins... gonna just order another psu to run the GPU's tell i get adapters and connectors in... shipping from china is painfully slow when you have GPU's sitting on your workbench waiting to make money...

Random question: do you register all your GPU's online when you buy them for the warranty? ive never had to RMA a GPU to know how strict they are..
full member
Activity: 190
Merit: 100
June 14, 2017, 04:34:50 PM
#42

Question, the 875 said it comes with 2 x 8 pins and 2 x 6 pins, is this true?


yes but no ;-)

as I stated before the 8 pins are not PEG connectors, there motherboard cpu connectors.
One is used by the motherboard. The other can be used with an adapter.
full member
Activity: 322
Merit: 233
June 14, 2017, 12:56:11 PM
#41
I contacted the company that refurbishes them, he told me if it has the 875watt psu, then its the OEM one it came with from the factory, if it has the lower 550watt units, then its been replaced during the refurbished process, because that is all dell will replace them with currently... I have a new PSU coming in the mail today anyways that i ordered as a backup just to have on hand at all times to minimize downtime.. kinda glad i did... ill just jumper it and run it for the 4 GPU's ill run off the pc...

Question, the 875 said it comes with 2 x 8 pins and 2 x 6 pins, is this true?

I went ahead and ordered from china 250 x 6+2 connectors w/pins and 50 x 4pin molex so i can build my own cables in the future using high quality wire.. been running the amazon risers for 2 weeks now on my other rig and i noticed it had turned off on me when i got home and when i looked into it one of the sata power connections for the riser melted... probably cheap or loose connection... i wrapped all connections with electrical tape to ensure they stay tight.. but guess still just cheap cause the melting is on the back end of the sata connection that came with the riser...
hero member
Activity: 714
Merit: 512
June 14, 2017, 10:08:17 AM
#40
If the Dell T5500 holds up without any hiccups I'll start building those when I've used up these other 8 pcs of the Z400s.

----------

** EDIT 3/13/18 **

To save some reading to those new to the thread... The T5500s proved to be a bit too picky for me so I ended up sticking to HP Z400s.

Once dialed in the two T5500s that I have are performing well but I have to run GPU power a bit down or the systems will reboot presumably due to PSU limitations.
hero member
Activity: 714
Merit: 512
June 14, 2017, 10:07:18 AM
#39
Here are some of the HP Z400 pics :


* 4x Geforce 1060 in this one


* I have a few 100 pieces of wood like this laying around... it's free. So that's where I put my external GPUs.


* This is a completed adapter for the motherboard. I took it down to a single MOLEX plug vs. two in the Tutorial link (the adapters I took apart have a dual yellow wire).


* PSU isn't an exact fit but works no problem.


* I have eight more Z400 to build up once I finish the electrical wiring to support them & get the network switch installed.
hero member
Activity: 2744
Merit: 588
June 14, 2017, 09:44:00 AM
#38
The mods on this are endless.
But it sounds like a great lil project.
And a sweet way of building it.
Thanks for sharing!
hero member
Activity: 714
Merit: 512
June 14, 2017, 09:33:27 AM
#37
I got one of the T5500 systems. One card in on a SATA adapter running 24-hours so far.

I ordered the other adapters and will update as I get it up to 4x 1060s (decided to use 4x 1060 in it since I have more of those).



full member
Activity: 190
Merit: 100
June 14, 2017, 06:28:43 AM
#36

 A bit more digging indicates that a GeForce (!) 1070 ought to be good for 30 MH/s at 130 W or less (some are saying 90 W). 

130W is likely while dualmining ETH+SC or Eth+DCR.
full member
Activity: 190
Merit: 100
June 14, 2017, 06:24:31 AM
#35
silver 80+ that normal, but 550W that's not... myne are 875 and that also what dells specs says:
http://i.dell.com/sites/doccontent/shared-content/data-sheets/en/Documents/Dell-Precision-T5500-SpecSheet.pdf

Are you sure it's a T5500, because T3500 has 525 W Psu and they look alike ?
full member
Activity: 322
Merit: 233
June 13, 2017, 07:26:49 PM
#34
Hey guys, i got my T5500 today in the mail... Im not sure if the units ordered now will have the different PSU, but mine only has a silver 80 rated 550watt PSU unit in it, 1x 6 and 1x 8 cables only available for GPU, luckily one of my Gigabyte cards only needed 1 x8 and 1 x6 for power.. so i am about to boot it up for the first time before putting the GPU in to make sure its working... my unit is extremely ruff shape lol, the entire case is covered in what appears to be random scratch art as if children scratched crap into the case out of boredom.. but they included stuff that the listing didnt state, it had 2 keyboards, 2 mouses, and 2 dp to dvi adpaters for monitor.
hero member
Activity: 651
Merit: 501
My PGP Key: 92C7689C
June 12, 2017, 01:48:27 PM
#33
I think I've figured out something for getting back into GPU mining without spending too much.  About $375 at Newegg for the following:

- Biostar Racing Z170GT7 LGA1151 motherboard ($135 for open box)
- Intel Celeron G3920 ($48)
- 8 GB DDR4-2133 RAM ($60)
- 128 GB SATA M.2 SSD ($55)
- full-tower case ($79...make sure it has room for 8 slots, not 7)

I have power supplies sitting idle from previous Bitcoin mining efforts (Antminer S1s are only worthwhile as space heaters now Grin ), so I'll slap one of those in and call it good.  The motherboard has four slots suitable for holding GPUs (16x physical; one wired 16x, one wired 8x, two wired 4x), spaced appropriately so you can actually fit four GPUs without risers.  M.2 SSDs are bootable into Windows as well as Linux and don't require any extra cables from the motherboard or power supply to connect to it.  (A USB flashstick would be cheaper, but is slower and only bootable into Linux).  With this, I'd have space for four GPUs that's protected from having things smash into it (as with an open-frame setup), and without the issues that PCIe risers.

As for GPUs, it looks like RX470s and RX480s are unobtainium right now, as are the RX570s and RX580s that are supposed to replace them.  I have a 4GB RX460 I can pull out of my primary desktop, and it looks like I can buy more at a not-too-insane price.  They'll only do 12 MH/s each when mining Ethereum, but I figure I can run them for a while and replace them with something more powerful once they become available again.

Edit: On second thought, four RX460s (if I had them) would only add up to 44-48 MH/s in one box.  A bit more digging indicates that a GeForce (!) 1070 ought to be good for 30 MH/s at 130 W or less (some are saying 90 W).  I ran the numbers on one, and on the Radeon RX 570 and 580 at current prices, and it looks like the nVidia card wins this round.  Found a used one on eBay for $375; CoinWarz says it should pay for itself in less than two months.
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