Hardware Purchase Help | Bitcointalksearch.org

Supercrit

newbie

Activity: 41

Merit: 0

Quote from: cicada on July 28, 2011, 04:08:14 PM

Quote from: OmegaNemesis28 on July 28, 2011, 03:59:22 PM

I've read that too but doesn't the 6870 reference get more shaders through a bios mod or something that get it similar if not more than the 5850?

That's the 6950 with it's 1408 shaders, flashable to be a 6970 with 1536 shaders.

Except it's a huge gamble whether or not the shaders will be unlockable or function, even on a reference board. I have 4 XFX 1GB 6950's and not a single one opened up locked shaders for me.

Don't go for the 6950 counting on making it a 6970, the odds are well against you.

I have 2 sapphire reference 6950s both are successfully unlocked, and they are from different sellers, unlocking a reference 2GB is like a walk in the park, success rate is huge.
http://www.techpowerup.com/articles/overclocking/vidcard/159
Also 1GB version is NOT unlockable unless you are good at opening up the card to do some hardware mod.

OmegaNemesis28

sr. member

Activity: 280

Merit: 250

Quote from: release on July 29, 2011, 01:28:38 AM

the jump from 80plus (80%) to 80plusgold (87.5%) saves you $70 per year. This is at 10cents per kwh. I recommend getting a 80plus gold psu because it saves tons more in the long run.

My 1kw is already a gold.

release

member

Activity: 184

Merit: 14

the jump from 80plus (80%) to 80plusgold (87.5%) saves you $70 per year. This is at 10cents per kwh. I recommend getting a 80plus gold psu because it saves tons more in the long run.

OmegaNemesis28

sr. member

Activity: 280

Merit: 250

Quote from: cicada on July 28, 2011, 09:43:56 PM

You could go the route I'm taking and add a cheap secondary PSU. I'm adding a Corsair AX430 to each of my rigs to power a couple 5830s.

There are two problems with that:
1)The cost of another PSU would add another week of mining to the whole profit.
2)I have no idea where I would put that PSU in my case. I already have a pretty filled Lian Li V2000 as it is :p

BkkCoins

hero member

Activity: 784

Merit: 1009

firstbits:1MinerQ

Quote from: cicada on July 28, 2011, 09:43:56 PM

You could go the route I'm taking and add a cheap secondary PSU. I'm adding a Corsair AX430 to each of my rigs to power a couple 5830s.

CX430 I think you mean...

cicada

full member

Activity: 196

Merit: 100

You could go the route I'm taking and add a cheap secondary PSU. I'm adding a Corsair AX430 to each of my rigs to power a couple 5830s.

pbj sammich

sr. member

Activity: 272

Merit: 250

Fighting Liquid with Liquid

Quote from: OmegaNemesis28 on July 28, 2011, 07:53:42 PM

I've tried multiple PSU calculators and they all come out to around 700-800W with 90-100% load so I just assumed :p
I have a Core i7 Xeon overclocked to 4.5ghz, 6GB of RAM, 4x WD Green 1TBs, 2x SSDs, a PCI sound card, a USB 3.0 PCI-E host, about 5 USB ports in use, 8x 120mm fans, a water pump, and 3x CCFLs.

My old 1kw PSU died a month back while bitmining. I surely believe it was old age as it was a 4-5 year old Silverstone PSU, but I could never be quite sure due to the odd symptoms it was giving. So I just want to be safe before throwing another video card in :p

Oh is that all... Grin

OmegaNemesis28

sr. member

Activity: 280

Merit: 250

Quote from: cicada on July 28, 2011, 04:13:39 PM

Quote from: OmegaNemesis28 on July 28, 2011, 04:10:08 PM

If I get a 5850 and put it in the same rig as my 6990, would my 1kw PSU support them both mining? I know with the setup I have the 6990 the max load would be around 800W give or take. If the 5850 uses 150w at full, it'd be around 950w load on my PSU which should work but is it safe?

O.o

800W for a single 6990 system? What the hell have you got, a cuisinard? /spaceballs

Seriously though what do you have in there? A single 6990 has a TDP ~400W - you should be able to run two in a 1KW envelope.

I've tried multiple PSU calculators and they all come out to around 700-800W with 90-100% load so I just assumed :p
I have a Core i7 Xeon overclocked to 4.5ghz, 6GB of RAM, 4x WD Green 1TBs, 2x SSDs, a PCI sound card, a USB 3.0 PCI-E host, about 5 USB ports in use, 8x 120mm fans, a water pump, and 3x CCFLs.

My old 1kw PSU died a month back while bitmining. I surely believe it was old age as it was a 4-5 year old Silverstone PSU, but I could never be quite sure due to the odd symptoms it was giving. So I just want to be safe before throwing another video card in :p

cicada

full member

Activity: 196

Merit: 100

Quote from: OmegaNemesis28 on July 28, 2011, 04:10:08 PM

If I get a 5850 and put it in the same rig as my 6990, would my 1kw PSU support them both mining? I know with the setup I have the 6990 the max load would be around 800W give or take. If the 5850 uses 150w at full, it'd be around 950w load on my PSU which should work but is it safe?

O.o

800W for a single 6990 system? What the hell have you got, a cuisinard? /spaceballs

Seriously though what do you have in there? A single 6990 has a TDP ~400W - you should be able to run two in a 1KW envelope.

OmegaNemesis28

sr. member

Activity: 280

Merit: 250

Quote from: cicada on July 28, 2011, 04:08:14 PM

Quote from: OmegaNemesis28 on July 28, 2011, 03:59:22 PM

I've read that too but doesn't the 6870 reference get more shaders through a bios mod or something that get it similar if not more than the 5850?

That's the 6950 with it's 1408 shaders, flashable to be a 6970 with 1536 shaders.

Except it's a huge gamble whether or not the shaders will be unlockable or function, even on a reference board. I have 4 XFX 1GB 6950's and not a single one opened up locked shaders for me.

Don't go for the 6950 counting on making it a 6970, the odds are well against you.

ah ok thank you for the clarification.

If I get a 5850 and put it in the same rig as my 6990, would my 1kw PSU support them both mining? I know with the setup I have the 6990 the max load would be around 800W give or take. If the 5850 uses 150w at full, it'd be around 950w load on my PSU which should work but is it safe?

cicada

full member

Activity: 196

Merit: 100

Quote from: OmegaNemesis28 on July 28, 2011, 03:59:22 PM

I've read that too but doesn't the 6870 reference get more shaders through a bios mod or something that get it similar if not more than the 5850?

That's the 6950 with it's 1408 shaders, flashable to be a 6970 with 1536 shaders.

Except it's a huge gamble whether or not the shaders will be unlockable or function, even on a reference board. I have 4 XFX 1GB 6950's and not a single one opened up locked shaders for me.

Don't go for the 6950 counting on making it a 6970, the odds are well against you.

OmegaNemesis28

sr. member

Activity: 280

Merit: 250

Quote from: mike678 on July 28, 2011, 03:24:28 PM

Quote from: OmegaNemesis28 on July 28, 2011, 03:13:08 PM

Sapphire 5850 1GB for $176
http://www.ncixus.com/products/60714/11162-15-20G/SAPPHIRE/

Sapphire 6850 1GB for $145
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102908&nm_mc=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r&cm_mmc=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r-_-Video+Cards-_-Sapphire+Tech-_-14102908

I can get a a Sapphire reference with voltage control and aftermarket cooling 6870 1GB for $180
or
a Sapphire 6950 2GB for $265.

Whats the best deal here? I mean, the 6870 for $180 sounds like a great deal especially because its reference but what about the 5850? The 6850 is cheaper too. I could get 2 6850s over the 6950.

The 68xx's are garbage for mining at the price point they are being sold at. They would need to be around 100-130 to be even considerable. Go with the 5850 sapphire for 176. People have said multiple times that the sapphire can go 408 on stock voltage.

I've read that too but doesn't the 6870 reference get more shaders through a bios mod or something that get it similar if not more than the 5850?

mike678

full member

Activity: 182

Merit: 100

Quote from: OmegaNemesis28 on July 28, 2011, 03:13:08 PM

Sapphire 5850 1GB for $176
http://www.ncixus.com/products/60714/11162-15-20G/SAPPHIRE/

Sapphire 6850 1GB for $145
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102908&nm_mc=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r&cm_mmc=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r-_-Video+Cards-_-Sapphire+Tech-_-14102908

I can get a a Sapphire reference with voltage control and aftermarket cooling 6870 1GB for $180
or
a Sapphire 6950 2GB for $265.

Whats the best deal here? I mean, the 6870 for $180 sounds like a great deal especially because its reference but what about the 5850? The 6850 is cheaper too. I could get 2 6850s over the 6950.

The 68xx's are garbage for mining at the price point they are being sold at. They would need to be around 100-130 to be even considerable. Go with the 5850 sapphire for 176. People have said multiple times that the sapphire can go 408 on stock voltage.

Morebitcoinsplease

member

Activity: 84

Merit: 10

Quote from: OmegaNemesis28 on July 28, 2011, 03:13:08 PM

Sapphire 5850 1GB for $176
http://www.ncixus.com/products/60714/11162-15-20G/SAPPHIRE/

Sapphire 6850 1GB for $145
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102908&nm_mc=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r&cm_mmc=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r-_-Video+Cards-_-Sapphire+Tech-_-14102908

I can get a a Sapphire reference with voltage control and aftermarket cooling 6870 1GB for $180
or
a Sapphire 6950 2GB for $265.

Whats the best deal here? I mean, the 6870 for $180 sounds like a great deal especially because its reference but what about the 5850? The 6850 is cheaper too. I could get 2 6850s over the 6950.

I would check here (below) and base it on the amount of Mhashs you can produce.
https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Mining_hardware_comparison

OmegaNemesis28

sr. member

Activity: 280

Merit: 250

Sapphire 5850 1GB for $176
http://www.ncixus.com/products/60714/11162-15-20G/SAPPHIRE/

Sapphire 6850 1GB for $145
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102908&nm_mc=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r&cm_mmc=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r-_-Video+Cards-_-Sapphire+Tech-_-14102908

I can get a a Sapphire reference with voltage control and aftermarket cooling 6870 1GB for $180
or
a Sapphire 6950 2GB for $265.

Whats the best deal here? I mean, the 6870 for $180 sounds like a great deal especially because its reference but what about the 5850? The 6850 is cheaper too. I could get 2 6850s over the 6950.

Topic: Hardware Purchase Help (Read 1513 times)