Author

Topic: motherboard for a mining rig (Read 3568 times)

legendary
Activity: 1001
Merit: 1005
April 01, 2011, 03:02:41 PM
#8
Actually you can't install more than 3 cards in ATX case because it allows only 7 expansion slots and each card needs 2.
Moreover, you can't place them next to each other because one card will block the air intake or anoter.
You can use 14 expansion with http://www.negorack.ru/4u/NR--N406.html.
legendary
Activity: 3794
Merit: 1375
Armory Developer
April 01, 2011, 02:06:21 AM
#7
connect them with flexible x1 PCIe extenders.

That's what i was missing. thx.
full member
Activity: 154
Merit: 100
April 01, 2011, 01:53:31 AM
#6
I've seen dedicated mining machines with 4 video cards installed, but I can't seem to find cheap mobo with more than 2 PCI-E slots. Do you have to purchase a high end motherboard to run over 2 cards on the same pc or am i missing something?
Actually you can't install more than 3 cards in ATX case because it allows only 7 expansion slots and each card needs 2.
Moreover, you can't place them next to each other because one card will block the air intake or anoter.

I don't think he was concerned about fitting them in an ATX case, just the price of actually putting 4 on 1 board.

I currently have a 5870 smashed against a reference 5850 and it's working well enough. Temps on the 5850 stay around 62 at full load with a slight overclock (830). When I up the core voltage to stock 5870 specs, the temp approaches 70, but doesn't break it. That's running the card at 930 core though. Anyway, my point is that it's possible to put them right next to each other if you have positive case pressure and a nice exhaust fan directly above the cards. Or some other creative cooling approach. Then again I'm only doing it with 2 cards... so far. Oh and 60% fan speed on the cards might be loud for some!
full member
Activity: 126
Merit: 100
April 01, 2011, 01:05:55 AM
#5
I've seen dedicated mining machines with 4 video cards installed, but I can't seem to find cheap mobo with more than 2 PCI-E slots. Do you have to purchase a high end motherboard to run over 2 cards on the same pc or am i missing something?
Actually you can't install more than 3 cards in ATX case because it allows only 7 expansion slots and each card needs 2.
Moreover, you can't place them next to each other because one card will block the air intake or anoter.

You are looking not for "PCIe" slots, but for x16 PCIe slots, that's not needed for mining. People with 4 cards in one MB usually connect them with flexible x1 PCIe extenders. Some of them even work. That's better for cooling too.

Also you can't power 4 good cards with one normal PSU. You'll need an expensive one or two good ones.

And Windows doesn't supports more than 4 GPUs. 4x5970 is like 8 GPUs, too much Smiley

Are you not sure?  Grin Cheesy
hero member
Activity: 742
Merit: 500
March 31, 2011, 11:53:43 PM
#4
I've seen dedicated mining machines with 4 video cards installed, but I can't seem to find cheap mobo with more than 2 PCI-E slots. Do you have to purchase a high end motherboard to run over 2 cards on the same pc or am i missing something?
Actually you can't install more than 3 cards in ATX case because it allows only 7 expansion slots and each card needs 2.
Moreover, you can't place them next to each other because one card will block the air intake or anoter.

You are looking not for "PCIe" slots, but for x16 PCIe slots, that's not needed for mining. People with 4 cards in one MB usually connect them with flexible x1 PCIe extenders. Some of them even work. That's better for cooling too.

Also you can't power 4 good cards with one normal PSU. You'll need an expensive one or two good ones.

And Windows doesn't supports more than 4 GPUs. 4x5970 is like 8 GPUs, too much :)
hero member
Activity: 726
Merit: 500
March 31, 2011, 11:42:25 PM
#3
High end mobo, high end case, high end PSU, custom cooling.  You're better off sticking with two cards per machine and going with low-cost components.  Try not to skimp on PSU quality though.  A 650+ watt PSU from a trusted name like Corsair or Antec should do the trick.
newbie
Activity: 60
Merit: 0
March 31, 2011, 05:12:03 PM
#2
I've seen dedicated mining machines with 4 video cards installed, but I can't seem to find cheap mobo with more than 2 PCI-E slots. Do you have to purchase a high end motherboard to run over 2 cards on the same pc or am i missing something?

pretty much.
legendary
Activity: 3794
Merit: 1375
Armory Developer
March 31, 2011, 05:05:58 PM
#1
I've seen dedicated mining machines with 4 video cards installed, but I can't seem to find cheap mobo with more than 2 PCI-E slots. Do you have to purchase a high end motherboard to run over 2 cards on the same pc or am i missing something?
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