gabryrox -
I had a few suppliers from China via AliExpress on the powered risers - ensure your get the version 3 with USB3 type - I have very little issues with those. Avoid the ribbon type risers because the solder works on those are back-alley quality and are a fire-hazard.
Afternote:
While I have the multi-GPU config still in my mini-farm, all my new builds are riser-less on based on Biostar Z170 4xPCI slotters. Keeping it simple as possible.
Citronick, could you provide a link to a good Chinese supplier for the USB3 PCI risers ? dealing with the seller "approved by Citronick" will save time to many of us .
Another point I find difficult to understand : how can a 4GPU mining RIG be profitable ?! it's already very hard to ROI a 6GPU H81 rig !
Only 4 GPUs on a more expensive MB like the Biostar should be almost impossible to ROI, no ?
See this link. Pack of 10. Ensure to confirm USB cable length.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/10pcs-lot-PCI-E-PCI-E-Express-1X-to-16X-Riser-Card-USB-3-0-Extender/1679698470.html?spm=2114.13010608.0.0.Rhx98EWhy build rigs small?
Big PSUs are expensive. More GPUs more power, more heat, more power trips, more unknowns. Risers are finicky too. You need more cooling solutions - buy more fans. So any bigger you need more space.... so rent? lease? Cabling works? So you see monster rigs need alot more additional resources to keep it alive.
Although I still keep my 6 and 7 riggers, its just because I already invested in 1600w EVGA PSUs. Never again - its too expensive and harder to ROI, unless you have ASICs....
Now all my newer PSUs are max 1000w, cheaper 750-850w are ideal for 4xGPUs. Compact Z170 simplifies deployment. BIOSTAR Racing is a cheap and good mobo IMHO. Thanks to Philip who introduced this gem of board. Similar Z170 from ASrock and Asus are also good boards.
You need to save time.... to figure out and getting that one or two 6 x GPU rigs to work will take some much time, frustration and troubleshooting you lose mining time accumulating coins, cashing in if you can get good profit OR keep and wait, to trade & sell high in Poloniex for example.
I guess everyone will go through a unique mining experience, to be profitable spend little time troubleshooting and get mining to work fast. With this 4 slotters and killer miner app like Claymore's ZCASH, XMR and ETH miners... you already have speed. To be ahead of the game, you need accumulate and reach ROI as fast as possible.... any coin after that will be revenue less expenses = pure profit. Mining at any later stage under increased difficulty will get you less profit, longer ROI or even no ROI. So Timing is Everything.
I rather have 10 small rigs that I know will work and stable, VS. 5 x monster rigs that loses a card every now and then because of high power draw, overheated GPUs or intensity too high in Claymore's miners. No problems pushing Claymore to max settings on a 4xGPU rig.
The next step in the horizon is would they be a generic GPU "chip or ASICS" like BTC's A7 or S9, X11 or Scrypt miners. Personally, I dont think it will happen for ASIC-like generic GPUs, unless AMD puts RX480 chips x 100 on a special extension board.It will be good to have 1 big-ass miner that.... something like Panda Miner is trying to do. Then all you need is a couple of these and you are set.... until then I will be happy 4-slot rigs.
These are just my own humble opinions - I am sure many of you out there may have other approaches on how to be profitable in mining. Otherwise, forget mining and go straight to trading in Poloniex - you can also make good money this way without buying a single GPU.
Sorry for long post.
