Topic: My second ZEC + XMR+ ETH thread builds info links thoughts and photos. - page 98. (Read 147923 times)

The one major problem with "cloning" under LINUX is the xorg.conf file - if the cards don't end up on the same pci-E addresses, it messes up.

 Oddly enough, they do NOT have to be the same model card, or even all that close, as long as the card at each address can use the same driver - so any AMD card HD7750 and up if you're using recent enough drivers can replace any other in that group, and pretty much any NVidia GTX-series card (though if you're using drivers recent enough to support the 10xx series you ARE somewhat limited in HOW OLD you can go) form a group.


 Autostart is a lot easier to set up if you use the XFCE desktop instead of the Ubuntu-default "Trinity" thing - XFCE makes "autostart AFTER X has started up" a very easy thing to set up, which is critical for some software that needs the X drivers running before *IT* starts.

I have started to un-lazy myself to learn Ubuntu, with Claymore's miner - with auto launch, central config.txt etc.

I will share the Linux image once I am done. This will be the ultimate clone strategy for fast installation.

In the end, I ended up with Win 7, 8.1 and Win 10 builds for "easy" management. I hate Win 10 but no choice on getting the RX480s a smoother mining operation.

you are right  the three biostar rigs  could clone.

 I also have 2 gigabyte b75m builds that could clone.

that would be 16 of my 24 cards.

 I am just not familiar with linux  and a bit lazy to do the learning curve.

I don't mind the windows 7 builds.  

I grabbed 20 windows 7 pro coa's a while back and still have some left.

 Given that you're building essentially identical rigs, you get one Ubuntu setup working, clone it to a USB stick, the clone the rest FROM that stick - makes for a VERY fast system setup.

 Technically, you could do the same with Windows, but the "authentication" stuff makes that a cast iron PAIN to get working fully.

all are 60-73c

most of the issues of heat are solved due to no overclocks  setting wattman to -20 to -32 power and the fans to  high limits like 3000-5000  the temps to  65c - 73c.


 plus all are open air rigs.


Also the front card runs coolest the back card second coolest the two center warmest.

  that is true with the two reference rx 480 builds.   finally no card has a back plate



the last build is rx 470's   it has staggered msi 2 fan cards and 1 fan sapphire cards.  the msi do not have back plates  the sapphires do

it is critical to not do 4 cards with back plates.



I don't dual mine .  I don't over clock .  I lower power limits .

@philipma1957 What are the operating temps at your 4 card rigs? Aren't they too close ? I know that stock rx 470-480 can get pretty hot when mining ETH. How did you solve that problem?

make sure you get a 64 bit.  the top seller seems fine.

I have a sata style dvd rom to load the os as a usb style dvd rom won't load windows 7 on every new chipset

this type should work

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ASUS-Black-SATA-DVD-ROM-Drive-Model-DVD-E818AAT-DVD-E818AAT-BLK-B-GE-/291286892397?


http://www.ebay.com/itm/LG-Internal-SATA-24x-DVD-CD-R-RW-DL-Disc-Burner-Re-Writer-Drive-OEM-Bulk-/161982443055?

Thanks Lone & Phil... I would actually prefer to use Windows 7 over any other OS since I have been running W7 Pro 64-bit on my main PC for 4+ years and it's been my favorite OS to date.  I guess a few things I read were more about Windows 10 not being so great for mining, so I am highly inclined to go the W7 route since I really have no desire to learn a new OS on top of all of this.

As far as obtaining a relatively cheap license... looks like there are several well-reviewed sellers on ebay selling W7 Pro 64-bit OEM version for around $40 like the ones below.  Any concerns with these or do you have a better source?  

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Microsoft-Windows-7-Pro-64-32-Bit-Full-Version-Upgrade-SP1-NEW/162170326544?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20131003132420%26meid%3Df2fbda5819bf4100881aca4f232ee2c3%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D121971805513

http://www.ebay.com/itm/121971805513?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Guys,

If somebody have RX 380 XFX Reference card. Could you please save BIOS with GPU-Z and upload somewhere?

I need it to re-flash my card to original one

Thank you!

I think quite a few in this thread use Windows. Ever since the new crimson software no longer requires a signed driver, I'm sticking with Windows. I have a Linux install on a partition just in case I need to ever switch. It's just easier to set everything up on Windows.

If you go Linux, I think there is more support out there for 16.xx

Thanks to Phil and everyone that provided expert advice in this thread, I have finally got all of the components ordered for my first GPU mining rig!  I already have 2 MSI RX 470's from Amazon, and have a 3rd one coming with the rest of the gear I just ordered from NewEgg yesterday.  Luckily, my colleague did come through with that free i7-6800K, so I ended up ordering this ASRock X99 MoBo:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157543&cm_re=ASRock_x99-_-13-157-543-_-Product

Very curious to see what kind of hash-rate that CPU will provide on XMR. I think the minimum will be about 400 but really hoping it's more in the range of ~600 or so... but time will tell.

I ended up getting the 1kw version of the Rosewill Quark series Plat PSU. I might have been able to get by with the 850W version, but for only an extra $10, it seemed like a no-brainer since now I will be able to expand from 3 GPU's to this Mobo's max of 5 without any power whatsoever.

I also ended up going with this open ATX bench. I think I saw something similar in one of Phil's pics but someone else I believe also recommended this, so thanks!  I actually think this will be easier than trying to cram everything into an expensive ATX case and definitely easier to access for adding additional cards.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811353001

Can I assume that just pointing and oscillating or box type fan at this will work sufficiently for cooling?

Finally, I obviously now need to start thinking about which OS i want to use for this rig. Originally, I was just going to use Windows 10, since I have only used Windows and 10 seems to be the most stable version.  However, after doing some research, it seems that Linux Ubuntu is by far the preferred OS for mining. Is that what Phil and most of the people on this thread are on?  If so, do you have a recommendation as far as version goes?  Looks like it's either 14.04.5 or 16.04.1, as 15 appears to be EOL'd.  I did notice on MinerGate's site that at least its miner is supposedly 60% more productive with any Ubuntu version 15 or later (vs it's v14 software).

Usually, I would just opt for the most recent version, but any advice would be appreciated. Any concerns at all with v16.04.1? Thanks again to everyone!

what kind of power draw do you have with the 470s?

im doing 107 mhs at 490watts at the wall thats 5 470s

Yes I did.  I spent all day switching cards around and I managed to get four rx 470s to run on that board.

see below and note the empty rig.

I now have 8 rigs doing 23 boards. 

I have an empty rig this faces me with an interesting chance to shrink some of my rigs.

I could buy a fourth biostar mobo and sell some small 2 card mobo setup to mine.

Hey Phil now that you replaced the cpu and found you did not short the biostar z170 mobo did you figure out how to get it to do the fourth card?

My best system tweaked gets 590-610 watts at the k-watt meter . This is everything .

are those total system pulls or just the cards minus the system power draw?

I have yet to see a k-watt reading that show rx 480 cards doing much under 6 watts an mh 590 for 100mh is the best I do at the kwatt meter.  that is 5.9 watts per mh. on a plat psu .

if you can do 1040watts for 165 mh  which is 6.3 w/mhz that is one of the best numbers around.  did you alter the bios?

to anyone with links that beat 5.9watts per mh at the k-watt meter please post link with a photo.

I do not say it can be done I just have not seen one  say 4 rx 480s at 100 mh and 550 watts at the wall

or 6 rx 480s at 150 mh and 825 watts at the wall.

I have 6X390 using 1040W from the wall with platinum PSU. It hash about 165 MH/s. So that is 6.3W/MHz. I think your 480 should do much better.

Is it possible to mix risers and use the 4 slots on that board? I am guessing that the card blocks the riser?