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Build A Crypto Rig – All Parts Linked and ROI – Step by Step

First off, none of this is financial advice. I am a crazy person that should not be listened to, do so at your own risk. With that said…

Crypto Mining is a truly fun hobby for those that dig building computers for specific purposes and “letting them rip at 100% util”. Also Crypto Mining is the “Ultimate Dollar Cost Average” (after the rig pays itself off) ways to accumulate a crypto currency.

Once a rig is complete you can “set and forget” and note the deposits into your wallet.

Parts To Build Crypto Mining Rig

 

USB Sticks For Boot

A USB 32 GB Flash Drive is how most boot miners. Since most have a few of these laying around and they vary in price so greatly – leaving this out of expense. Just be sure to have one. Running several instances of HiveOS on USB 32 GB Flash Drive‘s and all is well.

GPU’s

This example build has numbers for both:

4 x 1060 and 4 x 1070ti in action in two different rigs. This is mining ETC with the Claymore miner. Using HiveOS.  A 1060 averaged 20 MH/s each and the 1070ti averaged 32 MH/s each.

4 x 1060 averaged 80 MH/s ($239.99 each. x 4 = $956)
4 x 1070ti averaged 128 MH/s ($469.99 each. x 4 = $1879.96)

The 1060’s seem to run best with no overclocking. The 1070ti’s like Memory clocked to 1400.

Overclocking for 1070ti’s (4 x 1070ti’s in OC settingsUsing HiveOS):

*Note: overclocking never ends, this is just the best found so far. Always run a GPU for 24 hours with no tuning to get a baseline to measure from.

ROI Per 4 x 1060 and 4 x 1070ti GPU Choice

There are of course many GPU’s out there. Using these two as examples since I have these actually running and can confirm.

This is from https://whattomine.com/coins/151-eth-ethash set for ETC mining. Scroll to the bottom to see a better idea (real numbers from running miners) of what the rigs can make.

Think this is calculating 10 cents per kWh, which is about as good as it gets. Find your kWh on bill, or lookup average here. At the time these examples were created mining isn’t the most profitable venture but it varies. Personally I am speculating on positive gains as ETC increases in value. Focusing on ETC here for an example, but there are endless coins to mine. WhatToMine is a great site to check on difficulty. Many miners watch and just on coins that have low difficulty and high profitability.

4 x 1060 ($239.99 each. x 4 = $956)

 

4 x 1070ti ($469.99 each. x 4 = $1879.96)

 

 

1060 GPU’s
Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1060 Windforce OC 3GB GDDR5 Graphics Card

1070ti GPU’s
EVGA GeForce GTX 1070 Ti FTW ULTRA SILENT GAMING, 8GB GDDR5, ACX 3.0 & RGB LED Graphics Card 08G-P4-6678-KR

Some supporting info on the 1070ti:

Nvidia 1070 TI the Best Mining GPU? Ever?! 4.7 Sols per watt
https://youtu.be/jtp4plChU9Y

Case

Most use Open Air Frames. Recently tried out a closed case. Each has pros and cons. The open air case seems to do fine without additional fans. The closed case needs fan (that come with it) running. At least the fans in the front. Also the case doesn’t have space to close… so it is a “kinda closed case”. I don’t really favor either. Thinking of making a top for the closed case and see how it cools. The two frames used shown below.

Closed


QNINE 4U GPU Miner Mining Rig Server Case,4U Metal Rackmount Case with 6 Fans Pre-Installed for Bitcoin Mining Miner Kit Unassembled Ethereum

Open Air


Veddha BleevIn 8 GPU Minercase V3C Aluminum Stackable Mining Rig Open Air Frame Case (BlackStorm)

If you used the Open Air case it only comes with a reset button. These make a nice touch:
Warmstor 2-Pack Computer Case LED Light Red Green ATX Power Supply Reset HDD Switch Cable 27-inch Long ATX Case Front Bezel Wire Kit

Closed and Open Air Side by Side

Most people these days are using the open air frames. A nice room fan blowing through the GPU’s will help keep all plenty cool (usually) if needed at all. This is a balance everyone needs to figure out.

GPU Risers (only needed for Open Air rig)

EXPLOMOS Latest PCI-E Express Cable 1X TO 16X Graphics Extension Ethereum ETH Mining Powered Riser Adapter Card, 60cm USB 3.0 Cable, 4 Solid Capacitors (VER 008S, 6-Pack)

CPU

Intel BX80677G3930 7th Gen Celeron Desktop Processors

Motherboard

GIGABYTE GA-H110-D3A (LGA1151/Intel H110/Cryptocurrency Mining/2xDDR4/6xPCIE/M.2/SATA/ATX Motherboard)

If you feel sparky and want to update the BOIS go for it:

Updating mining BIOS for gigabyte motherboards
https://www.gigabyte.com/MicroSite/462/mining.html

*Note: found that setting the “mining” mode on the motherboard just causes issues. Crazy.

RAM

Ballistix Sport LT 4GB Single DDR4 2400 MT/s (PC4-19200) DIMM 288-Pin – BLS4G4D240FSE (Red)

PSU

CORSAIR HX Series, HX1200, 1200 Watt, Fully Modular Power Supply, 80+ Platinum Certified

I got the biggest because may add more GPU’s. Might be able to get away with the 750 or 850 model. The 4 x 1070ti rig while mining ETC is pulling 650 Watts, and RVN 800 Watts.

Tally of Parts

Essential Parts

Case

Take your pick. $53 or $99

 

GPU’s

Endless choices out there. For a basic rig these help get an idea of price with 4. Even one GPU is a mining rig.

1060

Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1060 Windforce OC 3GB GDDR5 Graphics Card

1070ti

EVGA GeForce GTX 1070 Ti FTW ULTRA SILENT GAMING, 8GB GDDR5, ACX 3.0 & RGB LED Graphics Card 08G-P4-6678-KR

Rig Totals

Open Air Case
Essentials $436.55 $436.55
Enclosure $53.00 $99.00
Total $489.55 $535.55
GPU
1060 $1,077.79 $1,077.79
1070ti $1,943.04 $1,943.04
Open Air Case
1060 Rig Total $1,567.34 $1,613.34
1070ti Rig Total $2,432.59 $2,478.59

Take your pick. It comes down to how much MH/s power you want. It is easiest to have all the same cards in a rig.

Both Miners In Action Mining ETC

This is using the https://etc.ethermine.org/pool

For live stats anytime click here https://etc.ethermine.org/miners/97d9e389f92c3288bc2a84ebad7f445c5921ede6/dashboard

Build Notes

A nice to have in seeing exactly how much a rig is pulling P3 P4400 Kill A Watt Electricity Usage Monitor

The pictures below are taken while building Close Case. Steps are relevant for Closed and Open Case setups. These are hardly exhaustive.

Chose Case

Motherboard Starts The Show

CPU

RAM

PSU

Start Plugging Things In

Don’t Miss These Two

Power Risers with Molex Cables

Fans

Run power to fans if building with case.

The middle fan how had to be removed. Not enough space (although it may be possible with a good deal of effort). This picture is with the large fans in front. I switched the middle fans with the front. Cooling was fine and much quieter. Also so far this rig does not have a lid. Remember the case isn’t going to close. The whole case idea is nice but doesn’t work as expected. I still like it. With a lid made and the stronger fans in front it’s a wind tunnel in the extreme.

It Is Built, Now What?

I am currently running HiveOS on all my rigs. Very nice way to get rolling. For this rig note that the GPU plugged into the “Long PCI Slot” will be monitor out by default. Have not had the best luck making changes to this motherboard, so I leave it all “as is out of the box”.

How to Install and Mine Cryptocurrency With Hive OS

HiveOS Wallet Config Example for ETC

You will need an ETC wallet address to aim at.

-POOL: us1-etc.ethermine.org:4444, WALLET: %EWAL%, WORKER: %WORKER_NAME%, PSW: x

Hope this gets you started. Feel free to contact from with questions via the contact form.

Published inCrypto Mining

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