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Basic knowledge of computer hardware, things you need to know before you start your mining business.
Hardware
Computer hardware consists of physical components that create a computer system or a Personal Computer (PC). The major computer components are:
CPU
The CPU (central processing unit) is the brain of a computer—the electronic circuitry within a computer that carries out the instructions of a computer program by performing the basic arithmetic, logical, control and input/output (I/O) operations specified by the instructions
The CPU is connected to the motherboard through the designated CPU socket. Each generation of CPU has a different placement socket as the CPU requires different physical circuits that interact with it. For instance, the 5th generation Intel processors use the LGA 1150 socket, which is also known as Socket H3, and the 6th generation use the LGA 1151 socket. Socket FM2+ (FM2b) is a CPU socket used by AMD's desktop "Kaveri" APUs and AM3+ is a modification of the AM3 Socket designed for CPUs, which uses the AMD Bulldozer micro architecture and retains compatibility with AM3 .
In a GPU mining rig or Ethereum mining rig, the CPU doesn’t play an important role as the mining is done by the GPUs and the CPU stays idle most of the time. So, a lowpowered and relatively cheap CPU would be adequate.
Tips on buying a CPU for an Ethereum mining rig:
1. The CPU should be low powered and have the minimum TDP possible, as the CPU itself consumes power and dissipates heat even when it’s idle. Having a lower TDP saves some energy and reduces heat generation.
2. CPUs with more than two physical cores are not necessary for mining purposes.Spending money on something that is more powerful than a dual core Intel CPU or a quad core AMD CPU is wasting money. The best Intel options are the Pentium and Celeron series, and the best AMD options are Athlons.
3.The CPU must be compatible with the chosen motherboard. Usually, selection of the CPU is of least importance on a GPU mining rig. If you are going to buy a brand-new CPU, Intel sockets older than 1151 or 1150 (Gen. 4 th) are not recommended because of their excessive electrical consumption compared with the 5th, 6 th, and 7th Intel chipsets. AMD platforms are currently out of date, having been produced since 2012. The new Zen technology will be available in 2017, so buying a new AMD base system is not recommended at present unless you are offered a special price.
4. So, the CPU must be purchased after deciding about the motherboard. Always remember in a GPU mining rig, first we decide about the number and model of the GPU; after that we choose the right motherboard, then CPU and then the required PSU.
5. A price of ~$40 would be appropriate for the Intel 1150 socket, Intel Celeron G1840 Dual Core CPU or similar CPU. The recommended CPU with an Intel 1151 socket is Celeron G3900 and this has a similar specification and price to the G1840.
Motherboard or Mainboard
The motherboard is the main printed circuit board (PCB) of a computer on which all of the internal computer components are installed. Its purpose is to create a communicative platform for all of the computer hardware. A typical computer motherboard has a place for the CPU, RAM and GPU through different designated slots. Storage devices such as SSD, HDD and other drives usually connect through SATA (on most PCs) ports and cables or on new motherboards through a M.2 slot.
We are not concerned in detail with the features and capabilities of a motherboard in a mining rig. There are only two features that are important: 1. The number of available PCIE slots to accommodate the GPUs. 2. The chipset and variation of the motherboard—what type of CPU and RAM can be supported. Motherboards come in different sizes, but in a GPU mining rig, we usually use a full-size ATX motherboard that has 4 to 6 available PCIE slots2.
Tips on buying a Motherboard for an Ethereum mining rig
- The more PCIE slots, the better. As the GPUs are connected to the motherboard through PCIE slots, the motherboard must have at least the same number of available PCIE slots as the desired number of GPUs in your system. In a mining rig, even a PCIE X1 works fine and offers enough bandwidth for GPU mining. So, the total number of available PCIE slots is a combination of all the PCIE slots types. Some motherboards have a combination of X16, X8, X4 and X1. It’s always better to get a motherboard that has one or more available PCIE slots more than you require at the moment as this allows you to add more GPUs in the future ifyou need to.
- Buy the newest equipment that you can. If you are planning to build a new system, Intel, 1150 and 1151 sockets are recommended. At the moment, there may be some good deals on the market for 1150 motherboards. This motherboard works with the cheaper DDR3 RAM types whereas the 1151 motherboard usually requires DDR4 RAM types (there are only a few 1151 motherboards that work with DDR3). However, 1151 and the 6 th generation Intel CPUs are slightly more efficient.
Physical memory or RAM
Random access memory (RAM) is the best-known form of computer memory. The RAM is connected through motherboard memory slots, and it is the computer’stemporary fast working storage place. When a computer loads, and reads a program, all the data are transferred and stored in the memory. The data are then sent to be processed by the CPU and GPU, and after processing, the data are again stored back in the RAM. So, this memory is a temporary buffer that lets data queue there and prepare for the next stage.
In a GPU mining rig, the RAM component is comparatively the least important of the internal components. Usually, 8 GB of memory is enough for a five to six GPU mining rig (although 4 GB may work fine!). The RAM selection should be compatible with the motherboard; older motherboards used to use DDR2, but AM3+, 1155, 1150 and a few 1151 socket motherboards use DDR3 memories. The 1151 or 6th generation Intel CPUs mostly use DDR4 RAMs. The speed of the RAM isn’t important at all for mining purposes, so buying a cheaper option is better regardless of speed—1333 MHz and above does the job.
Storage devices, SSD, HDD, DVD drives
A data storage device is a device for recording (storing) information (data). In a personal computer, the storage device is where the operating system, program’s data and personal information are stored. The HDD (hard disk drive) has many solid rotating disks that record the data magnetically, and the SSD (solid state drive) contains memory chips and have no moving parts.
In a GPU mining rig, the storage device has two purposes:
- Providing a running operating system, usually Microsoft Windows, Linux family or Mac OS
- Allowing the mining program to be installed and run. In a network-mining or pool-mining system, a small amount of storage is required. But a solo-mining rig requires a pretty big storage capacity. The Current Blockchain Size of Ethereum in June 2016 was more than 60 GB with some mining clients (mining programs) and is expected to grow by more than 5 GB per month.
Tips on buying a Storage Drive for an Ethereum mining rig
- Use a small SSD in pool mining. An SSD is more reliable and harder to break as it does not have any moving parts that eventually will wear out. Some of the SSDs can handle up to 700 Terabytes of writing before they die. A good 64 GB or 128 GB SSD, which now costs around $50—128 GB, is adequate for an operating system and mining program in a pool-mining application.
- Use a 1 TB HDD in a solo-mining rig. A reliable 1 TB HDD is more than enough for a mining rig. Furthermore, a 1 TB HDD is usually the minimum capacity that can be bought these days. A 1 TB HDD costs around $50. I recommend Samsung 2.5-Inch 120 GB 850 EVO and SanDisk SSD Plus 120 GB.
- Don’t buy used storage when the rig is important for you! If the storage fails, the mining operation will stop and it will take time to recover the system. This failure is unlike the breakdown of the other components, such as GPUs, PSU, CPU, RAM. Even the motherboard can be replaced rather quickly without a significant loss in operating time. The operating system and mining software are installed on the storage device, and usually there is only one physical drive being used on a mining rig (unlike a server computer which utilizes multiple drives as the backup).So, if the mining rig is running 24/7, or operated remotely without regular supervision, it is vital that you use a reliable and therefore new storage—second-hand HDDs or SDDs should be totally avoided.
GPU or VGA
The GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) is a computer component specialized for display functions. The GPU renders images, animations and videos for the computer's screen. GPUs are located on plug-in cards and are placed in PCI Express. There are two major producers of video cards or GPUs—Nvidia with about 65% of the discrete GPU-market share in the second quarter of 2016, and AMD with 35% of the market .
A graphics card is the most important part in a GPU mining rig while all of the hard work and mining tasks are done by the GPU rendering power (unlike a regular desktop or workstation computer in which the CPU is also very active and important). A mining software or client utilizes 100% of the GPU power and therefore the maximum designed TDP of the GPU would be reached.
This matter makes the GPU consume its maximum designed electrical energy and consequently dissipates this consumed energy in the form of heat. If the TDP were lower, the electrical power consumption and generated heat would also be lower. However, in a particular generation of GPU (when the manufacturing technology and design are the same), for instance, in AMD Radeon RX 400s series (RX 480: 150 watts, RX 470: 120 watts and RX 460: 75), a lower TDP would mean a lower graphical computational power. Two different generations of GPUs may therefore have different TDP design but similar computational power. As the production technology advances and microcontrollers become smaller and more optimized, they require less energy to do the same operation. What could be processed in a certain time with a 250 watt GPU in 2014, may be achieved with a newer GPU with 150 watts of TDP in 2016.
Tips on buying a GPU for a mining rig
- GPUs with 3 GB RAM or more. At the moment, Ethereum mining clients require more than 2 GB of available memory in the GPU. GPUs with 2 GB can’t mine directly and would need to be modified on the client, but eventually the amount of memory will not be enough. Thus, the DAG started at 1 GB at the time of the Frontier launch, and increased by approximately 0.73 times per year. The size is therefore roughly 1.35GB as of mid-January 2016. Following the same crude approximation:the 2 GB threshold would have been reached around mid-December 2016 and the 3 GB threshold mid-April 2018. The 4 GB threshold would be reached around mid-September 2019. At the moment, the only new generation of GPUs from AMD that has 2 GB variants is RX 460, so you will need to avoid buying that card for Ethereum mining purposes. However, the 4 GB variant works fine.
2. Always buy a GPU with an open-air design. - Buy a GPU with a backplate. As of today, the price of a card with or without the backplate are very similar. A backplate offers extra protection, rigidity and heat dissipation options.
- Always buy the same model and same brand of a GPU for a mining rig. Do not mix different brands. In my experience, the new AMD RX 400 series have problems with mining clients while working on different frequencies and different fan speeds. Often, I found that controlling the frequency and fan speed using software like “MSI after Burner”, results in crashes or freezing of the system.
- Be on the lookout for local sales and special offers. From time to time, graphics cards are sold at a discounted price online, but unfortunately most of the offers are in the USA. For instance, on newegg.com, at the end of February 2017,you could buy an RX 480 ARMOR 4G OC for $164.99 after a $20.00 rebate, which is almost $50 lower than regular price.
Power Supply Unit (PSU)
A power supply unit (or PSU) converts the mains AC electricity (alternative current) to a low-voltage regulated DC power supply for the internal components of a computer . The most modern desktop personal computer power supplies conform to the ATX6 specification, which covers both the form factor (shape and size of the PSU) and voltage tolerances. While an ATX power supply is connected to the mains supply, it always provides a 5-volt standby (5VSB) voltage so that the standby functions on the computer and certain peripherals are powered. ATX power supplies are turned on and off by a signal from the motherboard. They also provide a signal to the motherboard to indicate when the DC voltages are within specification, so that the computer is able to safely power up and boot.
Many ATX PSUs which are available to buy, do comply with the ATX standard, revision 2.31, which was established in mid-2008. The compliant standard is always mentioned on the product page, in the product’s details or in the description section. The latest standard revision of ATX PSU is the “Specific Guidelines version 2.4”, which was introduced in April 2013(not so new!)
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This is the EVGA SuperNOVA 1000 P2 Power Supply, with an efficiency of 80 Platinum. It will set you back ~$180, and is one of the best choices for a GPU mining rig
An Ethereum mining rig with the following components:
-> Motherboard: Asrock B150A-X1 Intel 1151
-> CPU: Intel Celeron G3900 2.8 GHz LGA1151 2 MB 51W TDP
-> RAM: Crucial 8 GB CL16 DDR4 DIMM Memory Module
->PSU: Thermaltake Toughpower Grand 1050 W
->GPU: 5 units of AMD Radeon RX 480 4 GB
Part 3 coming soon In next part we will learn how to Configuration of a GPU mining rig.
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