Advice on my beginners BTC GPU mining machine

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flamboastin

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Oct 21, 2013
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So I'm looking to build a BTC mining machine.. I know mining has taken a hit and is getting less and less viable for a single machine to pull off, but I'm still interested.. I know I probably will never recover the cost of building my mining machine, but as a enthusiast to the whole thing I'd just like to give mining a shot..

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3xJxW
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3xJxW/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3xJxW/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($948.98 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H110 94.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($109.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock X79 Extreme6 ATX LGA2011 Motherboard ($224.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: PNY Optima 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($58.10 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($80.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 295X2 8GB Video Card (2-Way CrossFire) ($1507.57 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 295X2 8GB Video Card (2-Way CrossFire) ($1507.57 @ Newegg)
Case: Azza Genesis 9000 (Black) ATX Full Tower Case ($134.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA 1300 G2 1300W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($184.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($84.99 @ NCIX US)
Monitor: LG 22EN43T-B 21.5" Monitor ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $5076.18
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-04-24 16:26 EDT-0400)

I also have some questions.. How important is RAM for a mining rig? I know you want AMD GPU's for GPU mining, but what about a CPU for GPU mining? Do I need that big beefy CPU? Should I get a AMD CPU? Also, I know the 295X2's are relatively new, but does anyone know if the cooling system that comes with them will be adequate enough for a build like this?

Any help/advice is appreciated!
 
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flamboastin

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Oct 21, 2013
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I would be joining a mining pool more then likely.. And price is not a issue, I've got extra money and I know I'll more then likely never recover my costs.. I'm just interested in the whole concept of cryptocurrency and would like to be a part of it.. Plus, I'm not opposed to mining things like litecoins either..

Does anyone got any advice on the build? Or any way to cut costs outside of the GPUs?? I'd really appreciate any help to the questions I asked in the first post? :)
 
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sunder25

sunder25

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Jan 22, 2014
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Here's something:
However there's sure to be a more efficient build.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Xeon E5-2609 V2 2.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($301.98 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Zalman CNPS11X Performa CPU Cooler ($34.52 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-X79S-UP5-WIFI EATX LGA2011 Motherboard ($312.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Wintec One 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($99.51 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($56.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: XFX Radeon R9 280X 3GB Double Dissipation Video Card (4-Way CrossFire) ($299.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: XFX Radeon R9 280X 3GB Double Dissipation Video Card (4-Way CrossFire) ($299.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: XFX Radeon R9 280X 3GB Double Dissipation Video Card (4-Way CrossFire) ($299.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: XFX Radeon R9 280X 3GB Double Dissipation Video Card (4-Way CrossFire) ($299.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Rosewill ARMOR-EVO ATX Full Tower Case ($76.49 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: XFX ProSeries 1250W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($250.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NSB0 DVD/CD Writer ($15.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $2349.38
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-04-24 16:50 EDT-0400)
 
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flamboastin

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Oct 21, 2013
14
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Yeah I've consider mining LTCs in the hope that they later increase in value like BTCs have.. Plus I heard ASIC mining wont work for them which is always a plus.. I actually did a school project on cryptocurrency and now I'm very intrigued.. I currently stay somewhere were utilities are included so all I'd really have to worry about is covering the cost of the rig, although I don't plan to ever be able to achieve that heh
 
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flamboastin

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Oct 21, 2013
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Are 4x 280's more effecient then 2x 295's?

Let's say I stuck with the 2x 295's, could I get away with pairing them with a cheap CPU? Would a cheaper CPU have any effect on my GPU mining?
 
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sunder25

sunder25

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Jan 22, 2014
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Not really, as far as I know, the GPU is pretty much all that matters.
So if you want to be super cost effective, get the cheapest cpu and a mobo that can take as many gpu's as it can.
Also 295's are much better than 280's, but they are prohibitively expensive.
As far as I know the 280 is the best card for price/performance, miningwise.
-don't take my word for it, i've just randomly read a few articles about the thing, sharing what little i know.
 
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Onus

Onus

Titan
Jan 27, 2006
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I believe that LTC can still be mined with a CPU too, as the scrypt algorithm is apparently somewhat GPU-resistant as well as being ASIC-resistant.
If you are doing this as an intellectual exercise, there are many different cryptocurrencies from which to choose, many of which are of little if any value and may well die, but would serve your purposes.
 
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