How to configure a graphics card mining machine? Detailed explanation of graphics card mining machine hardware

The hardware parts of a graphics card mining machine are divided into: graphics card, motherboard, hard disk, power supply, memory and chassis. This article introduces the composition of the graphics card mining machine in detail by disassembling the hardware and assembling the mining machine.

Graphics card part

The picture shows a standard graphics card - Dylan's Ares series: RX574, which is also used in mining.

Figure 1 : RX574

Graphics card brands are divided into several series. For example, Sapphire's series includes Platinum, Super Platinum and Platinum Aurora, with prices increasing in sequence. Dylan's series includes Warlord, God of War and War Devil, with prices increasing in sequence.

Figure 2 : Incomplete statistics of graphics card brands and models

For the same graphics card model, such as RX574, if you want to use it for mining, you can just buy the cheapest one. Because there is not much difference in quality, power consumption and computing power, there is no need to spend more money to buy a higher-end series graphics card.

The power supply of the graphics card is provided by the PCI-E card slot and the 6+2PIN interface on the top of the graphics card.

The graphics card in Figure 3 is a NVIDIA GTX1080. It was purchased at an early price of about 3,000 yuan, but the price has dropped now. The most valuable component is the main chip, and the second most expensive component is the video memory. There are 8 video memories in total, and each memory is 1G. (The 1080 uses the DDR-5× model, which is different from the 474 video memory)

Figure 3 : NVIDIA GTX1080

The difference between mining cards and standard graphics cards:

The mining card has no output interface (the output interface is mainly connected to HDMI, DP and DVI), which is generally equipped with a normal standard graphics card. Some manufacturers are unwilling to use this batch of cards for mining and will only leave a DVI interface or HDMI interface.

There are also P106, P104 and other P series mining cards that do not have output interfaces. This type of card is specially produced by the manufacturer for mining, and the price is cheaper than the standard card, but the game performance is the same.

harddisk

A 32G hard drive is sufficient for mining, but 64G is more commonly used on the market. One reason is that there is not much difference in price between 64G and 32G, and another reason is that 64G hard drives are more common and easier to purchase.

Motherboard

Figure 4 (left) is the Onda 8-card mining card motherboard, with 6 6-pin power ports on the PCB. The motherboard includes the CPU, the memory card slot, and the graphics card slot: PCI-E card slot.

Figure 4 : Mining machine motherboard (left), standard desktop motherboard (right)

The standard motherboards for desktop computers were mainly used in 2016 and 2017. The card slot speed is the same as that of the mining machine motherboard, which is PCIE×1. The full-speed PCI-E card slot speed of the standard motherboard is ×16, which is much higher than the bandwidth of the mining board. Mining does not have any requirements for PCI-E bandwidth, but only a simple calculation method is used, so there is not much difference between ×6 and ×16. The eight-card interface of the mining machine motherboard and the standard motherboard is the same, and the two can be used interchangeably.

There are differences in the memory of mining machine motherboards. Standard desktop motherboards use standard desktop memory sticks, while mining boards generally use laptop memory sticks.

Another simplified part is the audio and other parts that are not necessary for the mining board.

Figure 5 : Differences between mining card motherboards and desktop motherboards

Many standard desktop motherboards have been eliminated, and Wayi's mining factories have basically switched to the mining machine motherboards shown on the left.

One is the price factor: under market conditions, a new desktop motherboard costs 400-500 yuan, plus the configuration of memory and transfer notes, the cost of a new set of 6 cards is almost the same as the price of a professional mining board.

Another key factor is stability: if the various positions of the desktop motherboard are slightly moved, poor contact may occur. Professional mining machines fix the position of the graphics card screws through the chassis, which is more stable.

Mining machine power supply

Figure 6 is an Onda 1850W power supply, which displays parameters such as voltage, frequency, current, etc. The standard voltage in China is 200V~240V, and the frequency is 50Hz.

According to the manufacturer, the conversion efficiency of the power supply is 91%, which is calculated to be around 1850*91%=1684 watts.

Theoretically, there is no problem with the total power consumption of 8 graphics cards plus the chassis fan as long as it does not exceed 91% of the power conversion efficiency. However, it is best not to exceed 1600 watts. If it is too full, it may cause damage because there is no redundancy in the power supply.

Figure 6 : Onda Power Supply

The output of the power supply includes: 24PIN interface and 8PIN interface. The 24PIN is connected to the corresponding interface of the motherboard, and the 8PIN is dedicated to powering the CPU.

Because the power supply of the backplane does not need to be particularly large, a few watts to more than ten watts, it is no problem to fill up a line during installation. Generally, a 6-pin connector of a standard line can withstand 150 watts.

heat sink

The main function of the radiator is to dissipate the heat generated by the main chip and video memory. Fans made by small factories are relatively cheap and can generally be used for up to two years. If the heat dissipation is not good, it will affect the life of the graphics card.

Fans are relatively cheap, and manufacturers with better materials will use ball bearing fans, which have a longer lifespan. Among the major brands, Sapphire fans are the most expensive and the best, and they use non-disassembly fans.

Figure 7 : Heat sink

Back Plate

The main function of the backplate is to fix the PCB board of the graphics card to prevent slight deformation caused by long-term heat and thus quality problems. The presence or absence of a backplate can also be used to preliminarily determine whether the graphics card is a high-end series. Some graphics cards, whether new or second-hand, do not have a backplate, such as low-end cards such as Gigabyte and Asus. All Sapphire cards have backplates.

Graphics card mining machine assembly process:

The general assembly process is: install the motherboard → plug in the external switch, USB interface, etc. → install the graphics card → fix the screws → fix the horizontal bar of the graphics card → enter the system.

When you purchase the mining machine, all the holes for fixing the motherboard, including the fixing positions of the power supply and graphics card, are already drilled, and the fan is also installed.

Connect the USB cable to the USB, and then install the graphics card. The 570 and 574 graphics cards are shorter. If you use a 5700 card, the length should reach the fan, so you need to move the fan outside.

Next, fix the screws and the horizontal bar that presses the graphics card. After the horizontal bar is pressed, each graphics card will be fixed in place to avoid shaking and instability. Then straighten the wires and cover the lid, and the graphics card mining machine can be operated.

The final task is to enter the mining machine into the system and set up the ore, miner, and wallet.

·Frequently Asked Questions about Graphics Card Mining Machines·

Q1: Can the graphics card mining machine be refitted with fans, by removing all fans except the mainboard, and then turning on the external fan for heat dissipation? In this way, when reinstalling a new fan and selling it later, will the residual value be higher?

A1 : There is such a modification, such as the last batch of 5600XT from Waiyi. But the main reason for modification is that the distance between two graphics cards is not enough, so the fan must be removed, so that the card can be 10mm thinner. Because the fans are all new, they may indeed have a higher residual value in the second-hand card market.

The graphics card fan is very difficult to clean, and dust will accumulate over a long period of operation. This method is still quite common in the market. The fan does not need to be cleaned, the color is very good, the cost of replacing the baffle is also very low, and it can be sold at a good price.

However, this operation is quite troublesome for mining. The fan needs to be removed and stored in a place. When it is returned for repair, the graphics card fan needs to be installed. It is OK if the quantity is small, but a large quantity will put a certain pressure on operation and maintenance.

Q2: How do maintenance personnel detect faulty graphics cards?

A2 : The operation and maintenance personnel will see that a card is missing in the management background software, but they don’t know where it is. If you want to repair it, you must disassemble the machine and test each card one by one. The broken card generally does not generate heat or get hot.

Q3 : How long does it take for operation and maintenance personnel to install a graphics card mining machine?

Q3 : It takes about half an hour for an operation and maintenance staff to install a graphics card mining machine. Normally, the chassis, including the graphics card and the motherboard, need to be unpacked. And the screws are screwed on the chassis. Then put it on the shelf, enter the system, edit the mining pool miner and run it.

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