How to build a GPU Mining Rig - cryptocurrency ( LTC ETH ETC XMR ZEC and many more )

6 GPU Mining Rig - how to build

Building a 6 GPU mining rig is a rewarding project. Here in this guide, we will walk you through selecting the best mining hardware, assembling the parts, and configuring the software to get your very own cryptocoin mining rig up and running. It should take you about three hours to assemble this mining rig. At the time this post was updated (6/14/2017) this mining rig should generate over $1,000/mo in Ethereum cryptocurrency. You can see the current mining profitability using this handy calculator. https://www.cryptocompare.com/mining/calculator/eth?HashingPower=174&HashingUnit=MH%2Fs&PowerConsumption=0&CostPerkWh=0.1

Sidenote: If mining isn’t your thing, and you are just interested in purchasing some cryptocurrency as part of your investment portfolio, I personally use and recommend Coinbase https://www.coinbase.com (they give you $10 when you use that link to purchase your first $100 of Bitcoin). I would also recommend keeping your coins safe using the Ledger Nano S hardware wallet https://www.ledgerwallet.com/ since even the best crypto exchanges can be hacked through a variety of methods. OK, with that out of the way, onward to the build guide…

6 GPU Mining Hardware Build List

Listed below is the hardware you will need to purchase and assemble. Basically, you are building a custom open-frame PC, but instead of one or two graphics cards (as you would find in a gaming computer), you will be adding SIX to the build requiring riser cables and a frame as shown in the photo.

Quick Build List:

1x 1200 Watt Power Supply https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=as_li_ss_tl?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=1200+watt+power+supply&linkCode=sl2&tag=onsimobicom02-20&linkId=4e5fc8f3fa23c3ceef4af5a396dfc29e
1x 6 GPU Motherboard https://www.amazon.com/MSI-Solution-Z170A-Motherboard-SLI/dp/B019EYYNP0/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&qid=1497041475&sr=8-1&keywords=z170+a+sli+plus&linkCode=sl1&tag=onsimobicom02-20&linkId=2f03fe448094ea1a3c4d02ef3ea2ad61
1x Skylake Dual Core CPU https://www.amazon.com/Intel-Celeron-G3900-Dual-core-Processor/dp/B01B2PJRPA/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&qid=1497408109&sr=8-2&keywords=LGA+1151+skylake+cpu&linkCode=sl1&tag=onsimobicom02-20&linkId=4eae9d4de9a20c90c69af760f9646160
1x 4 GB RAM (system memory) https://www.amazon.com/Crucial-PC4-17000-Unbuffered-288-Pin-CT4G4DFS8213/dp/B00MMLUYPQ/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&qid=1497408169&sr=8-1&keywords=4+gb+ram+ddr4&linkCode=sl1&tag=onsimobicom02-20&linkId=da1eb658b066de4c1bca6f90b6c23a66
6x Nvidia GTX 1070 GPU’s (6 of these, I like EVGA and Gigabyte) https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=as_li_ss_tl?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=Nvidia+GTX+1070&rh=i:aps,k:Nvidia+GTX+1070&linkCode=sl2&tag=onsimobicom02-20&linkId=4bb6fc61b9303774bad5422654c8d72f
1x USB Riser Cables (6 pack) https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=as_li_ss_tl?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=usb+riser+cables&linkCode=sl2&tag=onsimobicom02-20&linkId=ee19071544ddafcf76b5853cc9474f81
1x Solid State Drive (for OS / mining software) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01K1W7JNW/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&qid=1497408298&sr=sr-1&keywords=ssd+60+gb&linkCode=sl1&tag=onsimobicom02-20&linkId=ab7f10346af9ad695e550181c98729da
1x Open Air 6 GPU Mining Case http://www.ebay.com/itm/112446655041
Eth OS or Windows 10 (depending on your preference and setup) http://ethosdistro.com/
Monitor, Mouse and Keyboard (only needed for setup) https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Optical-Wired-Mouse-910-001601/dp/B003B4BBFK/ref=as_li_ss_tl?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1366315660&sr=1-1&keywords=mouse&linkCode=sl1&tag=onsimobicom02-20&linkId=79bb9ce52de396aed6ab8df58756c8be

A more detailed explanation of each component continues below:

Power Supply – 1200 Watt Power Supply https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=as_li_ss_tl?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=1200+watt+power+supply&linkCode=sl2&tag=onsimobicom02-20&linkId=4e5fc8f3fa23c3ceef4af5a396dfc29e – The key here is to have an efficient 1200 watt modular power supply that will save you over the long run in electricity costs. Look for Gold or Platinum rated (as opposed to silver or bronze). This is the industry standard for rating the efficiency of a computer’s power supply unit (PSU)

Motherboard/CPU Combination – What is the best motherboard for mining Ethereum? I’ve listed below my favorite motherboard and processor combo that is compatible with 6 video cards. This is the ethereum mining motherboard that is used in large scale mining deployments. If the pros use it, you know it’s good.

MSI Pro Z170A SLI Plus Motherboard | https://www.amazon.com/MSI-Solution-Z170A-Motherboard-SLI/dp/B019EYYNP0/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&qid=1497041475&sr=8-1&keywords=z170+a+sli+plus&linkCode=sl1&tag=onsimobicom02-20&linkId=2f03fe448094ea1a3c4d02ef3ea2ad61
Intel Skylake Dual Core CPU | https://www.amazon.com/Intel-Celeron-G3900-Dual-core-Processor/dp/B01B2PJRPA/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&qid=1497408109&sr=8-2&keywords=LGA+1151+skylake+cpu&linkCode=sl1&tag=onsimobicom02-20&linkId=4eae9d4de9a20c90c69af760f9646160

6x Graphics Cards (GPUs) – Nvidia GTX 1070 GPU’s – The very efficient Nvidia GTX 1070 can produce 30Mh/s using only 100 watts of electricity. It is much more power efficient than the other GPU’s in this list. Anyd of the twin fan overclocked Gigabyte or EVGA cards work great out of the box.

RAM (System Memory) – 4 GB RAM https://www.amazon.com/Crucial-PC4-17000-Unbuffered-288-Pin-CT4G4DFS8213/dp/B00MMLUYPQ/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&qid=1497408169&sr=8-1&keywords=4+gb+ram+ddr4&linkCode=sl1&tag=onsimobicom02-20&linkId=da1eb658b066de4c1bca6f90b6c23a66 – You don’t need a lot of system memory to mine ethereum effectively. 4GB is about as small as a stick of RAM comes these days, so I recommend just picking up a cheap one for about $20.

USB Riser Cables – (6 pack) USB Riser Cables https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=as_li_ss_tl?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=usb+riser+cables&linkCode=sl2&tag=onsimobicom02-20&linkId=ee19071544ddafcf76b5853cc9474f81 – These are to connect the 6 graphics cards to the motherboard and allow spacing between cards for heat dissipation. These are necessary when building a rig with this many GPU’s.

1x Hard Drive (SSD) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01K1W7JNW/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&qid=1497408298&sr=sr-1&keywords=ssd+60+gb&linkCode=sl1&tag=onsimobicom02-20&linkId=ab7f10346af9ad695e550181c98729da – Solid State Drive for installing operating system and your mining software. 1x Custom Mining Case – I’d recommend this Open Air 6 GPU Mining Case, if you’d rather not build one yourself. I’ve built several of these 6 GPU rigs for family and friends and prefer to just buy the model I linked to, just to save time.

Operating System http://ethosdistro.com/ – Eth OS ethOS is a free 64-bit linux OS that mines Ethereum, Zcash, Monero, and other GPU-minable coins. If you are using the Nvidia 1070 GPU’s I recommend mining on Windows 10, since Eth OS has some driver issues with Nvidia cards.

Monitor https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=as_li_ss_tl?url=search-alias=computers&field-keywords=computer+monitor&rh=n:541966,k:computer+monitor&linkCode=sl2&tag=onsimobicom02-20&linkId=4963c71768a6995a75158f2074e9fb35
Mouse https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Optical-Wired-Mouse-910-001601/dp/B003B4BBFK/ref=as_li_ss_tl?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1366315660&sr=1-1&keywords=mouse&linkCode=sl1&tag=onsimobicom02-20&linkId=79bb9ce52de396aed6ab8df58756c8be and Keyboard
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=as_li_ss_tl?url=search-alias=electronics&field-keywords=basic+computer+keyboard&rh=n:172282,k:basic+computer+keyboard&linkCode=sl2&tag=onsimobicom02-20&linkId=a0f7b93065bbaa7301520f9043658568 to configure all the software settings, initially.

Assembling the Custom Mining Hardware

1. Un-package everything
2. Build / assemble Open Air 6 GPU Mining Case http://www.ebay.com/itm/112446655041
3. Install processor and RAM on motherboard
4. Plug in all riser cables
5. Place motherboard in custom open air mining rig case and connect motherboard PSU connector (leaving PSU unplugged from the wall of course)
6. Plug in SATA hard drive (or optional Linux on USB stick)
7. Connect all GPUs to riser cables and fasten them to custom case. You might need to experiment for optimal spacing to keep the cards cool.
8. Plug in all power supply connections.
9. Connect mouse, monitor and keyboard and an internet connection (I use a USB WiFi adapter)
10. Check all connections once more
11. Fire it up! Install ETH OS.
12. Make sure fans are fully functional. Start the mining software, tweak settings for maximum hash rates and let it run!

Congrats !! it looks like you have it done !!