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Cheap folding rig:

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ProDigit
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2019/07/16 15:47:53 (permalink)
Depending on the amount of money you'll want to spend, here are a few ideas for a 'cheap' folding rig:

1- Get a cheap $20 shoe rack that will host your rig:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KNBRV6C/



I got the expresso, because it's already painted. Keeps the buggers away, and the $1 extra for the painted version, saves you about $8 on spray paint, or Wood Waterproof/Sealer.
Each stage can hold an ATX motherboard and power supply, along with 3 GPUs plugged in the motherboard, as well as an additional one on a riser.
However, without fortifying the rack, I would only recommend up to 3 systems (one per floor). That is 1x Mobo + RAM/CPU/SSD + 3GPUs mounted on the mobo + 1GPU on risers + 2 PSUs if necessary.
You can mount the GPU's on risers with Zip-ties on the spokes, if you like.
The rack is just high enough for mobo + GPUs (about 5.25" between levels).


2- Get a $120 motherboard equipped with 3x full size PCIE slots. Any one that your CPU supports.
3- Get matching CPU (6 core for 6 GPUs, quad core for 4 GPUs, dual core running at least 4Ghz with HT for 3 GPUs for linux; or take 1 GPU away for Windows, as Win need an extra core to run), and RAM.
4- Get RTX 2060 an RTX 2060 Super card (costs 13% more than a regular RTX 2060 for ~15-20% performance improvements), then a regular 2060, then a 2070 Super, last 2080 Ti for highest score. Don't bother getting a regular 2070 or 2080, unless you can get them for $350-399 for the 2070, or 399-599 for the 2080 (second hand). The Super cards are much faster for the dollar.

5- Cooling, get a simple home fan.
For up to 6 GPUs, get a $14 fan (like this honeywell):
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001R1RXUG/


Face it towards the 3 GPUs in the full size slot on the motherboard. Forget about watercooling. It is less efficient, and can leak and destroy your pc.
The remaining GPUs can have sufficient cooling when spaced apart on a next level.


For more than 6 GPUs, get a $18 BOX fan like this:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I8Q3082/


The 20" BOX fan is tall enough to provide cooling for 3 of 4 stages in the shoe rack.

This box fan has a power lead on the back. It's pretty easy to cut a small hole in the center of a 20 by 20" paper AC filter, and mount the AC air filter to the back of this fan with duct tape, or some other mounting hardware.


Use as many full size slots as possible for your fast GPUs.
If you have any remaining GPUs, use them with risers in the PCIE 1x slots.
You can mount them on the second stage, if they no longer fit on the first stage..

A single shoe rack like that can host up to 3 motherboard systems with up to 5-6 GPUs each.

Or, you could mount 2 motherboards (one on the 4th level, one on the 1st level), and feed about 6 GPUs per level, PLUS whatever you decide to mount on each motherboard, plus 1 to 2 extra per level.
That's about 22 GPUs max! Insane! 
You could physically host more than 6 GPUs per level, but heat becomes an issue when they're mounted too close to one another.

Aside from motherboard/CPU/RAM/GPUs and PSU, this $20 shoe rack, and sub $20 FAN has been the best thing for folding since sliced bread!

Especially if you have a balcony, somewhat protected from rain.
If it's not protected from light rain, you can possibly paint and waterproof a cardboard box, and use it as a roof. While the fan is blowing air from the back forward to the edge of the balcony, basically blowing any light rain away from the mobo. 
It's good to blow the air away from the windows/doors , towards outside (away from the building) because in summer it'll have the tendency to heat up any room that's facing the balcony, if the air blows towards the door/glass.


You can close off the sides with the cardboard box the shoe rack came with, so the BOX fan focuses most of it's air where it's needed.
However, most of you will run less than 3 GPUs, in which case the small 25Watt honeywell fan is more than enough to supply the cooling, and will be more efficient.

The box fan uses 50 watts of power; but it also cools about 3 times as many GPUs!
post edited by ProDigit - 2019/07/17 14:43:26
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    bcavnaugh
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    Re: Cheap folding rig: 2019/07/16 16:10:32 (permalink)
    This one But make sure you use a Merv 8 Air Filter

    20x20x1, Naturalaire Standard Air Filter Merv 8, 84858.012020, Pack12 $53.88
    post edited by bcavnaugh - 2019/07/16 16:12:25

    Associate Code: 9E88QK5L7811G3H


     
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    Chris21010
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    Re: Cheap folding rig: 2019/07/17 11:16:40 (permalink)
    also, do not use just one of those 20x20x1 filters, it will restrict the airflow too much. it would be better if you buy two of them and for a wedge with them on the inlet side and tape cardboard on the top/bottom of the wedge to seal it. this will allow optimum airflow through the box fan and filter the air at the same time. ;)


    #3
    Cool GTX
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    Re: Cheap folding rig: 2019/07/17 12:16:57 (permalink)
    these have less restriction to airflow & are washable

    Better MERV rating 8:  Lowes - WEB Furnace AC Filter (Common: 25-in x 20-in x 1-in; Actual: 24.625-in x 19.625-in x 0.875-in) Washable Adjustable Air Filter
     
    Cheaper MERV rating 1:  Lowes - Filtrete Cut to Fit (Common: 20-in x 30-in x 1-in; Actual: 20-in x 30-in x 0.25-in) Washable Adjustable Air Filter
     
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    drougnor
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    Re: Cheap folding rig: 2019/07/21 11:50:48 (permalink)
    *reads theoretical number of GPUS, thinks about wattage draw to power said folding farm*  "The local utilities are still at a loss for why the entire neighborhood browned out the other night.  In related news, a local man has been served with several search warrants in regards to a 'suspicious spike in electricity usage'.  It is unknown if the two events are related."
     
    d


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    Chris21010
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    Re: Cheap folding rig: 2019/07/21 13:29:27 (permalink)
    normally these kind of massive GPU rigs tend to stick with many lower end GPUs due to the power draw. no one wants to use 3x 1600 Watt PSUs just to run 8x 2080ti's... though it would be dope AF.


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    STR1D3R_2
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    Re: Cheap folding rig: 2019/07/22 06:05:17 (permalink)
    drougnor
    *reads theoretical number of GPUS, thinks about wattage draw to power said folding farm*  "The local utilities are still at a loss for why the entire neighborhood browned out the other night.  In related news, a local man has been served with several search warrants in regards to a 'suspicious spike in electricity usage'.  It is unknown if the two events are related." I'll be right back, someone is knocking on the door.
     
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    ProDigit
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    Re: Cheap folding rig: 2019/07/26 15:05:43 (permalink)
    A regular box fan offers a high enough airflow in lowest setting.
    Too much actually.
    Though a filter reduces air speed by a lot, thanks to it's large size 20" x 20", it still has an acceptable air volume it moves to cool 2 to 3 rigs.
    Probably enough for 6-9 GPUs.
    The fan can still be put to medium or high. But high is 100Watt of cooling. I wouldn't recommend this. You'd also have to mount the fan, because it blows itself away.

    I bet 2 of these fans could propel a kayak quite fast, at full blast!
    #8
    ProDigit
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    Re: Cheap folding rig: 2019/08/05 22:26:20 (permalink)


    My rig, 2 motherboards, 8 GPUs, <10M PPD, 1250W.
    The shoerack seems made for mining or folding. Tight fit on the PSU and GPUs mounted on the Mobo. Great airflow, box fan perfectly cools the first 3 levels.

    Too lazy to tighten everything nicely. Most cards run <54C night, <65C day out in the shade on the balcony.
    post edited by ProDigit - 2019/08/06 12:35:03
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    castrator86
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    Re: Cheap folding rig: 2019/08/06 11:45:25 (permalink)
    I can't imagine what your electric bill must look like at the end of the month.



    #10
    ProDigit
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    Re: Cheap folding rig: 2019/08/06 20:16:36 (permalink)
    +$100.
    I figured, my friends have trucks or a (heated) pool, which I don't. So the money I save, I invest there.
    #11
    DrSchmidt
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    Re: Cheap folding rig: 2019/08/07 00:08:09 (permalink)
    Are you running Linux on both motherboards?  I'm trying to wrap my head around how you get such a great PPD for under 1250 Watts with 8 GPUs.
    post edited by DrSchmidt - 2019/08/07 00:09:41



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    #12
    ProDigit
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    Re: Cheap folding rig: 2019/08/07 00:59:34 (permalink)
    DrSchmidt
    Are you running Linux on both motherboards?  I'm trying to wrap my head around how you get such a great PPD for under 1250 Watts with 8 GPUs.


    Yes.
    Linux, power cap, Overclock, and running 2x 2080Tis are very helpful, doing 45% of the job.
    Just went up to 1360 W total for 11M PPD. Still a far cry from my desired 1M PPD per 100W.
    Most efficient cards are the 2080 Tis.
    The list goes down with performance and newness
    After the 2080Tis, the 2080 supers, then 2080, then 2070 super, then 2070, followed by 2060 super, 2060, 1160Ti, 1160, 1080Ti, 1080, 1070(Ti?) 1070, 1060, 970,1050, etc....
    Pretty much like their purchase price as well.
    #13
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