What is a mining farm - the principle of operation, the necessary equipment, calculation of profitability and risks. How to mine modern cryptocurrencies on a do-it-yourself mining farm: numbers, tips, problems and their solutions

The wild growth in popularity and, more importantly, the cost of cryptocurrency has expectedly led to an increase in the number of “miners” who want to make money from the extraction and sale of bitcoins, ether, etc. Today, everyone has the opportunity to assemble a mining farm from video cards at home.

What are we talking about?

People over 30 have hardly heard of cryptocurrency and all sorts of “miners” with their farms. In fact, it is quite difficult to understand the essence of digital currency mining and why the currency is worth a lot of money. Therefore, it is necessary for those who are already planning to earn money to delve deeply into the calculation process. In the meantime, we will talk about assembling the farm, costs, possible income, etc.

Home mining

Essentially, mining is a computational process based on the creation of new blocks in the platform. With an increase in the total number of the cryptocurrency itself and miners, the process of calculating transactions becomes longer and more expensive, since mining is provided by powerful computer equipment, which costs money.

For calculating blocks, the miner receives a reward in the form of a digital counting unit, i.e. cryptocurrency. Bitcoin, the very first cryptocurrency, gained particular popularity. There was a particularly active price increase in 2017. In the spring, BTC cost around $1,000. In October, the rate rose to almost $5,000.

Demand for currency from investors only provokes an increase in the exchange rate. Today, there is more and more talk about the recognition and legalization of Bitcoin in some countries of the world with developed economies. Bitcoin may actually become official in some countries in the near future. This will only have a positive impact on strengthening the cryptocurrency market.

There are other opinions: many believe that the bubble will burst soon. But the miners are not going to give in yet. They believe that cryptocurrency is the future, and bitcoins mined today will only increase in price. Therefore, mining remains relevant today.

Don’t neglect Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum (ether) and Ripple (ripple). The same ether is showing excellent dynamics today and has potential: many experts are confident that in the near future, ether will overtake Bitcoin in price.

How does a mining farm work?

Anyone on the blockchain network can track and process new blocks of transactions. To be more precise, this is done by equipment - farms. Each discovered block brings miners income in the form of cryptocurrency. The speed of finding a block takes time (even in a few minutes you can calculate a block) and depends on 2 key factors:

1. Productivity. For example, the speed of Bitcoin calculation depends on the power of the farm.
2. Network complexity. The number of miners is growing, which increases the time spent searching for each new block.

The farms themselves are divided into 3 types:

1. Devices with video cards as the main computing element. At the beginning of their journey, AMD video cards showed good performance in calculating Bitcoin. Now this method of mining is unprofitable. But for the production of, for example, ether, such a farm is suitable.
2. FPGA modules. Such equipment does not require a cooling system, and is not inferior in performance. Cost-effectiveness and compactness are the advantages of the device.
3. ASIC processors. Such equipment is relevant today for Bitcoin mining. The price of the farm is justified due to its high productivity. However, other cryptocurrencies cannot be mined on ASIC.

You can mine cryptocurrency through the farm alone (solo). There is a drawback - you need to buy equipment and assemble the farm yourself, and it will take a lot of time to calculate the blocks. There is another option - pools. This is a network to which different miners connect their farms. Blocks are found relatively quickly, but the profit is divided between the pool participants in proportion to the power of each person’s equipment.

People are also interested in the question of buying a farm. Now there are enough offers for the sale of farms. The answer here is simple: if a person does not understand anything about computer technology, then he may have problems with self-assembly. If someone is “exploring” the topic, then assembling a farm of 6 productive cards will cost about 90-100 thousand rubles. If you buy a farm with the same productivity, it will cost up to 200 thousand rubles.

Farm components:

• CPU. Performance plays almost no role, i.e. there is no point in spending money on buying a high-performance processor.
• Motherboard with multiple slots.
• RAM. As long as it fits the slot, but not less than 4 GB.
• Hard drive. The optimal volume is 80 GB. Less than 40GB will not work.
• Video cards. This is the basic piece of equipment. Important: the higher the performance, the better, but cards smaller than 4GB will not work. For example, the ZOTAC GeForce GTX1060 card is suitable. Powerful cards from NVidia and AMD RX (470 and above) are also good options.
• Power unit. A farm of six cards must be equipped with a unit with a power of 1500 V.
• Razer adapters. They are needed to connect video cards.
• 4 coolers to ensure high-quality cooling.
• Frame. It can be purchased online for a low cost.
• Start button.

DIY mining rig assembly steps

1. The mother card should be installed in the center on the bottom shelf of the frame. This will provide an air cushion for improved cooling.
2. A processor with a cooler is installed on the board.
3. Installing the power supply.
4. Connecting the start button and installing the hard drive.
5. Coolers for cooling are mounted on the side panels, 2 on each side of the rack.
6. The video cards themselves are suspended on the crossbars using ties. Cards are connected to the motherboard using Razer adapters.

There is nothing particularly difficult to assemble. You just need to see the frame for yourself, and it will become intuitively clear what and where to connect and mount. Mining itself is possible through special programs for operating systems. The algorithm for starting the calculation may differ, so it is better to find out on your own on the Internet how to start the calculation and where the “coins” will be credited.

When assembling a farm, attention is paid to the performance of the devices. Hashrate is a unit of power measurement. The optimal figure is approximately 25 megahash per second per video card. Knowing this indicator, you can roughly calculate the profitability of mining using ether as an example. If a card produces 25 megahash, then a farm of 5 cards produces 125 units. Considering the average ether exchange rate for the fall of 2017, with such a farm’s power, the profit per day will be approximately $5. This is provided that the farm will operate around the clock.

The problem is that the farm “eats” a lot of electricity, which in this example reduces the net profit by 2 times. And if we take into account the total costs of assembly and mining, the payback will be almost 2 years, although this is only an example. The total income directly affects the value of the cryptocurrency. And according to the forecasts of many experts, it will only grow in the near future.

An ASIC mining rig is a structure that combines special equipment and is designed for cryptocurrency mining. Its main difference is the use of ASIC controllers, and not video cards or processors, as is the case with classic mining farms. Such farms are used to mine various virtual coins - Dasha, Litecoin, Bitcoin and others. Below we will look at the intricacies of creating a farm, whether it is possible to assemble it with your own hands and how much it will cost.

How does an ASIC farm work?

With the growing demand for cryptocurrency, the activity of manufacturers producing specialized equipment has also increased. If at the initial stage the PC power was enough for mining, then with increasing complexity more powerful devices were required. At first, farms on video cards appeared, but after the jump in the prices of major cryptocurrencies, they also lost relevance. Now it's the turn of special devices - ASIC. They work according to a specific algorithm and are “tailored” exclusively for the extraction of cryptocurrencies.

To increase efficiency and speed up payback, miners create ASIC farms, consisting of a computer and ASICs connected to it. The goal is to increase the power to mine new blocks in the cryptocurrency network of interest. Previously, when creating farms, processors and video cards were used, but today the best option is ASICs, which have high performance and relatively low energy consumption. The main disadvantage remains high costs, but first things first.

The main nuances when assembling an ASIC farm

Installation of auxiliary coolers helps to increase the circulation of air masses and timely remove heated air from ASIC microprocessors. With this approach, the finished farm will last longer and provide better performance. Without high-quality heat dissipation, expensive chips can be damaged, which will lead to additional costs. In such a situation, there is no point in assembling a farm with your own hands.

To avoid problems during the maintenance process and correctly assemble a rig for ASIC mining in 2018, you need to consider the following:

1. ASIC controllers are installed on a special rack. For cooling, additional fans are installed on one or both sides to remove hot air. As a rule, ASICs have their own coolers, but during round-the-clock operation they may not be enough.
2. The number of ASIC controllers connected to the computer may vary. Here, a lot depends on financial capabilities, cryptocurrency and your goals. At home, 1–2 ASIC miners are used, but to create a powerful farm you can combine 4–5 devices.
3. The more ASIC miners are used to mine cryptocurrency, the higher the noise level. In such a situation, there are two options - to ensure good sound insulation (use special sound and vibration-absorbing boxes) or to rent a separate room for creating a farm. The second option is more preferable, but it will require additional costs (we will dwell on this in more detail).
4. Connecting multiple ASIC controllers for cryptocurrency mining raises another issue regarding power consumption. One ASIC has an average power of 0.8–1.3 kW. If there are 4–5 of them, the figure increases accordingly to 6.5 kW. If we take into account that the equipment operates 24 a day and 30 days a month, the total consumption reaches 4680 kWh, which in money (for Moscow) is equal to 421 dollars. This is why energy costs are important to consider when creating a business plan. In addition, the electrical network and wiring must withstand such loads. For example, a 6.5 kW power supply requires a wire capable of carrying a current of 29 Amps. Ideally, use a copper conductor with a cross-section of 4 square meters. mm. If the wiring in the apartment is laid with a wire of 2.5 square meters. mm (copper or aluminum), it may not withstand.

The mentioned components consume an additional 300–400 W, which increases energy costs. That’s why creating a mining farm on ASICs with your own hands requires a detailed approach, and its use at home is almost impossible. The total equipment consumption is equivalent to that consumed by an office with 10–15 employees. In addition, the dimensions and dimensions of the finished farm are very impressive and require space to accommodate it.

Pros and cons of a DIY ASIC mining farm

There are dozens of methods on the Internet, but they are no longer effective for mining Bitcoin or Litecoin. Such equipment is used for mining new cryptocurrencies that have not gained a foothold in the market and have an unstable exchange rate. However, there is no guarantee of a quick return on investment.

• Read also how to create.

Below we will look at the advantages and disadvantages of an ASIC mining farm.

Accessories for ASIC farm

1. Frame. Additional construction may be required to accommodate multiple ASIC miners. To make it, it is advisable to use special wooden blocks or corners (aluminum, steel).
2. Motherboard- the basis of the computer to which the equipment for mining cryptocurrency will be connected. The main requirements are uninterrupted operation, reliability and build quality.
3. RAM. This element does not affect the mining speed in any way, but the stability of the PC depends on it. To save money, you can install only one stick, but it is better if the RAM is 4 GB or more.
4. CPU- an element that ensures the operation of a computer. Simple options are allowed here due to the lack of a large load.
5. Hard drive. There are no additional criteria here, so it can be anything, but the recommended capacity is 100 GB or more.
6. Power supply block. We are talking about a computer power supply, which should be taken with a power reserve of 15–20%. In some cases, it is cheaper to purchase two devices and install them in parallel than to take two powerful power supplies.
7. Video card. In the case of using ASICs, the video card can be any, without special performance requirements.

• Canaan AvalonMiner 741 (7.3 TH/s) - $1450.
• Ebit Miner E10 (18 TH/s) - $4,800.
• Bitmain Antminer L3+ (504 MH/sec) - $1,536.
• BW-L21 Litecoin ASIC Miner (550 MH/sec) - $2500.
• Innosilicon A5 DashMaster (32.4 GH/sec) - $3,300.

Do-it-yourself ASIC farm assembly sequence

1. Creating a drawing. At this stage, it is important to draw a diagram with the approximate placement of the elements. To improve cooling, it is important to install devices at a distance of 10 cm or more from each other. If placed closer, the devices may overheat. The dimensions of an ASIC farm depend on the number of miners, power consumption and dimensions of each device.
2. Housing assembly. When manufacturing this element, it is necessary to purchase vibration-resistant materials that do not deform under the influence of high temperatures. For example, an aluminum corner is perfect for creating a farm at home. The devices are fastened using bolted or screw connections. To save money, the frame is made of wood. For fixation, the structural elements are glued together (for wood) and then fixed with self-tapping screws.
3. Creation of holes for fastening devices. The quality of fixation of ASICs depends on the correctness of the work. If possible, it is worth increasing the distance between devices.
4. Mounting ASIC miners.
5. Assembling a computer, connecting power supplies and ASIC devices using cords (when purchasing, it is important to ensure that there is enough length).

ASIC Farm Business Plan

• Hashrate of the equipment used.
• Price (total expenses).
• The rate and prospects of the cryptocurrency that will be mined on an ASIC farm.
• Energy consumption (total).

1. Buying bars and corners - $130–150.
2. Motherboard -$50–$70. When creating a farm on video cards, you buy specialized equipment with a large number of connectors (for example, AsRock H81 PRO BTC R2.0). If we are talking about ASIC mining, this is not necessary.
3. Processor - $50–60.
4. RAM 4 GB or more - $50–60.
5. Hard drive with memory from 100 GB - $40–50.
6. ASIC miners (4 units) - 8–10 thousand dollars.
7. Room rental (if required) - $80–100 per month.

A brief calculation allows you to roughly estimate the payback of a mining farm. But it is worth considering that as the exchange rate changes, the profit will also change. This means that the period for covering expenses is constantly shifting in one direction or the other.

We must not forget about the risks associated with cryptocurrency. In the case of virtual coins, it is difficult to predict further price changes. This can be seen in the example of Bitcoin, which lost significant value in the first month of 2018, causing many miners to worry. The reason is that many countries have not decided on the status of cryptocurrency and do not know how to control it. That is why purchasing expensive equipment and creating an ASIC farm is always a risk that should be taken only after detailed calculations (drawing up a business plan), if you have available funds and after analyzing future changes in the cryptocurrency network.

Every crypto enthusiast thinks about creating their own farm. Without a doubt, this is expensive and not always effective if you approach this matter without enthusiasm and without considering all the nuances of the mining process through the farm. A cryptocurrency mining farm is the only way to earn bitcoins, and one of the most effective means of accumulating other cryptocurrencies, which may well repeat the fate of the pioneer.

How to build a mining rig

As already mentioned, putting together a farm is expensive. Despite the fact that it is unknown when the investment will pay off, no one stops mining. However, there is one significant caveat, which is that the requirements for equipment are constantly growing. Therefore, even if a person has already set up a small farm, this does not mean that the matter will end there.

The equipment will have to be regularly updated, more modern and technically advanced models will have to be purchased. For example, we can consider mining on video cards and ASICs. Previously, a video card was enough for a farm, but now you have to buy several ASICs, which are very expensive, but, admittedly, more economical. What will happen in a couple of years? Again, throw away several thousand dollars on upgrading equipment? And so it will be.

But such expenses are not so scary if we say that the earnings from solving one crypto problem are 12.5 bitcoins, each of which costs $2,700. At this rate, everything will pay off in record time. The main thing is that the user has in his hands tools that work at the modern level.

A mining farm in 2018 is an upgrade of a regular computer with connected equipment, thanks to which the calculated power is transferred in favor of cryptocurrency mining.

Cryptocurrency, in particular, aroused high interest among users. Many users are looking for information on self-production of bitcoins (mining), and whether it is possible to create a mining farm at home.

Even an inexperienced PC user can assemble a setup for mining Bitcoin coins. All microcircuits and components are created using a modular algorithm; they are also accompanied by detailed instructions for use and connection, so there will be no problems with connection.

Operating principle

All calculations take place using a powerful video card. The main problem with mining is the constant overheating of the computer, and especially video cards; some can operate at temperatures above 100 Cº.

The process of mining cryptocurrency must occur continuously, that is, the computer is constantly on, and the calculation process requires a lot of power.

In order to prevent the working modules from melting and catching fire, it is necessary to provide high-quality cooling. To reduce hot air stagnation between video cards, you have to install additional coolers.

Good cooling of the farm will increase its service life and operating efficiency. Semiconductors on memory boards quickly degrade without cooling. Otherwise, the farm may turn into a pile of microcircuits and wires.

How to assemble and launch a mining farm (video instructions)

A cryptocurrency mining farm is an advanced computer with a central processor, RAM, hard drive and coolers on racks and inside the system unit, plus a frame with video cards and other mining peripherals placed on it.

Purchase of equipment and components

Assembling the frame (rack) for video cards and the truss itself

First, you need to assemble a frame for the farm according to the drawing - a rack for video cards.

Cooling coolers are installed on all sides of the installation.

Setting up equipment and programs, preparing for mining

The primary problem with mining is the high cost of electricity.

How much electricity does a mining farm consume?

Working video cards consume a large amount of electricity. You need to take into account that you will have to pay huge electricity bills.

The minimum energy consumption in the weakest farms is at least 50 watts per hour. The most advanced farms consume about 100 watts per hour; when six video cards are running, 600 watts per hour are spent!

In addition, the remaining components of the computer consume energy, approximately 400 watts per hour. 24 kilowatts of electricity are consumed per day.

Farm of ASIC controllers

This is a simple replacement for video cards - it is a mechanism created solely for the purpose of mining cryptocurrency. So making your own installation for mining using video cards is a thing of the past.

It is easier to purchase ready-made computing power, which is three times higher than in a similar installation created on the basis of video cards.

Assembling farms based on controllers is much simpler than on those based on summed video cards. But nevertheless, the cost of a powerful high-quality farm costs about one and a half thousand dollars, and sometimes higher, for this reason not everyone can afford such a luxury, and given the very vague prospects for the Bitcoin exchange rate in the future, then it is unreasonable to make such expenses.

This is the reason why most miners still use homemade farms on video cards.

What does an ASIC chip (Miner) look like for calculating hash amounts - mining.

What is better: a mining rig made from video cards or ASIC controllers?

Below is a comparison of the performance of a farm based on video cards and a farm based on controllers (miner) using the example of Radeon RX 550 and Antminer S9 - the most current solutions:

Farm for 6 video cards, power supply: electricity consumption – 0.5 kilowatts per hour (without a computer), Computing power – 210 Mhash/s., cost – $900.

Miner: electricity consumption – 1.5 kilowatts per hour (without a system unit), computing power – 13000-14000 Mhash/s., cost – $1900.

So, the savings from purchasing an expensive farm operating on the basis of special controllers are comparable to “saving on matches.”

As a result, “Miner” has a computing power 70 times higher than that of a farm on video boards. Therefore, both the payback and profitability of such a farm are much higher.

Today, the most profitable ASIC controller for Bitcoin mining, in terms of price-quality-recoupment ratio, is .

Mining farm relevance and payback in 2018

Bitcoin miners faced an unsolvable dilemma: whether it makes sense to invest in the purchase of hardware for mining cryptocurrency or to purchase it on the exchange. Huge financial companies use equipment for mining BTC.

Increasing the labor intensity of the mining process contributes to a decrease in the efficiency of the hardware. The profitability of mining is the sum of the bitcoins received over a certain time minus the costs of operation and acquisition, adding the cost of the hardware at which it can be sold after it stops mining cryptocurrency.

All these parameters determine the market value of a unit of cryptocurrency, but the main factor is the current USD/BTC rate.

The dynamics of its change will acutely affect the profitability of the enterprise for growing crypto coins. When the USD/BTC exchange rate rises, the profitability of mining increases, and when it falls, it decreases.

The payback on cryptocurrency mining with large financial investments is practically non-existent. Even a homemade farm with 6 video cards will not bring much income due to poor forecasts for 2017 -2018.

In principle, you can slowly grow Bitcoin coins on your computer, but the profit compared to the investment will be much lower.

Today, the more promising cryptocurrency is DASH (Darcoin). It has positive growth trends, and the higher its rate rises, the faster the miner will be able to recoup their investments and make a profit.

Bitcoin rate 2018

To accurately assess whether it is worth starting mining and assembling a farm, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the changes at the current time and over the years.

Among modern miners, there are those who assemble a mining rig based on video cards with their own hands. To do this, you need to know how to make a frame for a mining farm using a professional drawing as a basis. The number of such users is rapidly increasing, so the question is becoming more and more relevant. This article will not talk about the components of the farm; such elements - power supplies, video cards - are constantly changing. The body remains unchanged, and it is worth paying attention to its manufacture.

Many novice users, when building a farm on their own, wonder what is better to choose - a body or a frame? It can be noted here that using a case is not very suitable for a mining farm.

In such a design, air circulates very poorly. For the full functioning of the farm, such circulation is very important; in its absence, the installed equipment will quickly fail. It is not recommended to buy a ready-made PC case, but to make it yourself.

How to assemble a housing for a mining farm with your own hands?

The frame can be made from different materials - aluminum, wood. Aluminum has the advantage of fast cooling and strength, while wood is affordable. As for the design features, a frame open on all sides is suitable for a home farm; all purchased equipment will be installed on it.

The main equipment can be standard video cards and special microcircuits, previously tailored for a specific cryptocurrency mining algorithm. The choice between microcircuits and video cards must be made by the user himself. What matters here is the level of knowledge of the novice miner and his financial capabilities.

Dimensions and drawing of a mining farm for 3 video cards

The main components of the system are attached to the completely finished frame. The size of the structure should be such that everything fits as freely as possible. If you plan to build a device for 3 video cards, the size of the case can be relatively small; if for 6 cards, you will need to build a large frame.

If you have free money, you can buy a good frame for about 1000 rubles. If you lack funds and have free time, you can easily build a frame with your own hands. For a farm of three video cards, it is worth observing the following design dimensions:

• Height 30 cm;
• Width 30 cm;
• Length 60 cm.

Aluminum profiles can be used as the main elements. The design will be durable, quite beautiful, neat, but also expensive. One meter of aluminum corners costs approximately $5. For this reason, many people prefer wooden structures. The dimensions are kept exactly the same.

Dimensions of a mining rig for 6 video cards

To build a mining rig for 6 video cards, you will need to ensure that the frame of the mining rig has the following dimensions:

1. Width 75 cm.
2. Depth 35 cm.
3. Height 35 cm.

If an aluminum corner is used as a base, its dimensions should be 20x20x2 mm. This material is advantageous in that it does not corrode and does not lose its attractive appearance during operation. A similar frame is assembled using special rivets and bolted connections.

To install all the necessary equipment into the frame, you will need to purchase elements such as a power button, fasteners for cards, mounting spacer rings, self-tapping screws, as well as corners for fans measuring 120 and 140 mm. For all this you will need to spend an average of 2000 rubles. If you want to save money, you can assemble the structure from wood.

Dimensions of a wooden mining rig

The dimensions of a wooden truss, just like those made of aluminum, differ solely depending on the number of video cards installed. A small margin in size can be made to install a slightly larger number of fans, since wood heats up much faster from operating equipment than aluminum.

To increase the number of coolers and fans, it is necessary to use special risers. These are extension cords that allow you to move the processors 30 cm, preventing the entire structure from heating up. When installing the card on the riser and hanging it on a frame stand, the distance will be increased from 1 to 15 cm, this will ensure an optimal level of cooling.

Important! When choosing the size of the structure, you need to pay attention to the fact that all the components used do not lie on top of each other, but are strictly at a certain distance.

Otherwise, you may experience an accidental fire.

Mining farm diagram for 6 video cards

In order not to get confused in the process of assembling the frame and the mining rig itself, you should rely on a standard drawing. This may be a wiring diagram for all installed components. Among the main components are the following:

The brain of the computer is the motherboard, to which all other elements of the farm will be connected. When purchasing a board, you will need to take into account the total number of input slots for video cards. It should be equal to the number of cards used - on average three or six.

1. Video cards or graphics processors. Preference should be given to productive elements.
2. Hard drive. You will need to purchase an element that will effectively store the entire operating system that performs mining.
3. Random Access Memory or RAM. A basic component in any computer. This is a kind of electronic notepad for quickly recording calculations and recalling data on a PC.
4. Power unit. If the farm design involves assembling a megasystem with 6 graphics cards, it is better to use two power supplies, each rated at 750 W.

All of the above items are available in a wide variety of brands and options. The choice must be made by the user himself, based on personal preferences and financial capabilities. The level of power and functional abilities must be greater than the parameters specified in the scheme used as a basis. Then the assembly will not present any difficulties and the operation of the farm itself will be as stable as possible.

Conclusion

After a detailed study of the mining farm scheme, you can easily solve the question of how to assemble your own cryptocurrency production farm. With a competent approach to choosing the necessary equipment and independently constructing a frame to accommodate it.