Rig - what is it: how to make a frame for a mining farm with your own hands, example of drawings with dimensions, what to consider when assembling

The need to manufacture such devices is due to the impossibility of connecting indefinitely all graphics cards to one computer. Mining rig includes:

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A motherboard that has several slots (preferably all six). You will have to pay about eighty dollars for it.
Video adapters. A good RX580 model costs about three hundred dollars.
Power unit. Its power must be at least a thousand watts. For such a device you will have to pay from one hundred twenty to one hundred fifty dollars. The required power must be determined in accordance with the performance of the graphics cards. Their consumption is given in the technical description. If there is not enough power, you can connect a second power supply.
Intel processor. Any model will do, including the cheapest one. Riga's performance does not depend on this in any way. An inexpensive processor costs approximately twenty-five dollars.
RAM. Given the ever-increasing complexity of mining, it is necessary to use equipment with increasingly capacious RAM. Currently, eight gigabytes of RAM is sufficient for mining Ethereum. However, if the video adapters themselves are equipped with capacious memory, then you will not have to purchase additional RAM. For an inexpensive eight gigabyte RAM slot you will have to pay about forty dollars.
A hard drive with a capacity of at least thirty-two gigabytes. There are models on sale with a capacity of tens of terabytes, but it is not advisable to overpay here, since the functioning of the farm is not affected by the capacity of the hard drive. The price of an inexpensive hard drive does not exceed twenty-five dollars.
Cables, extension cords, adapters and components (all together cost around fifteen dollars).
Frame for Riga. It can be assembled from either chipboard or metal.

If we assume that the assembly of Riga will be carried out independently according to video instructions without the involvement of a master, then the total cost of Riga will be no less than two thousand one hundred dollars (of which one thousand eight hundred dollars will be spent on the purchase of video adapters).

"Rigi": what is it?

The English word "rig", meaning "harness, equipment or device", exists among Russian miners as a designation for one element of a truss. A mining rig includes one independent mining unit, which includes the following elements:

motherboard with processor and RAM;
power supply unit(s);
rack with attached video cards.

Several rigs form a so-called “farm”, and a farm made up of a large number of rigs is called a “mine”. The latter can number 100 or more pieces of equipment for crypto mining.

Another way to use the term "mining rig" is to refer to a rack on which graphics cards are mounted for mining. However, the first definition is more common.

All this equipment can be purchased at a specialized store. Then you won’t have to understand the intricacies of selecting, assembling and configuring equipment for crypto mining. But many miners prefer to assemble the rig themselves.

Installation of components

After the case is assembled, you need to purchase and install components. This material will not address questions about which video card is best to buy for mining, or which processor to choose for cryptocurrency. Here we will talk only about the assembly, and not about the choice of hardware.

The components for the rig are:

Motherboard.

Motherboard with 4-6 PCI-E slots. Extension cable for PCI-E connectors and cable for motherboard with reset button.

Video cards.

Several video cards, for example, from 4 to 6 AMD Radeon RX580.

Power unit.

One or more power supplies with a power of 100 watts or more. To calculate power, you need to add up the power consumption of all system components.

CPU.

The processor compatible with the motherboard for ASRock H97 Universar will be Intel Celeron. Processor power does not affect mining profitability, so you can buy an inexpensive option.

RAM.

One or more sticks of RAM with a capacity of 8 GB or more. There is no point in purchasing more than 8 GB.

Hard.

Hard drive with a capacity of 16 GB or more. The capacity must be sufficient to install the miner program. There are no plans to store the entire blockchain weighing 150 GB or more on this disk.
Monitor, keyboard, mouse. This is needed while the rig is starting, then you can turn it off and work through Team Viewer.
Ethernet cable.
Thermal paste.

After all the components are unpacked, they need to be connected in the following sequence:

Secure the motherboard with self-tapping screws in the rig body.
Unlock the RAM slots, insert the boards into the motherboard, close the latches.
Open the locking mechanism on the processor socket, remove the plug from the motherboard, insert the processor into the socket, and close the lock.
Squeeze thermal paste onto the processor, spread it, place the cooler on top, secure it (tighten the bolts).
Connect the cooler fan to the motherboard.
Connect the SATA cable to the hard drive.
Connect the power supply to the hard drive and motherboard.
Place the power supply and hard drive in the rig and secure it.
Place the video cards in the rig, connect them with extension cables (raisers) to the PCI-E slots.
Connect the buttons for rebooting and shutting down the motherboard to it.
Connect the Ethernet cable to the motherboard.
Connect the monitor, mouse and keyboard to the motherboard. If desired, the monitor can also be connected to a video card.

You can watch this detailed video review about the connection.

Setting up the motherboard and installing software

BIOS.
The first step is to update the motherboard BIOS to the latest version. To do this, you need to go to the official website of the board manufacturer, look at the instructions and act strictly according to them.

After this, you should install the operating system and the cryptocurrency miner program on your hard drive.

You can watch this video on setting up Windows OS for mining.

To do this you need to do the following:

Download 64-bit Windows 10 or Linux to a flash drive.
Install the operating system.
Go online, download drivers and utilities for overclocking video cards.
It is advisable to set up mining to start automatically when you turn on the rig; to do this, you need to download a miner program, for example, Claymore Dual Miner, enter your wallet address and nickname in the config, and place the shortcut to the .exe file in the startup folder. It is better to download the miner in the pool in which the rig will mine cryptocurrency.
Turn off automatic Windows updates.
Download Team Viewer and set up a remote desktop, after which you can turn off the monitor.
It is desirable to connect the EOBOT service

Those who are worried about poor Internet quality can connect WatchDog, this is a board that is inserted into the motherboard and reboots the farm when it is disconnected from the Internet.

Buying a ready-made mining rig

The easiest way would be to order a ready-made rig from retail outlets that sell mining equipment.

The cost of the equipment will depend on the components included in it, as well as on the current situation in the cryptocurrency market.

The relationship between the price of TOP coins and the cost of equipment can be seen in the fact that an increase in price attracts more miners, there is a shortage of equipment (in some cases artificial) and clients invest more money to mine right now, when the payback period is shortest.

During periods of price lull or decline, which have been observed since the beginning of 2022, the cost of mining rigs has dropped noticeably as component manufacturers have satisfied the main demand and filled their own warehouses and warehouses of dealers and intermediaries with sufficient stocks.

The benefit of purchasing a ready-made equipment rack is that it guarantees both components and workmanship, and eliminates the need to learn all the intricacies of operation and combination of key components for maximum productivity.

The disadvantage is the presence of a markup on components, as well as the inclusion of assembly work in the price.

There are many people on thematic mining forums who are ready to assemble to order for any budget or for existing components. Most often, such offers are made by trusted participants with an impeccable reputation, who have access to wholesale prices for video cards, and some even deliver them from China.

In such threads there are a lot of positive reviews about cooperation, but there is also negative feedback regarding warranty problems, as well as improper operation.

Pay attention to this direction if you are not ready to assemble the rig yourself.

Moreover, both the collector and other users will suggest the best directions for extraction at the moment, and will also help to avoid problems during operation and maintenance of the equipment.

#4 – GIGABYTE GA-B250-FinTech

Price: 24,000 rubles

Current model from a famous brand. This is a first-class board that can quickly and easily attach 6 video cards. They will work at maximum power without brakes, so the profitability will be the highest. It is noteworthy that the model has a well-thought-out cooling system that allows it to remain within an adequate temperature even under high load.

Judging by the reviews, connecting video cards is easy, so even not the most savvy miners will have any problems with this. Of course, this is not the cheapest motherboard on the market, but if you don’t want to suffer from constant bugs and other problems, it’s worth paying attention to.

GIGABYTE GA-B250-FinTech

What types of mining rigs are there?

The rig can be bought ready-made, it will cost 500-3500 rubles, and the mechanic Uncle Vanya will assemble it even faster, cheaper and better than businessmen who make money from those who want to start mining. You can assemble the rig with your own hands; you don’t need any special physical strength for this.

You can use different materials to make rigs:

Sanded wooden beam. This is the most popular option. It has disadvantages: it is easily flammable, dries out in dry air, swells in humid air. In a garage or on a balcony, mold and wood bugs can grow on it. Some successful miners believe that this is an option for poor students, because such a rig costs about 500 rubles. Photo of a wooden mining rig
Aluminum corners. They vary in thickness and length; you don’t have to cut them at home with a grinder. They are resistant to fire, do not mold, are not affected by insects, do not react to humidity, and are easy to clean. A rig from corners will cost 600-1500 rubles. depending on the size and where the materials were purchased. Photo of Riga from the corners
Exotic materials, such as pipes. The price is individual.Photo rig made of pipes

There are also combined options, for example, a frame made of corners, and a shelf made of wood inside.

In fact, the material can be anything, the main thing is that the stand is stable, durable and beautiful. It is better not to use plastic, since the equipment during mining can get quite hot.

Safety

Extract.

These are some typical news related to the construction of mining rigs. News agencies constantly report about such cases. To avoid dangerous adventures, you need to take into account the total electricity consumption of the farm. In houses with old wiring, if the rated load on the network is exceeded, a fire may occur; the spark will quickly be picked up by dry wood, resulting in a fire.

An aluminum rig is the safest option.

No. 2 - ASRock H81 PRO BTC R2.0 LGA 1150

Price: 9,500 rubles

One of the most popular motherboards for mining. Despite the fact that it appeared on the market a couple of years ago, many still prefer it to more modern new products. It’s easy to connect 6 video cards to it; this can be done without using various adapters and splitters. The board implements Express 2.0 technology, thanks to which the power of the farm will be the highest, and at the same time, its profitability.

Another advantage of the H81 is its durability. Even with intensive use at maximum power for several years, it guarantees stable operation. All because highly reliable textolite, high-quality and durable electronic components are used.

ASRock H81 PRO BTC R2.0 LGA 1150

What you will need for assembly

DIY farm housing

An active (mining) rig consists of 3 parts:

Frame.
Components (hardware).
Software.

To assemble the rig you need to prepare:

Case materials.
Accessories.
Ruler or tape measure.
Drill or screwdriver.

The assembly of the case is carried out according to the following algorithm:

Prepare the dimensions and quantity of components.
Make a detailed drawing of the rig.
Buy timber or angles, bolts and washers, make sure that the house has a drill with a drill bit for metal or wood. If you need a non-standard length of timber or corners, then it is easier to order a cut at a shopping center, it will be either free or very cheap. Professionals will make the cut more accurately than an inexperienced person at home.

You can use a ready-made drawing.

An example of a drawing of a timber rig with dimensions

Rigging diagram from corners with dimensions

How to assemble a rig case for 6 video cards

The dimensions of the mining rig for 6 cards are 34 by 55 cm.

Assembly parts:

Four aluminum corners, 30 cm long.
Six corners of 55 cm.
Four corners 34 cm each.
Five wooden blocks 34 cm long.
One wooden block 55 cm long.

All other sizes are assembled in the same way, only the length of the bars or corners changes. If the floor in the garage or balcony is crooked, then you can equip the rig with legs, which are sold cheaply in construction hypermarkets and markets.

Dimensions and drawing of a frame for a truss of 8 cards

The mining frame of 8 video cards has the following dimensions:

80 cm long.
40 cm wide.
33 cm high truss.

The manufacturing process is similar to assembling a frame for 6 video cards. The tool is similar, as will be described below. Again, the frame may have slightly different dimensions depending on the placement of the truss components on the frame. Before manufacturing, the miner needs to make a sketch on paper and find a place for the power supply, motherboard and video cards on the structure itself. With the proper approach to this process, you can save on material by reducing the size of the structure.

How to assemble a rig body

You can assemble the stand (body) for the farm yourself from wooden blocks and metal corners. Its dimensions must be such that there is sufficient space between the components for effective cooling. Therefore, you cannot make a solid case like in a regular system unit, so as not to cover the miner.

You must first draw a sketch of the stand. This will make the job much easier.

To work you will need:

wooden planks;
aluminum or steel corner;
hacksaw;
screwdriver;
self-tapping screws;
tape measure or ruler.

Step-by-step instructions for making a rack look like this:

cut aluminum corners and wooden blocks in accordance with the sketch;
strengthen the load-bearing corners with bars, securing the latter with self-tapping screws;
assemble the lattice structure of the rack in accordance with the sketch.

Attention: the sides of the structure are made of many bars located at a distance from each other. This way they do not interfere with cooling and serve as a good basis for mounting video cards.

To improve the stability of the structure, it is necessary to screw wooden or rubber legs to its base.

Assembly tools

It is clear that to manufacture either a frame or a body, you will need a tool. If the choice is made of aluminum or steel, you will need the following tool:

Bulgarian.
Drill.
Screwdriver or riveter.
A needle file or a file.

Without this tool, high-quality assembly of a frame or frame for a truss is impossible. If you can’t buy a tool, you can find it from your roommate or a friend.

No. 1 - ASUS PRIME Z270-P

Price: 11,000 rubles

Our rating, which presents the best motherboards for mining in 2022, is headed by the ASUS PRIME Z270-P. This is one of the few models at this price that supports 3860 MHz RAM, so if you wish, you can build a gaming station on it. As for mining, it shows excellent results here too. In reviews, owners report that farms based on it work properly, without bugs or lags, even at maximum power.

The PRIME Z270-P is assembled from high-quality components, which has a positive effect on its wear resistance; there are many protective mechanisms (against voltage surges, thunderstorms, and the like). It is also easy to connect and has quite adequate dimensions (305x201 mm). Although the model is not new, it still looks relevant and will be an excellent foundation for a farm of any capacity.

ASUS PRIME Z270-P

Frame or body?

Cases are widely used for computers and other electronic equipment. From this position, it would be logical to make a housing for the mining farm, rather than a bare frame where the components are not mechanically protected. This is disadvantageous due to cooling. There is no need to make cases. Exceptions - you have a ready-made case (for example, for a server) or the production capacity of a tinsmith workshop.

A housing is needed when it is necessary to direct air currents. The future of mining (and the most profitable strategy right now) is self-assembly from chips purchased in bulk in China at a penny price. One ASIC contains 100-500 identical chips. If you have access to micro-soldering equipment (available at smartphone repair service centers), they can easily be assembled yourself. Video reviews of homemade ASICs are available. If you are making such an exotic option, then you cannot do without a case. Ready-made options from servers are suitable. Used cases cost pennies. In them, the air flow goes from the front panel to the rear wall, so there will never be feedback (heated air entering the input).

A DIY mining rig case is required when you are using custom coolers. For example, it is low-tech to use separate coolers for each video card. It is acceptable to install one powerful one, dilute the cold with heat pipes or install liquid cooling. All this requires buildings. The housings are assembled from steel sheets (galvanized). We need equipment for a tinsmith workshop and painting. Standard color is grey. The first stage of the order is drawing up drawings. They are sent to the tinsmith workshop. It’s impossible to make a body in the kitchen, but it’s easy to make a frame.

Installation and configuration of OS and mining software

To mine cryptocurrency, it is better to use the ethOS OS. It is a version of Linux designed for Ethereum mining. The advantages of this solution:

takes up minimal space on the HDD;
does not require driver installation or software compilation;
provides remote access to a PC to configure it without installing additional programs;
supports weak processors and can work even on 1 gigabyte of RAM;
has a built-in web panel through which you can view the rig’s performance statistics;
allows you to automatically or manually configure the proxy server;
does not require a mouse to operate;
supports mining video cards;
quickly updated using a console command.

If disk space allows, you can install any other OS that supports the mining program and the equipment installed in the rig.

After installing and launching the OS, you need to install the mining program and cryptocurrency wallet. It is best to download the mining program from the pool website. This way you will be sure of its absolute compatibility with it. After registering your wallet, you will receive its address, which must be registered in your personal account of the mining pool. In the future, all earnings will be transferred to him.

Also, in the pool account, you need to copy your login and password, and then enter them in the settings of the miner program. After this, all that remains is to launch the program and monitor the rig’s performance statistics, receiving your well-deserved reward.

Useful subtleties for choosing and assembling a frame for a farm

When selecting a suitable frame or housing for a mining farm, the following features are taken into account:

The corners should not be too wide so as not to interfere with air flow.
Between the centers of the graphics adapters you need to leave at least 140–150 mm of distance (40 mm is the average thickness of a video adapter with a cooler or radiator, 110 mm is the air gap).
The fans are installed on the case on the side where the graphics adapters are connected, which allows you to cool the hottest parts of the cards.
It is not recommended to change the standard arrangement of elements (motherboard on the bottom, video adapters or ASICs in the upper part, power supply in the lower corner). Of all the options, this is the most effective. As a last resort, the motherboard can be mounted vertically on one of the walls.

A painted casing will make the mining rig more visually appealing, although this won't matter if installed outside a living room. It is best to install the structure with which cryptocurrency will be mined in a non-residential area - a storage room, a corridor, and even on a glazed balcony.

#9 – ASUS TUF B360-PRO GAMING

Price: 9,010 rubles

Our rating of motherboards for mining in 2022 continues with the ASUS model. It is perfect for those who are looking for the basis for a powerful farm that brings solid profitability. It has two PCI-E X16 and four PCI-E X1 ports. In comparison with the previous competitor, the solution wins due to the fact that it is colder during operation, and therefore there is every reason to believe that the board will last longer. If desired, you can connect an RGB strip, making your farm not only efficient, but also attractive in appearance. We did not find any significant disadvantages in the owner reviews.

ASUS TUF B360-PRO GAMING

Farm food

When choosing power for a mining farm, not only the overall performance of the equipment is taken into account, but also the degree of reliability. The entire system depends on the performance of the power supply, so it is recommended to buy a product from a well-known manufacturer. For example, for a farm that consumes up to 800-850 W, choose the Enermax Triathlor Bronze 1000 model, which leaves a performance margin of 20%. More powerful mining equipment may require the installation of two power supplies.

Power is determined by adding up the power consumption of all integrated circuits or video cards. Additionally, the electrical power requirements of other components are taken into account - 150–200 W is usually sufficient to operate the processor, memory and storage. For a system of 4 AMD RX 570 video adapters (TDP 150 W), you will need a power supply of (4 x 150 + 200) x 1.2 = 960 watts. The operation of such a mining system can be ensured by a 1 kW power supply.

What to do if the computer does not turn on

It happens that after pressing the power button, the assembled mining rig does not load. The reason here lies in poor cable connections or a malfunction of one of the components.

Do a quick test of the parts by following these steps:

disconnect the mouse, keyboard, HDD and video cards from the motherboard and turn on the power;
if the BIOS does not load, the problem is in the RAM or processor (provided the power supply is in working order and connected correctly);
If the system boots when you disconnect the components, you need to connect them sequentially (after turning off the PC) and retest the boot.

In this way, it is possible to install the faulty element without the use of special equipment.

Existing risks

Before making a cryptocurrency farm, it is recommended to study the opinions of analysts. The situation in mining changes every day, which is why there is a risk of not even justifying the invested funds, and with a high price for electricity, it can also go into the negative. Experts consistently emphasize that even if you put all the components of the system together and make a successful start, you may not get the desired profit for the following reasons:

Legalization. Some countries are already on the path to legalizing cryptocurrencies, which is why additional taxes and duties may be introduced on their use. If this happens, then a major collapse in rates is possible.
Limited growth. The rising price of Bitcoin and altcoins is a growing trend that continues. But even the most optimistic forecasts have significant limitations. Once the peak is reached, the power of the pools will continue to increase, but miners without several large farms with top equipment will be unable to make a profit.
Profitability. Most relevant for most people who have a very limited starting budget. The level of complexity of crypto mining is increasing every day, which is why the number of video cards may not be enough even for their own payback.

Building a mining rig remains a pipe dream for most people due to financial constraints. If you are ready to invest in equipment and take risks, then this manual is suitable for preparing a reliable, durable structure.

How much does mining on a hard drive bring?

It is difficult to say an exact figure, since the increased popularity of this crypt causes a daily increase in difficulty and a change in profitability. With 10 TB of free space seeded with rafts, the expected profit is almost $24 per month.

But, if you are wondering how to mine cryptocurrency through a hard drive, then you need to understand its features. As you can see from the screenshot above, it may take more than 1 year to get anything from Chia. But this indicator directly depends on the amount of free space in working storages. So, having already assembled a full-fledged farm for 100 TB, you can receive a reward in 2 months and trading bots will do this to you.