DON'T SLEEP on CPU Mining in 2024 (7900x Build)

Summary

In this video, Technicals walks viewers through building a CPU mining rig, highlighting the components and setup process for a Ryzen 9 7900X. He discusses the benefits of CPU mining, the components selected, and shares his experience overclocking and optimizing the rig for performance. Technicals dives into the balance between maximizing hash rates and power efficiency, reflecting on the choices between raw revenue and profit optimization. He also explores the challenges of cooling, power, and fine-tuning the system for the best mining results. The video provides a practical and humorous look at the intricacies of building a CPU-based mining setup.

Takeaways

• 😀 Technicals is expanding their mining rig setup with a new CPU mining rig using the Ryzen 9 7900X to increase hash rates and improve mining performance.
• 😀 CPU mining is gaining popularity because of its compact and simple build compared to GPU rigs, which have more moving parts and are more complex.
• 😀 The build is budget-conscious, but focused on quality parts like the Ryzen 9 7900X, 32GB DDR5 RAM, and a Thermaltake 500W power supply.
• 😀 The creator prefers to buy new parts rather than secondhand to avoid time wasted dealing with unreliable sellers.
• 😀 The build process involves troubleshooting and component selection, including the use of an NVMe USB enclosure for flashing the drive with Hios software.
• 😀 The motherboard used initially didn’t support voltage modifications (PBO), leading to a quick upgrade to a compatible Gigabyte A620i AX board.
• 😀 The video highlights the importance of thermal management and power efficiency, with the creator focusing on optimizing the CPU's hash rate and power consumption.
• 😀 Technicals experiments with different overclocking and undervolting profiles, aiming to find the best balance between raw performance and energy efficiency.
• 😀 The creator achieves optimal hash rates with undervolting, achieving over 100 hashes per watt while maintaining relatively low temperatures.
• 😀 A key consideration is the trade-off between maximizing mining revenue through higher coin production versus optimizing efficiency to reduce electricity costs.
• 😀 The video concludes with a call for audience interaction, asking for tips on optimizing memory timings and seeking feedback on whether others prioritize revenue or efficiency in mining.

Q & A

Why is the creator adding another CPU mining rig?

The creator is adding another CPU mining rig because CPUs are becoming increasingly popular for mining, and they are small, compact, and fun to build. This addition also helps to expand the mining farm after covering the basic costs like electricity and taxes.

What is the specific CPU selected for this build, and why was it chosen?

The creator chose the **Ryzen 9 7900X** for the build. It was selected because it offers a good balance between performance and cost, with decent hashing power per dollar spent on the CPU.

What components are included in the mining rig build?

The build includes the **Ryzen 9 7900X CPU**, **32 GB DDR5 RAM (6400 MHz)**, **ThermalTake Smart 500W Power Supply**, a **Gigabyte Mini-ITX Motherboard**, **Phantom Spirit Cooler**, and a **NVMe drive** for flashing mining software.

What issue did the creator face with the original motherboard, and how was it resolved?

The original motherboard did not support voltage modification or PBO (Precision Boost Overdrive), which was necessary for optimal performance. The creator replaced it with a new **Gigabyte A620I AX motherboard** that supported the required features.

How does the creator flash the NVMe drive for mining software?

The creator uses a **USB NVMe adapter** to flash the NVMe drive for mining software. This adapter allows the NVMe to act as a USB drive, making it easier to flash without needing to connect the drive directly to a motherboard.

What are the power and temperature readings after the initial baseline test?

After the initial baseline test, the rig consumes around **15.8 watts** and operates at a temperature of **83°C** with a hash rate of **16 kilohashes per second**.

What is the creator’s approach to overclocking and finding the sweet spot for the mining rig?

The creator experiments with overclocking and voltage adjustments, focusing on finding a balance between hashing power and power consumption. They aim for a configuration that provides the most efficient setup, which is around **18.5 kilohashes per second** while keeping power consumption low.

What is the main concern when running the mining rig in the summer, according to the creator?

The creator is concerned that the warmer air in the summer, coming from other devices in the mining setup, could cause higher temperatures, making it harder to maintain the cool temperatures they achieved during testing.

How does the creator decide between prioritizing raw revenue or efficiency in mining?

The creator considers the future value of the mined coins. If they believe the value of the coin will increase significantly, they may prioritize raw revenue (more coins). If they think the coin has reached its peak value, they would prioritize efficiency to save on electricity costs.

What was the creator’s final decision on the mining rig's configuration for the best balance of efficiency and performance?

The creator ultimately chose a setup running at **1V** with **18.5 kilohashes per second** as the best balance between efficiency and performance. This configuration favored efficiency to reduce power costs, while still maintaining solid mining output.