Assembling a Crypto Mining Rig for Beginners

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With the rapid expansion of the cryptocurrency industry, despite its occasional setbacks, an increasing number of people want to earn crypto for themselves by mining it, but not everyone is as savvy in technology than experienced mining rig builders.

With that in mind, Finbold has put together a list of mining hardware components, along with the main steps needed for any beginner to build their first mining rig from the ground up and start mining that crypto with the help of experts. YouTube channels Mining Chamber and The Mineur amateur.

Unless you plan to use a pre-made solution, building a crypto mining rig, like mining Bitcoin, requires proper equipment, mining software, and a lot of patience. Let’s start with the components:

GPUs

Graphics processing units (GPUs) are the most important part of any mining rig, and their number depends on the desired hash rate. A beginner would do well with two, like Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1070 G1 and/or MSI Gaming GeForce GTX 1070 Ti.

Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1070 G1. Source: GigabyteCPU

Alternatively, crypto mining can be done using a single central processing unit (CPU), but it must be high-end in this case. That said, using GPUs for mining only requires a moderate processor, such as an Intel Core i5-9400.

Intel Core i5-9400. Source: AmazonMotherboard

Just like a personal desktop requires a motherboard, a mining rig needs one. In this case, the motherboard of choice must be able to support the right number of GPUs intended for mining, as well as scaling. Examples include ASUS Prime Z370-A and ASUS Prime Z390-A.

ASUS Prime Z390-A. Source: ASUSRAM

Short for random access memory, RAM is essential for a mining rig because it temporarily stores data while the rig is running. The mining rig must have enough RAM to accommodate all the data used by the GPUs. Therefore, Patriot Viper Elite Series 4GB 2400MHz Single Channel Cas 6 DDR4 is one of the choices.

Patriot Viper Elite Series 4GB 2400MHz DDR4 Single Module. Source: AmazonData Storage

Depending on the amount of mining activity you intend to handle, storing the mined data requires a hard drive or SSD with a minimum capacity of 240 GB, for example a Samsung 860 EVO SATA III 250 GB 2 internal SSD .5 inches.

Samsung 860 EVO SATA III 250 GB 2.5 inch internal SSD. Source: SamsungPSU

Powering a mining rig requires a power supply unit (PSU) that can support the other components of the mining rig, which means it needs a turntable power rating of 1200 W, such as Straight Power 11 Platinum 1200 W or Corsair HX1200i, 1200 Watt, 80+ Platinum. Approved.

Corsair HX1200i, 1200 Watt 80+ Platinum Certified Power Supply. Source: CorsairOther accessories

Finally, building a mining rig will require a few additional components, including a mining rig frame, USB risers to elevate the GPU from the motherboard, an internet connection (Ethernet cable or Wi-Fi adapter), a 5GB+ flash drive and at least 20 zip ties.

Let’s also not forget the crucial software components: mining software like EasyMiner or CGMiner, an operating system (like Rave or Hive) and a crypto wallet where the mined crypto is stored.

TP-Link AC600 USB WiFi Adapter with 2.4GHz, 5GHz High Gain 5dBi Dual Band Antenna. Source: Amazon Main steps in building a mining rig

Once all the components are gathered, it’s time to start assembling them:

1) Assemble the frame

The frame is the backbone of a future mining rig, so it must be strong and properly installed.

Source: Chamber of Mines

2) Attach the processor to the motherboard

Carefully connect the CPU to the motherboard using the dedicated pins.

Source: Chamber of Mines

3) Install RAM

Place the RAM module into the RAM slot on the motherboard after separating the side brackets.

Source: Chamber of Mines

4) Attach the motherboard to the chassis

Now that the motherboard is equipped with the CPU and RAM, attach it to the mining rig frame.

Source: Chamber of Mines

5) Attach the SSD

Carefully position and secure the SSD to the mining rig frame.

Source: Chamber of Mines

6) Install the power supply

Attach the power supply to the frame of the mining rig and connect it to the motherboard near the processor.

Source: The Amateur Miner

7) Connect USB risers

Place USB adapters in dedicated PCI slots on the motherboard to connect GPUs.

Source: The Amateur Miner

8) Attach GPUs

The final step in assembling the crypto-mining rig is to attach the GPUs to the chassis with USB risers, as well as plug in the 6+2 PCI-e power connectors.

Source: The Hobbyist Miner Greener alternative

For those who would prefer a more environmentally friendly option, building a solar-powered mining rig is an option. However, such an undertaking would require a little more expertise than building a traditional version.

Watch the video walkthroughs below:

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