Introduction
Leveraging free electricity at a company-provided hotel, this guide outlines a cost-effective 4-GPU mining rig for Ethereum (ETH). The goal is to achieve 100–120 MH/s hash rates while maintaining a 1-year ROI.
Hardware Selection & Cost Breakdown
Core Components
| Component | Model | Price (¥) | Power (W) |
|-------------------|--------------------------|----------|----------|
| GPU | Sapphire RX 470D 4G | 1,249 | 175 |
| GPU | Sapphire RX 470 4G | 1,399 | 185 |
| GPU | XFX RX 480 4G | 1,399 | 230 |
| PSU | Corsair RM1000x | 1,279 | 1,000 |
| Motherboard | Gigabyte X99-UD4 | 2,699 | – |
| Case | Jonsbo W2 | 599 | – |
Budget Comparison (4-GPU Setup)
| Configuration | Total Cost (¥) | Power Draw (W) |
|-------------------|---------------|---------------|
| RX 470D + X99 | 9,773 | 700 |
| RX 470 + X99 | 10,373 | 740 |
| RX 480 + X99 | 10,373 | 920 |
Key Considerations
- Motherboard: X99 allows future upgrades (e.g., gaming/workstation use).
- Cheaper Alternative: Used X79 boards (e.g., ASUS R4E + 3930K for ¥1,699) may reduce ROI time.
Performance Analysis
GPU Hash Rates (ETH)
- AMD RX 470/480: ~30 MH/s per card (120 MH/s for 4 GPUs).
- NVIDIA GTX 1080: ~30 MH/s (inefficient for ETH vs. AMD).
- Conclusion: 4x RX 470 offers the best cost-to-performance ratio for ETH mining.
FAQs
1. Can I use NVIDIA GPUs for ETH mining?
- NVIDIA cards (e.g., GTX 1070/1080) have lower hash rates (~28–30 MH/s) and higher power draw compared to AMD RX series.
2. Is a 4-GPU rig noisy for a hotel room?
- Yes—ensure adequate ventilation and consider sound-dampening cases.
3. What’s the expected ROI?
- 4x RX 470: ~6–12 months (assuming free electricity).
4. Do I need PCIe risers?
- Optional, but standard motherboards (e.g., X99/Z170) support 4 GPUs without risers.
Final Recommendations
- GPUs: Prioritize RX 470/480 for ETH efficiency.
- PSU: 1000W+ (e.g., Corsair RM1000x) for stability.
- Motherboard: X99 for future-proofing or budget X79 alternatives.
This guide avoids speculative pricing and focuses on long-term viability. For updates, monitor ETH difficulty adjustments and hardware market trends.
Let me know if you'd like further refinements! 🚀