Mining cryptocurrencies on video cards is a lucrative business during the market growth. However, it is important to properly assemble a mining farm. This will help avoid device breakdowns and ensure stable crypto mining. Often miners use more than 4 video cards in the farm. To connect them, there is a special device – a power supply unit (PSU). However, one may not be enough due to lack of power. That’s why many people use 2 or more PSUs depending on the number of video cards. How to connect two power supplies for mining, it is important to know crypto miners on graphics adapters. The stability of the farm and the safety of the process depends on it.
Advantages of two power supplies for mining
A cryptocurrency mining farm on graphics cards is a popular solution. It allows you to invest in equipment in stages, buying new GPUs at a price of $500-800. For comparison: an ASIC device can cost up to $8 thousand. However, to connect new graphics cards, as a rule, you have to buy a power supply unit. One PSU in an average farm supports 3-4 graphics adapters with 200-250 W power. There are also other advantages in connecting two or more units:
- Affordability. Converters for 1000-1200 W are more profitable to buy. At the beginning of April 2023, the average price of such a block from a well-known manufacturer is ₽8,5 thousand (~$107). However, a 2000W PSU costs from ₽46k (~$579).
- Minimize losses when one of the ATX units breaks down. First – you can run part of the farm on a serviceable unit for the time of repair. Second – replacing a 1000-1200W converter is about 5 times cheaper than a 2000W one.
However, there are disadvantages to connecting two power supplies for mining:
- Assembling a farm for cryptocurrency mining is more complicated. The power should be enough to power the equipment with a 20% reserve. All calculations need to be done in advance. If one PSU from the set does not pull out, the whole farm will stop working.
- More space is needed. The units take up space, and they also need separate sockets for connection.
Synchronization in case of power shortage
Most often 1 Rig consists of 6-8 graphics cards. However, a single 1000-1200W PSU is not enough to connect them. Two power supplies are needed for stable operation of the farm. Besides, it is often technically impossible to connect more than four graphics processors to one converter. This is due to the lack of sufficient PCI-e cables.
If you properly connect 2 power supplies for mining, they will work simultaneously. Ideally, they should run synchronously, but sequential connection is also acceptable. This can be achieved with the help of improvised means and special devices:
- Paper clip. This method involves shorting the cable 24 pin. It is enough to bend the paper clip and insert the ends into 15 and 16 pins. There is a diagram of the connector in the specification to the converter.
- Synchronizer in the form of ATX 24 pin cable. It should be connected to both power supplies on one side. The remaining connector is connected to the motherboard (MP).
- Synchronizer with protective relay. This is the best way to achieve a joint inclusion of ATX-blocks. Such a synchronizer is a small chip. The miner only needs to connect the main PSU to it using Molex or SATA, and the slave – through a 24-pin connector.
Purchase or self-assembly
The main task of the miner when mining cryptocurrencies is to pay off the equipment faster. Therefore, any savings are welcome, as long as they do not affect the stability of the farm.
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Synchronizer for the PSU is often made independently. This helps to save some money, but with risks. Making a synchronizer manually is recommended with experience in electrical engineering. Otherwise, it is better to order a ready-made device.
Required components
For self-assembly of the synchronizer of the PSU will require a soldering iron, wires and wire cutters. The rest of the components and their cost are in the table below.
| Elements of the synchronizer | Approximate price as of April 2023 |
|---|---|
The price of a homemade synchronizer is about ₽160. An off-the-shelf unit with a protective relay costs ₽250. Saving ₽90 is an unreasonable risk for someone with no electrical experience.
How to set up PSU synchronization
For a miner, stability and safety of equipment operation are important. The chosen method of PSU synchronization is able to influence these parameters.
Safety
The most reliable method of synchronization is a special chip with a protective relay. They are sold in many electrical engineering stores. Prices start from ₽250.
A bad way to run two power supplies for mining, according to cryptocurrency miners, is a synchronizer in the form of a 24-pin connector. It is relatively safe, but can cause stability issues. If the first PSU starts to malfunction, it affects the second one as well.
The most unsafe method of starting the second unit is the paper clip. It prevents both PSUs from synchronously turning on. Starting a farm should always start with the second one. Otherwise, there is a risk of burning the raisers with graphics cards. This can cause a fire. Also, miners believe that because of the use of a paper clip, the equipment works unstably.
Calculating the power supply capacity for the farm
Graphics cards have different architectures and computing potential. Therefore, their power requirements differ. An average graphics adapter needs 200-250 watts. It turns out that to power a mining farm of 6 graphics cards will require 1200-1500 watts. However, for its stable operation you need to add another 20% to this value.
You can check the power consumption of the GPU on the official website of the manufacturer.
Connection algorithm
In addition to video cards, a mining farm needs:
- Motherboard (MP). This is the connecting device of all equipment.
- Processor (CPU). It provides the interaction of the system components.
- Hard disk or solid-state disk (HDD or SSD). The mining farm is controlled by an operating system that needs to be installed somewhere. Also, special software is required for mining cryptocurrencies.
- RAM (RAM). Provides quick access to the data needed by the system.
- CPU cooler. An auxiliary component for cooling the processor.
All components are also powered by electricity. This should be taken into account when assembling a farm for mining. The average total consumption of these components is 90-150 watts.
Connecting the master unit
This is the main PSU, from which the entire system is powered, in addition to video cards. Additionally, half of the graphics adapters in the rig are connected to it. Therefore, the master unit should be 100-200 W more powerful than the slave unit. It is impossible to save on the PSU. Sometimes it is fraught with video card failure. You should choose equipment with 80 PLUS Bronze certification and higher.
You can start powering the components. This is done with the help of cables coming from the PSU.
| Hardware | Cable | Additional connection |
|---|---|---|
RAM is installed in the DIMM DDR slot on the motherboard. The CPU cooler is also connected to it via the CPU_FUN connector.
Slave unit connection
It is used only for powering video cards. However, it is impossible to start a slave ATX block if it does not find a connection to the motherboard. This problem is solved by a paper clip that closes the contact in the 24-pin connector. However, many miners do not recommend using it.
More often they install an external synchronizer with a relay. It is enough to connect to it the 24-pin connector of the slave PSU and the SATA cable of the master unit. Then you only need to power the graphics cards via PCI-e.
Important: the graphics card and the raiser it is installed in must be connected from the same PSU.
The plug and the difference from a paper clip
The main difference is security. The task of these elements is to make the converter “think” that it is connected to the motherboard. However, a paper clip can fall out or cause a short circuit. The plug is devoid of these disadvantages. However, when using it, the startup of the mining farm is also carried out from the slave ATX-block.
You can order the plug on Chinese marketplaces. Its price as of April 2023 is from ₽300.
Connecting the farm
After powering all the components, you can plug the PSU plugs into the same outlet. This way the farm works more stably. After that, the first startup is carried out. If everything is done correctly, there will be no problems.
Connecting more than 2 blocks
The principle of operation of the farm does not change. If the miner uses synchronizers, they are powered from the leading PSU through SATA cables. Thus, any number of converters can be connected. However, sometimes there are no free SATA cables left. Then it is allowed to connect the third, fourth and next PSU to the one synchronized with the master one. There is a delay, but it is not noticeable. The equipment will not be critically affected.
The situation is similar with staples and plugs. They are placed on all slave PSUs that need to be started first. After 15-20 seconds, the master power supply is turned on.
Frequent user questions
📢 What are raisers?
They are small chips with a soldered PCI Express interface. They allow you to place video cards at a distance from each other and other hardware. The second purpose of raisers is to utilize PCI-e interfaces of any formats that are on the motherboard.
⚡ Can I use server PSUs?
Yes. However, they need to be modified to connect PC components. They are also noisy.
🔥 The PSU has become warm, what should I do?
More often there are two reasons for this. The first is a malfunction of the cooling cooler. The second one is that a lot of dust has accumulated in the PSU case.
🔔 What is the service life of the converter?
In the average load mode, it is 5 years. However, in mining, PSUs work around the clock, which leads to their rapid wear and tear. With timely cleaning, the equipment will last 2-3 years.
📌 Which manufacturers of PSUs are reliable?
In 2023 more often choose: CORSAIR, EVGA, be quiet!, Segotep, Chieftec, Seaconic.
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Author: Saifedean Ammous, an expert in cryptocurrency economics.
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