Need the Best motherboard for mining ? A mining rig is a computer system used for mining bitcoins, ethereum, and other cryptocurrencies. Any relatively powerful computing device can be used, including laptops, desktop computers, GPUs, or even specially designed ASICs (application-specific integrated circuit) machines specifically built for mining. The vast majority of devices are open source because it is easier to build something yourself rather than pay someone else to do it. If you only need the amount of processing power necessary to mine 1 or 2 bitcoins per month, and everyday computer can still do that quite well. Some people might buy bitcoin miners with bitcoin they purchased at very low prices ($1-$5 USD), this supply quickly sold out as more people started buying bitcoin miners.
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What is a motherboard for mining?
Mining rigs are essentially PCs running multiple GPUs. Mining motherboards, therefore, are designed to facilitate the communication between GPUs installed on a mining rig. Ethereum requires at least 3GB of RAM for its DAG file, so you should look out for boards that have 4 or more DDR slots.
Should I use Intel or AMD processors?
The choice between intel and AMD processors is mainly personal preference. Both types of processors can achieve roughly the same results when it comes to mining cryptocurrencies like Ethereum, ZCash, etc., but they go about it in different ways. Intel processors have a slight edge when it comes to the number of cores and the clock speed.
AMD processors offer higher hash rates because they are designed for mining efficiency, but this advantage will diminish over time as both AMD and Nvidia optimize their drivers and software for GPU computation.
Which brand motherboard is the best?
Intel manufactures motherboards; however, Asus, Gigabyte, MSI etc., also manufacture amazing mining motherboards. It’s crucial to make sure that your chosen board has full PCIe slots (at least 3). You should opt for DDR4 memory and USB 3 or better ports. Some modern mining boards come with multiple M slots; we advise using
Motherboard considerations?
What are the main differences between an average motherboard and a quality mining board?
· A standard motherboard will have 6 PCIe slots at most, while a mining board can have 8, 10 or even an absurd 18. This allows for maximum performance while maintaining high stability.
· Motherboards designed for GPUs prioritize compactness over other features. Therefore, they’ll often allow you to mount your GPUs directly over each PCI-E x16 slot. This configuration reduces wiring complications and boosts cooling performance by freeing up space around the hot-running components of your rig.
The best bang for your buck motherboard is currently the ASRock H81 Pro BTC R2.0. It supports up to 13 GPUs (if you want to go over this number, make sure you buy an external hub) . It can hold up to 4 GPUs on each PCIe slot. This configuration allows for maximum flexibility and stability, as well as a reduced risk of hardware failure through overheating.
Top the best mining motherboards at a glance
1. MSI Z170A Gaming M5
The best thing about this board is that it offers up to 7 PCIe slots. This means you can install an absurd amount of GPUs on this bad boy (up to 13). Installing all these GPUs will not be without its challenges but it’ll definitely be worth the end result. Keep in mind that each GPU needs its own power source and USB riser cable. On top of its impressive number of PCI Express slots, this motherboard can fit a maximum of 64GB DDR4 RAM which is more than enough for any mining rig. It also has 6 SATA ports which are more than enough for storing all your mined coins.
Pros:
· Enough PCI Express slots to fit 8 GPUs on this board alone. Max of 13 GPUs when combined with external USB hubs.
· 64GB DDR4 RAM support, more than most mining motherboards (4600+ MHz) can accommodate.
Cons:
· Pricey compared to similar mining boards (MSRP $213). This motherboard is aimed at gamers but it performs well as a mining rig too! It’s also fairly large and heavy, so keep that in mind before buying it if you plan to build a portable mining rig. You will need an extra-large case to fit this board.
2. ASUS B250 Mining Expert (best for 6 GPU rigs)
This is the most powerful mining motherboard currently available on the market. It can accommodate up to 19 GPUs with an additional CPU required per additional GPU. Installing 6 cards will not be an issue at all because it comes with 6 PCI Express slots installed out of the box. What makes this board unique is that it has a full 24 pin ATX power connector so there’s no need for an external PSU or even ribbon cables! All you have to do is plug in the wall socket and start mining.
Pros:
· Unique features like power delivery circuitry and the ATX 24-pin connector
· This board will allow up to 19 GPUs which is more than most mining boards (18 PCI Express Slots). Max of 29 GPUs if using an external USB hub.
Cons:
· ASUS has not specified how much RAM this board can hold, only that it supports up to 64GB DDR4 RAM. This alone should make you think twice before buying; we don’t want our rigs running out of memory after a few months as updates roll out! Most mining motherboards support at least 32GB DDR4 RAM. Keep in mind that 8x GTX 1070s = 64GB DDR4 RAM . So just imagine whatx GTX 1070s could do with 64GB DDR4 RAM
3. Gigabyte GA-H110-D3A (best for 4 GPU rigs)
This one is the cheapest mining motherboard currently available on the market. It can accommodate up to 4 GPUs safely but it’s advised that you go with 6 GPUs at least since it has only 2 PCI Express slots. You could use this for solo mining or combined with other 3 slot boards, just make sure not to exceed 6 GPUs per rig. This board has a very basic set of features and if you want more advanced features like overclocking then ASUS B250 Mining Expert or ASUS B250 Expert Mining are better choices.
Pros:
· It’s cheap
· Takes up very little space
Cons:
· The absence of advanced features like overclocking and bios settings. If you want more than just plug-n-play, look elsewhere. You will need to install additional devices or use an older motherboard/CPU for powering your mining rig. This motherboard is perfect if you only want to start mining with 1 GPU and slowly expand your farm as time goes on. It’s also a great test bench if you’re planning to build a bigger rig since it doesn’t take up much space! I recommend sticking with this board if you have no plans of overclocking your mining rig because the price difference between this motherboard and its competitors outweighs the benefits of overclocking.
4. MSI Pro Series Intel Z170A (best for 4 GPU rigs)
This board is essentially the same as the H110 Mining Expert but it’s slightly better since it has more PCI Express slots. This means you won’t have to combine cards if you plan on building a 4 GPU rig. It can accommodate up to 4 GPUs, no more and no less.
Pros:
· Supports up to 4 GPUs just like H110 V8-822 G/16x mining motherboard.
Cons:
· It doesn’t offer much other than what the 822G has which is why I included this one last in my list.
Final thoughts on the Best motherboard for mining
As long as you go with a motherboard that supports up to 7 GPUs then any of the above motherboards will work for your mining rig. My personal preference is going with B250 Mining Expert or Pro Series Intel Z170A since they offer more PCI Express slots which means you can add more graphics cards if needed. In addition, both come with backup BIOS and will make building your mining rig much easier!
This article hopes you have the best choice, aradytech.com