I have 20 years of building computers and running linux systems under my belt. It's took me 1 day to build my first rig and 29 days to keep the dam thing from crashing. With little to no perspective on what your doing, troubleshooting can be really hard.
It's a great hobby with the added benefit of *possible* financial gain through selling coins or enhancing ones knowledge of emerging technologies. Good luck!
-phil
Exactly, and this was much easier cause you had 20 years building computers and plus Linux knowledge too.
I think this is exactly why in that situation I would go a totally different direction. It is getting tougher to build a rig with the inflated prices today that would give you a good chance to get a ROI. A board is going to run you 75.00, memory 20.00, processor 50.00, power supply 100.00, then you need to buy the cards.
For me, I would just pick up a S7 Antminer and let it run.... They are selling on ebay used around 500.00 - 700.00 and poof, your mining.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bitmain-Antminer-S7-4-73Th-s-BTC-Bitcoin-Miner-/112574027942?hash=item1a35ef58a6:g:nvYAAOSwIC1ZxXO8Not profitable anymore because of power costs, but with free power it certainly would be.