Re: Butterfly Labs vs. ASICMiner Block Erupter

Anyway, 2 questions, where did you get your fan and if you're mining using a Erupter, do you even really need a fast computer or can you just use a cheap, semi-crappy desktop?

Fan came from Amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B003XN24GY/ -- It will be available on Amazon US or whatever location you are.

I have my 6 block erupters into the DLink DHUB-H7 which is hooked to a raspberry Pi. The Pi does everything to do with the block erupters (it runs cgminer).

So in terms of cost you're looking at $20-30 for the hub, $35 for the pi and whatever the block erupters cost you. Pretty cheap and nice and easy to setup.

This was my original setup: http://i.imgur.com/Rj8vzwt.jpg
* The LCD screen is an Adafruit LCD kit for the Raspberry Pi and is not critical to mining. I just like to see the hashrate easily.
* The hub was some crappy USB 2.0 powered hub but could only support 4 block erupters (2Amp power adapter).

This is my current setup: http://i.imgur.com/zl81Lgu.jpg
* Same LCD screen (I can change the colors on it)
* New DLink DHUB-H7 with 3amp power supply
* Fan added from the 2nd usb port on the Pi

This is CGminer hashing away on the Raspberry Pi (via ssh) with 6 block erupters: http://i.imgur.com/ADJKsSr.png

Deliberately using that version of cgminer as I heard newer ones had problems with the block erupters. However, I've also tried the newest version with no problems.

Perfect as that's already the fan i had in my car haha

This is my cart currently:
http://i.imgur.com/PviqgMa.png

I hope you haven't already purchased this.

"For a stable connection, the devices connected to the 12 Port hub must not exceed a combined current of 5 volt 2A."

Each USB miner will consume about 500 mA so you're looking at a max number of 4 erupters possibly running stably on that USB hub with that power supply.

You have two choices, go with a hub like this one that comes with a better power supply:
http://www.amazon.com/Release-Anker%C2%AE-Uspeed-Charging-Adapter/dp/B005NGQWL2/ref=pd_cp_pc_1

That comes with a 5A power supply, which would allow you to run 9 miners and that fan and be safe.

Or try to find a new power supply that will work with that specific USB hub. This is a bit trickier and can possibly ruin both the asic miners and the hub if you dont use the right power supply.

I would personally just go with a USB hub with a power supply that can handle everything out of the box. Sure its a bit more expensive but it's more of a sure thing that way.