- Joined
- Aug 4, 2020
- Messages
- 557
I recently decided to look into gaming PCs to see what all the "PC Master Race" hype is that I've been hearing about for years. I am 32 and used to know just enough about computers to keep myself out of trouble. I've never opened one up before if that gives you an idea. Two weeks ago I was still stuck in the Windows 8.0 days on an ancient i3 laptop (one that was pretty high end when it was purchased and is now completely outdated, but is still pretty snappy and runs like a champ minus the battery). I am COMPLETELY out of the loop and got one heck of a crash course. I also was completely out of the loop regarding the current graphics card/mining situation. I've never even used Windows 10 before! Long story short, being the SlickDeals aficionado that I am, I managed to snag a fairly decent pre-built rig for about $905 out-the-door...a smoking deal IMO. Due to Walmart's unprecedented and shocking incompetence, I managed to purchase a second one even cheaper than the first (about $794 out-the-door). I also picked up a decent peripheral setup for $85 plus tax. I don't know if I can ever use a normal mouse or keyboard ever again. So now I have two identical rigs. I plan to use these as his and hers gaming PCs that will be mining 24/7 in their idle time (98%+). These should see absolutely NO other use, and I intend to keep it that way.
Skip this paragraph unless you're interested in crypto:
Yes, I'm now aware of the LHR cards. They still get right at 25MH/s each and bring in $2-3 per day each after electricity. They'll pay for themselves in barely over a year worst case scenario, assuming the slowest hash/pay rate and assuming there isn't a future workaround for LHR. I'm happy with that. I also have spent quite a bit of time already trying to fine tune various mining programs and found NH QM on medium to be the best overall package. It beat multiple configurations using the regular NH miner, NB Miner plugin, etc., and it runs much cooler than all of the others (58C stable and no babysitting on NH QM versus 70+C NH Miner w/NB Miner 39.7 plugin manually installed). Yes, seeing 35 MH/s was nice, but seeing 76C at one point and seeing lots of LHR locks even when reduced to 70% from 74% wasn't. Not sure why the fans were locked at 42% though even when at 76C. Maybe that was part of the problem, but I didn't know how to change it). Back on track...
Here's the problem: I also recently upgraded said i3 laptop to a new cheap pre-built desktop bundle because I picked it up for $139 plus tax brand new (I justified the monitor alone for that price). This tower handles my everyday browsing, work stuff, and will basically be my 'daily driver.' I know it would make more sense to make one of the Asus PCs my DD and eliminate the HP, but I have my reasons for this decision. I also picked up two of these bundles at that price, and one of the towers is permanently being used in another location. So I plan to use the extra HP monitor for the second Asus rig eventually. But for now, until I buy another desk and figure out exactly how and where I want to accommodate these new machines, I have 3 desktop PCs on one desk! Confused yet? I thought so.
TL;DR/The puzzle pieces: I have 3 desktop PCs on the same desk, and absolutely do NOT want to have more than one keyboard, mouse, and monitor on the already crowded desk. How do I get the same keyboard, mouse, and monitor to control all 3 PCs independently without constantly unplugging and plugging in each device? The best solution I have found so far is a KVM switch, but the issue is that most of these only control 2 PCs. I need to control 3. For the record, all of the peripherals are wired USB, and my monitor has two ports - one HDMI and one VGA. Also, if at all possible, I don't want to worsen the video/input quality/latency on at least one, preferably both, of the Asus rigs by introducing adapters/switches/etc. Not sure if that's even something to worry about, but I've never used anything this demanding before.
Any advice or input on any of the above topics would be highly appreciated.
Skip this paragraph unless you're interested in crypto:
Yes, I'm now aware of the LHR cards. They still get right at 25MH/s each and bring in $2-3 per day each after electricity. They'll pay for themselves in barely over a year worst case scenario, assuming the slowest hash/pay rate and assuming there isn't a future workaround for LHR. I'm happy with that. I also have spent quite a bit of time already trying to fine tune various mining programs and found NH QM on medium to be the best overall package. It beat multiple configurations using the regular NH miner, NB Miner plugin, etc., and it runs much cooler than all of the others (58C stable and no babysitting on NH QM versus 70+C NH Miner w/NB Miner 39.7 plugin manually installed). Yes, seeing 35 MH/s was nice, but seeing 76C at one point and seeing lots of LHR locks even when reduced to 70% from 74% wasn't. Not sure why the fans were locked at 42% though even when at 76C. Maybe that was part of the problem, but I didn't know how to change it). Back on track...
Here's the problem: I also recently upgraded said i3 laptop to a new cheap pre-built desktop bundle because I picked it up for $139 plus tax brand new (I justified the monitor alone for that price). This tower handles my everyday browsing, work stuff, and will basically be my 'daily driver.' I know it would make more sense to make one of the Asus PCs my DD and eliminate the HP, but I have my reasons for this decision. I also picked up two of these bundles at that price, and one of the towers is permanently being used in another location. So I plan to use the extra HP monitor for the second Asus rig eventually. But for now, until I buy another desk and figure out exactly how and where I want to accommodate these new machines, I have 3 desktop PCs on one desk! Confused yet? I thought so.
TL;DR/The puzzle pieces: I have 3 desktop PCs on the same desk, and absolutely do NOT want to have more than one keyboard, mouse, and monitor on the already crowded desk. How do I get the same keyboard, mouse, and monitor to control all 3 PCs independently without constantly unplugging and plugging in each device? The best solution I have found so far is a KVM switch, but the issue is that most of these only control 2 PCs. I need to control 3. For the record, all of the peripherals are wired USB, and my monitor has two ports - one HDMI and one VGA. Also, if at all possible, I don't want to worsen the video/input quality/latency on at least one, preferably both, of the Asus rigs by introducing adapters/switches/etc. Not sure if that's even something to worry about, but I've never used anything this demanding before.
Any advice or input on any of the above topics would be highly appreciated.