HomeCryptoMiningMining rig: the best motherboards for multiple video cards

Mining rig: the best motherboards for multiple video cards

When building a mining rig, it is necessary to choose a suitable motherboard to support the preset number of video cards. This article will highlight some of the best motherboards to use for mining rigs using multiple video cards.

Over the past few years, several manufacturers have announced different mining solutions. There are several options, some include six GPUs, others up to eight, thirteen and even twenty. In addition, some solutions are aimed at Intel CPUs for the LGA1151 socket, others for the newer AMD Ryzen, so with AM4 socket.

There are also some fully integrated solutions on the market, already equipped with a processor (welded and not replaceable) and others with RAM and SSD disk included in the bundle. Another important factor is the presence of standard PCIe slots (X16) for direct connection of the video card to the motherboard, or X1 slots, to be used via risers, or even USB 3.0 ports, for direct connection with risers.

Finally, depending on the type of connection port with the video card on the various motherboards there are also different power connectors, required to power the video cards.

Mining rig: the best motherboards for multi-video card systems

ASUS B250 Mining Expert: Up to 19 GPUs at an affordable price

Features

The ASUS B250 Mining Expert was one of the first motherboards launched by ASUS and intended entirely for mining. Equipped with the LGA1151 socket for Intel’s sixth and seventh-generation processors, this card can support up to 19 video cards, using 18 PCIe x1 slots and one PCIe x16 slot.

Power is provided by three 24-pin connectors, equipped with three additional 4-pin Molex connectors. Of course, it is necessary to buy additional risers for the connection of the video cards, given the density of the slots and the format.

All this at a fairly low price, considering it is about 70-80 dollars.

Pros

  • Supports up to 19 GPUs;
  • Cheap;
  • Three 24-pin power supply connectors.

Cons

  • 4-pin Molex auxiliary connectors;
  • Supports only sixth and seventh gen of intel CPUs;
  • Risers required.

Asrock H110 Pro BTC+: the alternative to Asus

Features

Asrock offers the H110 Pro BTC+, a motherboard designed entirely for mining. Equipped with the LGA1151 socket for Intel’s sixth and seventh-generation processors, this card can support up to 13 video cards, using 12 x1 PCIe slots and one x16 PCIe slot. Obviously, it is necessary to buy risers to install all the cards.

There is a 24-pin connector on the power front, equipped with two additional 4-pin Molex connectors. Despite the number of slots, the format is that of a classic ATX card. The price is quite low, amounting to about 70 dollars.

Pros

  • Supports up to 13 GPUs;

Cons

  • 4-pin Molex auxiliary connectors;
  • Supports only sixth and seventh gen of intel CPUs;
  • Risers required

ASUS H370 Mining Master: USB 3.0 ports for installing 20 GPUs

Features

The H370 Mining Master is a motherboard for miners who want to build a mining rig that can support up to 20 GPUs. The H370 Mining Master is the worthy successor to the B250 Mining Expert motherboard.

The ability to connect such a large amount of GPUs is made possible by the introduction of USB ports instead of the classic PCIe x1. This eliminates the need to purchase PCIe x1 to USB 3.0 converters, as they are already integrated into the motherboard.

Another important novelty is the chipset, no longer the old B250, intended for the sixth and seventh generation of Intel Core CPUs, but the H370, which is required to install the new eighth and ninth generation Intel Core Coffee Lake processors.

The H370 Mining Master also includes a number of diagnostic features designed to make the platform easier to manage. The downside? The high price, between 160 and 190 dollars, and the scarce availability.

Pros

  • Supports up to 20 GPUs;
  • USB 3.0 ports for connecting GPUs;
  • Power and Reset button on board;
  • Three 24 PIN power connectors.

Cons

  • High price and low availability.

ASRock X370 Pro BTC+: for those using AMD Ryzen as a CPU

Features

It’s a mining motherboard that supports eight on-board GPUs, but most importantly the processors of the AMD Ryzen range.

The ASRock X370 Pro BTC+ features the old chipset of the Ryzen range for AMD processors, the X370. The fact that it is not among the most recent is not a problem, since, after updating the BIOS, it is possible to install both the first and the second generation of Ryzen processors on the AMD AM4 platform, as well as future releases.

As such, the motherboard socket is AM4. In the CPU list, in addition to the first and second-generation Ryzen, there are also the old Bristol Ridge APUs, although miners will almost certainly be interested in the Athlon 200GE, Dual-Core Ryzen CPU available at about 35 euros. Actually, it might be interesting to take advantage of this solution to use an AMD Ryzen octa-core in the mining on CryptoNight Lite, given the good performance with acceptable power consumption.

The card boasts eight PCIe 3.0 slots. Next to them, there are 7 USB 3.0 ports connected to the PCIe x1 slots to be directly connected to the video cards. Of course, the number of PCIe ports that can be used depends on the processor installed. A total of 12-13 video cards can be installed.

The price is about 160 dollars but is available only and exclusively on Asian shops, and it is now very difficult to find.

Pros

  • 8 PCIe slots in X16 format;
  • 6 USB 3.0 ports for additional PCIe slots;
  • Socket AM4;
  • 3 x 24-pin power supply connectors.

Cons

  • Auxiliary power Molex connectors;
  • Non-standard format;
  • Hard to find;
  • Single-channel RAM.

Gigabyte H110-D3A Express: for those with 6 GPUs and a tight budget

Features

Gigabyte offers a super cheap solution for those who have only six video cards to assemble and want to spend as little as possible for the construction of the mining rig. The Gigabyte H110-D3A Express is a motherboard equipped with the LGA1151 Socket for Intel’s sixth and seventh-generation CPUs, given the H110 chipset.

Given the really low cost, about 50-60 dollars, the features are minimal, but there is everything necessary to set up a 6-card rig.

It features a classic x16 PCIe slot and five x1 PCIe slots. Obviously, it is necessary to use risers to access all connectors. Unfortunately, for the auxiliary power supply, it is necessary to rely on the classic Molex with 4 additional PINs. An acceptable compromise for the price.

Pros

  • Affordable price;

Cons

  • Molex 4 PIN connectors;
  • Risers required.

TB350-BTC Biostar: for Ryzen and 6 low-cost GPUs

Features

Biostar offers several solutions, including the Biostar TB350-BTC, intended for those who want to install up to 6 video cards on a single mining rig with AMD Ryzen CPU. It is perhaps the only alternative to the Asrock model, even if the format and features are different. Obviously, the cost is much lower.

On this card, in fact, in addition to the AM4 Socket and a B350 chipset, there is also a classic x16 PCIe slot and five x1 PCIe slots. It is necessary to use risers to access all connectors. In this case as well, two classic Molex models with additional 4 PINs can be used for the auxiliary power supply. The price, which is just over 90 dollars, is moderate.

Pros

  • Supports AMD Ryzen processors;

Cons

  • Molex 4 PIN connectors;
  • Risers required.

BTC IC6S: for 8 GPUs and with built-in CPU

Features

One of the most exotic and complete solutions is the custom board BTC IC6S, produced by a Chinese OEM. The motherboard offers eight x16 PCIe slots, which do not require the use of additional risers for connecting video cards.

Another important feature is the presence of a processor integrated in the layout (BGA), including a heat sink. This is a low-end solution, an Intel Celeron 3855U Skylake Dual-Core.

To complete the configuration it will be enough to add a bank of RAM SODIMM and an SSD disk or USB stick for storage.

It is important to note that the auxiliary power for the PCIe connectors is provided by the PCI-E connectors of the power supplies, which are much safer and more practical than the Molex connectors. Finally, a note of merit for the price, amounting to 230 dollars, although the shipping costs and any customs tax must be added.

Pros

  • Integrated CPU and heat sink;
  • 8 complete PCIe slots;
  • PCI-E connectors for power supply;
  • Acceptable price.

Cons

  • Shipping from China;
  • A low number of ports.

RebTech Blockchain Motherboard: a compact and complete all-in-one solution

Features

The RebTech Blockchain motherboard is a complete solution as well. It’s a very particular arrangement. It’s a complete, compact motherboard that supports up to eight GPUs for mining.

This solution, in addition to having a form factor typical of a video card, comes complete with a processor, RAM, SSD memory storage and everything needed to create a mining rig.


Instead of the classic eight PCI-E x1 slots, it directly integrates eight USB 3.0 ports for connection to video cards. The board has a very compact size, equal to 250 x 100 x 40 mm. Practically the same as a video card with a dual-slot PCI-E and heat sink. It features a dual-core AMD A6-8500P processor with integrated GPU. All accompanied by 4GB of DDR3 RAM at 1600 MHz. Cooling is easily managed by the integrated heat sink. In terms of storage, there’s a 120GB SSD mSata. Compatibility with Windows 7, 8.1 and 10 has been confirmed, as well as Linux in the various distributions. There is also an on/off switch.

The price is 199 dollars from the official store.

Pros

  • Compact form factor;
  • USB 3.0 ports instead of PCIe slots;
  • Complete with CPU, GPU and RAM;
  • No risers required;
  • Good price.

Cons

  • Limited to eight GPUs.

CJ1900A-BTC PLUS YV20

Features

Another solution similar to the BTC IC6S is the CJ1900A-BTC Plus YV20. It’s a motherboard consisting of two parts, the first is nothing more than the heart of the system, as it incorporates an Intel Bay Trail-D J1900 processor, the slot for RAM and a storage drive.

Also present are the main communication ports. The second part of the system consists of a card with eight x16 PCIe slots, which do not require the use of additional risers to connect the video cards.

In this case, to complete the configuration it will be enough to add a bank of RAM SODIMM and a disk for storage.

Auxiliary power for the PCIe connectors is provided by the PCI-E connectors on the power supplies, which are much safer and more practical than the classic 4-pin Molex connectors. Finally, the price is 190 dollars, although the shipping costs and any customs tax must be added.

Pros

  • Integrated CPU and heat sink;
  • 8 complete PCIe slots;
  • PCI-E connectors for power supply.

Cons

  • Shipping from China;
  • Price.
Emanuele Pagliari
Emanuele Pagliarihttps://www.emanuelepagliari.it/
Telecommunications engineer with a strong passion for technology. His adventure in the world of blogging started on GizChina.it in 2014 and then continued on LFFL.org and GizBlog.it. Emanuele is in the world of cryptocurrency as a miner since 2013 and today he follows the technical aspects related to blockchain, cryptography and dApp, also for applications in the Internet of Things.
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