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User: amanicdroid

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Comments · 144

  1. Re:You use GPUs for video games? on New GPU Testing Methodology Puts Multi-GPU Solutions In Question · · Score: 1

    ADDED BONUS: many have already have all the equipment they need to get started. Like you said, it's a fun hobby.

  2. Re:You use GPUs for video games? on New GPU Testing Methodology Puts Multi-GPU Solutions In Question · · Score: 1

    Considering the cards overheat at above 120 C and overclocking doesn't really do anything for hashing, miners in hot climate could put the boxes in a protected area outside and suffer few ill effects.

  3. Re:You use GPUs for video games? on New GPU Testing Methodology Puts Multi-GPU Solutions In Question · · Score: 2

    Mine is a joke? People call it waste heat, I use and enjoy the waste heat so I made a joke about it.

    I doubt a natural gas furnace even has a PCIx16 slot much less match even a budget Nvidia's hashing specs.

    ^See what I did there? Another joke.

  4. Re:You use GPUs for video games? on New GPU Testing Methodology Puts Multi-GPU Solutions In Question · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Bitcoins stayed around $13 to 1 for months and you're correct, there wasn't a breakeven point for GPU mining. With Bitcoins trading at $30 the breakeven point is available again. For how long, I don't know, and I wouldn't bet a business on it.

  5. Re:You use GPUs for video games? on New GPU Testing Methodology Puts Multi-GPU Solutions In Question · · Score: 5, Informative
    This is the explanation I've been given for the disparity between Nvidia and AMD:
    https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Why_a_GPU_mines_faster_than_a_CPU#Why_are_AMD_GPUs_faster_than_Nvidia_GPUs.3F

    Specifically:

    Secondly, another difference favoring Bitcoin mining on AMD GPUs instead of Nvidia's is that the mining algorithm is based on SHA-256, which makes heavy use of the 32-bit integer right rotate operation. This operation can be implemented as a single hardware instruction on AMD GPUs (BIT_ALIGN_INT), but requires three separate hardware instructions to be emulated on Nvidia GPUs (2 shifts + 1 add). This alone gives AMD another 1.7x performance advantage (~1900 instructions instead of ~3250 to execute the SHA-256 compression function).

    For GPU programming I've enjoyed Nvidia's CUDA package greatly over wrangling OpenCL that Radeon relies on.

  6. Re:You use GPUs for video games? on New GPU Testing Methodology Puts Multi-GPU Solutions In Question · · Score: 2

    Waste heat? You mean my ATI Radeon 200W Space Heater® that takes away the night chills?

  7. Re:You use GPUs for video games? on New GPU Testing Methodology Puts Multi-GPU Solutions In Question · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Haha, I'm at less than 1:1 electricity to bitcoin ratio after ~5 months.
    Kill-A-Watt says I've used approx $68.23 of electricity at 11.5 cents per kWh. Bitcoins currently trade at 1 to $30 and I've got 2.2 bitcoins. The Radeon 6770 was (and still is) ~$110.

    Additional factors to consider:
    -The bitcoin machine is also my daily workstation so if it were running headless and otherwise unused it would have probably done better in the electricity used category.
    -It makes a damn fine space heater and I've enjoyed it immensely this winter.
    -My focus in this project was to learn hands-on about scientific computing applications and it's been great for that.

    In conclusion: as a business it would have been a flop, partially because I haven't optimized the setup for that application. As a learning opportunity and 200 watt heater it's been phenomenal.

  8. You use GPUs for video games? on New GPU Testing Methodology Puts Multi-GPU Solutions In Question · · Score: 5, Funny

    My AMD is cranking out Bitcoin hashes 15 times faster than an equivalently priced Nvidia so I'm okay with the results of this article.

  9. Follow up question: on Are Windows XP/7 Users Smarter Than a 3-Year-Old? · · Score: 1

    Are slashdotters able to tell the difference between an advertisement and actual news?

  10. I am surprised. on Certain 'Personality Genes' Correlate With Longevity, Says Study · · Score: 1

    So the angry hobo that stands in traffic screaming at cars will die sooner? Now if we could somehow correlate his behaviour with his genes while taking social factors into account as well.

  11. Evitable Conflict on Will IBM Watson Be Your Next Mayor? · · Score: 1

    I enjoy Asimov's stories but I had no idea that IBM was using them as a business plan.

  12. Re:Unintended consequences on UK Plan Would Use CCTV To Stop Uninsured Drivers From Refueling · · Score: 1

    Give a man a siphon hose and he can drive for a day. Teach him how to puncture a gas tank to collect fuel and he can drive for life.

    Or something.

  13. Re:Stick to the subject of the article. on Iran's Smart Concrete Can Cope With Earthquakes and Bombs · · Score: 1

    Good point. That sure is some nice concrete. Like to get me some of that.

  14. But, but, but on Are Rich People Less Moral? · · Score: 1

    But pirates commit far more crimes than the RIAA and other artist protectors.

  15. Re:Windows 95 vs Windows 7 on Comparing Today's Computers To 1995's · · Score: 2

    (yes, I realize you were kidding) Hover is available for download here http://www.stanford.edu/~cammat/HOVER/index.html and here's the Weezer "Buddy Holly" video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kemivUKb4f4 (Vevo account unfortunately)

  16. Fallout: New Vegas Peer Reviewed This Storyline on Submitting "Nuking the Fridge" To Scientific Peer Review · · Score: 2

    Scientists aren't the only peer-reviewing group. Bethesda looked at the evidence presented and showed their judgement here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-iPC-IyZCY

  17. Support Gleick's legal defense fund, buy his book on Heartland Institute Document Leaker Comes Forward, Maintains Documents Are Real · · Score: 1

    Bottled and Sold: The Story Behind Our Obsession with Bottled Water [Paperback] Peter H. Gleick (Author)
    http://www.amazon.com/Bottled-Sold-Story-Behind-Obsession/dp/1610911628

  18. Re:The real problem here on Indonesian Man Faces Five Years For Atheist Facebook Post · · Score: 1

    First of all: many people have had the balls to stand up and say that.

    Secondly, many have had the balls to say it while not hiding their face as an anonymous coward merely tossing gasoline on the Slashdot bonfire.

  19. Re:I have enjoyed following the new Sweden account on Sweden Experiments With Public Twitter Takeover · · Score: 1

    The Stockholm, Oslo, Copenhagen triangle looks interesting. I imagine that touring it would keep me busy for a week. The Aland islands look promising as well.

    I'll keep your advice about visiting in spring or summer as the Arctic circle passes through that area. :)

  20. I have enjoyed following the new Sweden account. on Sweden Experiments With Public Twitter Takeover · · Score: 2

    I have enjoyed following the new Sweden account and would consider visiting after enjoying the country shared from the viewpoint of common citizens. I have never looked at a brochure from the Bahamas and found it convincing or enticing.

    In my case, it's entertaining and an effective ad campaign. The Swedish tourist bureau should probably win a medal or a cookie or something for an effective campaign.

  21. Slashdot article headline in 2,000 years: on Recent Discovery Contains Oldest Depiction of the Tower of Babel · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Recent Discovery Contains Oldest Depiction of Cthulu

  22. Re:Speak for yourself on Whither the Portable Optical Drive? · · Score: 5, Informative

    My external DVD burner works brilliantly for the rare occasions that I need it and shaves unnecessary bulk from my daily carry.

    I've spoken for myself per request.

  23. An Inexpensive Anti-Theft Vehicle Tracking System? on Ask Slashdot: Inexpensive Anti-Theft Vehicle Tracking System? · · Score: 4, Funny

    Have you considered a giant ball of yarn? Tie one end to a pole and the other to a fender. If the bike gets jacked just follow the string.

  24. Interesting thread on this from reddit on China Building Gigantic Structures In the Desert · · Score: 2
    zjpennington's reddit thread

    ..The Gobi area is rife with military activity. The Chinese frequently use it as a military training area. They use it to test new Radars/Weapons Systems/Aircraft etc... Sometimes it's nothing more than just lame artillery training and other times we've been able to catch them testing some pretty advanced weapons systems they've developed to counter our systems. This was the case when I was able to watch them over the course of a few days testing out their "Dragon Eye" system before they placed it on their Luyang II DDG's. Which is their equivalent of our "Aegis or Spy I" system on our DDG's..

    (At least one commenter has quoted this thread without proper attribution.)

  25. Re:dmr on Dennis Ritchie Day · · Score: 1

    Perfect eulogy for dmr, sir/maam.