Part 5 / 11
Putting a rig together
A rig is eight kinds of part. Some deliver op/s, every running part draws watts, and every part has to fit the others.
The build rules
- The CPU socket must match the board (PX1, PX2 or PX3).
- Memory must match the board type (R3 or R5), within its slot count and its size limit.
- The case limits the number of fans.
- The power supply needs 15% headroom above what the rig draws.
- A CPU cooler is required; a graphics card is optional.
How op/s and watts add up
op/s = CPU + graphics card + every memory module. Watts = board + CPU + graphics card + memory + 2 W per fan + 5 W for drive and front panel. Heat, dust and an overclock then change what the rig really delivers.
CPUs and graphics cards
| CPU | Socket | op/s | Watts | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pip Core 2 | PX1 | 1.5 | 18 | 12 |
| Pip Core 4 | PX1 | 4 | 35 | 35 |
| Pip Core 8 | PX2 | 12 | 65 | 120 |
| Pip Core 12 | PX2 | 22 | 95 | 260 |
| Pip Core 24 | PX3 | 60 | 150 | 900 |
| Graphics card | op/s | Watts | Cooler | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pixel 1 | 4 | 30 | 1 | 20 |
| Pixel 3 | 14 | 75 | 1.2 | 90 |
| Pixel 5 | 40 | 160 | 1.4 | 380 |
| Pixel 7 | 110 | 260 | 1.7 | 1,300 |
| Pixel 9 | 260 | 380 | 2 | 3,600 |
Boards and memory
| Board | Socket | Memory | Slots | Max | Watts | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pebble B1 | PX1 | R3 | 2 | 16 GB | 6 | 10 |
| Reef B2 | PX2 | R3 | 4 | 64 GB | 8 | 45 |
| Summit B3 | PX3 | R5 | 4 | 256 GB | 12 | 160 |
| Module | Type | Size | op/s | Watts | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R3 4 GB | R3 | 4 GB | 0.3 | 2 | 4 |
| R3 8 GB | R3 | 8 GB | 0.6 | 3 | 9 |
| R5 16 GB | R5 | 16 GB | 2 | 4 | 40 |
| R5 32 GB | R5 | 32 GB | 4.5 | 5 | 95 |
Cases, power supplies and coolers
| Case | Airflow | Fan mounts | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shoebox | 55 | 1 | 8 |
| Mesh Cube | 72 | 3 | 30 |
| Tower Breeze | 85 | 5 | 90 |
| Glass Atrium | 95 | 7 | 260 |
| Power supply | Covers | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Brick 150 | 150 W | 8 |
| Brick 300 | 300 W | 25 |
| Brick 550 | 550 W | 70 |
| Brick 850 | 850 W | 160 |
| CPU cooler | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Stock fan | 1 | 3 |
| Twin heatpipe | 1.4 | 18 |
| Tower air | 1.8 | 55 |
| Loop 240 | 2.3 | 150 |
Ready rig or custom build
A ready rig is a fixed set of parts at 90% of their combined price. A custom rig is built from parts in your inventory with “Build from parts” on an empty plot. Taking any rig apart puts every part back in the inventory, so upgrading means: take it apart, buy the better part, build again.