Cryptocurrencies are wreaking havoc on the graphics card market. Prices for some models remain in orbit, and gamer protests have been in vain. As if that weren't enough, companies have begun to savor the economic potential. AMD released a controller for RX Vega specially optimized for Ethereum mining, and now Asus follows with its new B250 Mining Expert motherboard, which features 19 PCI Express connectors.
At the time of writing, Ethereum's price sat at $327. In other words, it gained more than a hundred dollars in less than 25 days. Its difficulty increased, as did coin robberies via attacks on ICO processes, but those events are part of the game. Ethereum's rise has significantly impacted the hardware market. Beyond public statements, the facts indicate that earnings are growing, while the most harmed is the traditional consumer who just wants a graphics card for gaming. AMD rubbed salt in the wound with a beta driver for RX Vega focused on Ethereum mining, and motherboard manufacturers are not staying behind. Just look at Asus's latest product…
The Asus B250 Mining Expert
The Asus B250 Mining Expert features an LGA 1151 socket, two DDR4 memory slots, four SATA ports… and 19 PCI Express connectors, of which 18 are x1. The motherboard includes a "state detection system" for each connector, which helps determine more quickly whether the graphics cards work properly or if there is an error (such as false contacts in PCI Express extensions).
Another standout element is the power solution implemented by Asus. If we visualize a system based on 19 GeForce GTX 1060 cards, the TDP rises to 2,280 watts just in video hardware, so Asus prepared its motherboard to receive three ATX power supplies, and each PCI Express connector has a dedicated capacitor (plus three auxiliary Molex connectors on the PCB).
Many users must be asking "why", but the answer comes down to "cost-benefit". With the Asus B250 Mining Expert, a miner can anchor 19 graphics cards to a single computer, thus optimizing their investment. Asus didn't announce prices or availability, however, I don't think they'll take long. As a closing note, I want to clear up a doubt: Ethereum was designed to resist ASICs, and operations require very little PCI Express bandwidth.
