I recently dove headfirst into the wild world of AI crypto mining. What is that you ask? It’s a relatively new concept of running AI requests on a global network of home computers, using the blockchain to secure operations and reward participants. My weapon of choice? A custom-built rig optimized to process Llama 3 8B inferences using the Kuzco platform on Solana .
Specs
- Case: Lian Li Dynamic EVO XL (Warning: it’s heavy)
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 5950X (Cooled by the monstrous Noctua NH-D15 )
- Motherboard: ASUS AM4 TUF Gaming X570-Plus (Wi-Fi)
- Graphics Card: ASUS GeForce RTX 4090
- RAM: 128GB (Two 64GB kits )
- Storage: 2TB SAMSUNG 980 PRO SSD
- Power Supply: Seasonic Focus V3 GX-1000
- Case Fans: Lian Li UNI Fan SL-Infinity 120 (2x 3 packs)
What I Wish I Knew Before I Started
It’s been 15 years since I last built a PC. Here’s what I learned:
- The Assembly Dance: Motherboard → RAM → SSD → GPU → CPU/Cooler. I installed the RAM and SSD after the GPU/CPU and it was a pain.
- Case Choices Matter: The Lian Li Dynamic EVO XL is a dream for cable management, but it’s absurdly heavy (45lbs empty). Next time, I might go lighter, but I’m sticking with Lian Li .
- Fan Splitters are Your Friends: Grab a pack of these bad boys .
- Pressure Matters: " Positive pressure " is a thing. More intake fans than exhaust keeps dust at bay.
What is the ROI?
It’s impossible to say since Kuzco hasn’t launched their token yet. For now, this is a hobby for me, but the chance of being early to the new AI crypto mining meta is exciting enough. Will post an update about ROI once the token launches.