Ting's Hardware Multibox Build using PCIe Passthrough with Unraid

[Agent_Ting]

Hi Everyone!

I thought I would share a video I made here to give hope out there for those who wish to hardware multibox on a budget! Have a look and I look forward to the discussion, questions and comments!

Good luck!

[nodoze]

Thanks for sharing and very well done. That was well documented and interesting to watch. It is one of the better ways to hardware multibox without lots of extra PCs.

I look forward to the follow-on video(s).

I would also like to see someone document their hardware boxing via a Multiseat Desktop setup all on one PC (via a MD solution like Aster from https://ibiksoft.com/ ).

A MultiSeat solution is a unique option that give the benefits of hardware boxing but only needing 1 install of Windows and possibly only 1 install of WoW and only needing 1 (or maybe 2) graphics cards. Likely would still need to add USB extension cards and a multiviewer and KM Sync switch(es) and related cables for all of that but overall likely the least expensive overall option with the least overhead (not running 5 copies of windows, etc).

[Mordikai]

Fantastic video, thanks! Prior to the software broadcasting ban I was playing on a Windows VM run under QEMU/KVM with Arch Linux as my main OS. Some really great ideas here I may pilfer in for my Hardware Boxing 2.0 build

[mrdsp]

I am running hardware MB very well - doing wPvP most nights on some old HP ProDesk 600 G1's - I run using the standard on-board GPU provided by the i5.

They cost me less than £100 ($140) each on ebay. I use a 8-port AIMOS to sync a game pad to all toons (this is primary control) and another AIMOS broadcasts keyboard/mouse for when you need to switch between them.

Other than the fact the game has zero balance, works very well playing 5x Druids at 200 ilvl.

[yeaunome]

Thanks for sharing and very well done. That was well documented and interesting to watch. It is one of the better ways to hardware multibox without lots of extra PCs.

I look forward to the follow-on video(s).

I would also like to see someone document their hardware boxing via a Multiseat Desktop setup all on one PC (via a MD solution like Aster from https://ibiksoft.com/ ).

A MultiSeat solution is a unique option that give the benefits of hardware boxing but only needing 1 install of Windows and possibly only 1 install of WoW and only needing 1 (or maybe 2) graphics cards. Likely would still need to add USB extension cards and a multiviewer and KM Sync switch(es) and related cables for all of that but overall likely the least expensive overall option with the least overhead (not running 5 copies of windows, etc).

I feel guilty that I haven't done a video on my setup.

Ting is on benediction with me too. Cant wait to run 10 man's with him. 10 ele's gonna be fun

[nodoze]

I am running hardware MB very well - doing wPvP most nights on some old HP ProDesk 600 G1's - I run using the standard on-board GPU provided by the i5.

They cost me less than £100 ($140) each on ebay. I use a 8-port AIMOS to sync a game pad to all toons (this is primary control) and another AIMOS broadcasts keyboard/mouse for when you need to switch between them.

Other than the fact the game has zero balance, works very well playing 5x Druids at 200 ilvl.

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...

Thanks for sharing and I really liked seeing your setup.

I am a little concerned that you are over-taxing your potato PCs as they are glowing red hot.

;-)

[nodoze]

I feel guilty that I haven't done a video on my setup.

Ting is on benediction with me too. Cant wait to run 10 man's with him. 10 ele's gonna be fun

You should!

Err I mean should do a video on your setup and not necessarily feel guilty (but if that helps you document your setup then I guess in the end that helps the multiboxing community ;-) ).

If it is easier, instead of doing a video, some forum posts with screenshots and maybe a diagram would be sufficient as I think Aster is a solution not many folk understand... Being able to use a single install of Windows and maybe only 1 WoW and only 1-2 Video cards is just a great option that others should be aware of.

That being said, if you do document your setup, please do it in another thread... Probably best if Mrdsp and others start their own threads on their setups.

Speaking of feeling guilty, I now regret my above post as I didn't want it to derail Ting's thread.

I use Linux professionally (being using Unix and Linux professionally and personally for over 20 years) and think Ting's setup is one of the more Smexy boxing setups I have seen.

I think most folk can get by with more pedestrian solutions as Ting's setup is just on another level...

I hope you both end up working together as 2 5boxers in a 10man or whatever...

[Agent_Ting]

Thanks again for the complement. I'm hoping my build also sparks some interest in 10-box setups. With enough PCIe lanes on boards like the Threadripper series, it's possible to scale and reduce the cost per machine even further. I'd definitely like to see some Kara boxing builds!

Still, $180 Potato PC's are impressive and it reminds me of a time when multiboxing truly WAS multiboxing because of hardware limitations.

You should!

Err I mean should do a video on your setup and not necessarily feel guilty (but if that helps you document your setup then I guess in the end that helps the multiboxing community ;-) ).

If it is easier, instead of doing a video, some forum posts with screenshots and maybe a diagram would be sufficient as I think Aster is a solution not many folk understand... Being able to use a single install of Windows and maybe only 1 WoW and only 1-2 Video cards is just a great option that others should be aware of.

That being said, if you do document your setup, please do it in another thread... Probably best if Mrdsp and others start their own threads on their setups.

Speaking of feeling guilty, I now regret my above post as I didn't want it to derail Ting's thread.

I use Linux professionally (being using Unix and Linux professionally and personally for over 20 years) and think Ting's setup is one of the more Smexy boxing setups I have seen.

I think most folk can get by with more pedestrian solutions as Ting's setup is just on another level...

I hope you both end up working together as 2 5boxers in a 10man or whatever...