Topic: A complete guide to Windows 10 Pro GPU mining - page 2. (Read 6607 times)

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Version 0.9.3

Table of contents

Disclaimer
Why mining?
Isn't it too late?
Why Windows?
Windows Product Key
Work in progress
Hardware
Mid budget
Tools
GPU
Nvidia or AMD?
What is the best AMD GPU?
What is the best Nvidia GPU?
Software
Guide
Hardware
Windows install
Windows configuration
Mining
AMD and Nvidia
AMD
Nvidia
Resource

Disclaimer

I'm not an engineer nor certified in any way that makes me an authority in mining. I'm a software developer who dug up the internet to build my first mining rig a year back. I found that information is sparkled all around and that a complete guide could be useful for some of you guys. If your dog dies or your house burns because you followed something in this guide, don't try to make me accountable. If you don't feel sure about a piece of information, double check it.

Why mining?

Mining is still very profitable. I built a 2 GPU rig a year back, a 6 GPU 8 months back, and now I'm building a third one, I still have a day in day out job, so I don't mine to buy the bread, and because of this the $5k I invested in mining during this year now worth over $30k.

If you use some online calculator, the profitability for a $3k rig is about $10 day. Not very convincing. So If you are planning to make a living on mining, you will need more than one rig. But if you can save what you mine, in a 1 year period you are going to feel like you are slowly winning the lottery. Quite an impressive feeling.

Isn't it too late to mine? Ethereum isn't going POS? Some other random FUD?

No, it is not. There are dozens of other coins you can mine, and even if ethereum moves to POS the new algo will probably rely on miners in some way.

Why Windows?

There is lot of flavors for mining: Windows, Ubuntu, EthOS, MiningOS, and a few others. I will not go on listing pros and cons of each one of them because this is very much open to discussion, maybe I will do comparative table in the future, but I don't feel like right now, mainly to avoid fan boys in this thread. If you choose Windows, this is the way to go.

Windows Product Key

Windows 10 is free to use. A product key is necessary only if you want to personalize the work space and remove the non genuine watermark. So if you feel like changing the background image, buy a key.

Work in progress

This is a work in progress, if you find errors or have information that you are willing to share, please let me know, and I will gladly fix the guide. I will also keep all the information up to date and add up as much information as possible in the next few days.

Hardware

Mining is all about heat. I always choose powered riser cables and motherboard with independent molex connectors to power the PCI connectors because you share power in multiple cables and connectors, thus generating less heat in individual points. Some pre mining motherboards had 4 PCI connectors, but only one molex connector. If you connect non powered risers to 4 power hungry GPUs through a single PCI molex connector, you will eventually burn your motherboard, your GPU, or both.

Mid budget

Power supply
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00U6GTONM/?tag=bitcointalk0a-20

Motherboard
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M5FQZYE/?tag=bitcointalk0a-20

Processor
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J2LIE9C/?tag=bitcointalk0a-20

SSD
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01FJ4UN76/?tag=bitcointalk0a-20
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N6JQS8C/?tag=bitcointalk0a-20

I don't recommend the use of a mechanical hard driver because if you plan to tweak your GPU you will be doing hundreds of restarts. If the waiting is not a problem, go ahead.

Ram
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008CP5QR2/?tag=bitcointalk0a-20

Powered Riser Cable
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N3UVJHM/?tag=bitcointalk0a-20

Fan
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BEZKX8Y/?tag=bitcointalk0a-20

I use Noctua NF-S12A FLX because the room I mine is close to the room I sleep. They are not very potent, but they are noiseless. If you live in a warm place, you will need more potent fans.

http://www.scythe-eu.com/en/products/fans/slip-stream-120-db.html [unconfirmed] [thx umine]

Tools

USB

Ethernet Cable

Screwdriver
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00XV9ARJG/?tag=bitcointalk0a-20

(recommended) Cable Tie
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01018DC96/?tag=bitcointalk0a-20

(recommended) Screw
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01I4SOVDG/?tag=bitcointalk0a-20

(recommended) Frame

(recommended) Power button
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LMZZFWO/?tag=bitcointalk0a-20

(recommended) Plier
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006HVU4W/?tag=bitcointalk0a-20

(non required) Energy Meter
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E945SJG/?tag=bitcointalk0a-20

(non required) Non static brush
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009ESB9PO/?tag=bitcointalk0a-20

GPU

Nvidia or AMD?

It depends. You are less likely to get a good hashrate per watt with AMD stock settings, but you can tweak the hell out of them and they are less expensive. Nvidia boards costs more, you can only do basic (and sometimes limited) overclocking, but a few boards will give decent or sometimes pretty good hashrate per watt with stock settings. If you have the time and disposition to tweak your boards, get AMD. If you want a stable build with overall good results with basic overclocking, get Nvidia.

What is the best AMD GPU for mining?

The RX 400 is the cost effective option (but they are out of stock everywhere), the RX 500 series is also very good, but it all depends on its memory. The best memory is Hynix, followed by Elpida, Samsung and finally Micron (which are way harder to tweak out good results). You will not know what memory type you got until you plug your GPU to your computer and run the GPU-Z tool, but you can use the table bellow if you have the product serial number as a reference.

RX 400
Hynix A1637, A1640,  A1648, A1630, A1715, A1721, A1718
Elpida A1641, A1637, A1638, A1643, A1712
Samsung A1645, A1636, A1647, A1700, A1650, A1639, A1644, A1706
Micron A1610, A1701, A1707, A1702

RX 500
Hynix A1714
Elpida
Samsung
Micron A1718

Of course, this data is empirical, and will give you your overall chances. Also, if you have your serial number, please let me know what memory you got and I will update the list.

What is the best Nvidia GPU for mining?

Soon

Software

Windows 10 Media Creation Tool
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

Reclaim Windows 10
https://gist.github.com/alirobe/7f3b34ad89a159e6daa1

Open command window here as administrator
https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/59686-open-command-window-here-administrator-add-windows-10-a.html

GPU-Z
https://www.techpowerup.com/gpuz/

Display Driver Uninstaller
http://www.guru3d.com/files-tags/download-ddu.html

Afterburner
https://www.msi.com/page/afterburner

RX 400 Series Driver
http://www.guru3d.com/files-details/amd-radeon-software-crimson-16-9-2-driver-download.html

Polaris BIOS Editor
https://github.com/IojkinKot/PolarisBiosEditor

WattTool
http://www.overclock.net/t/1609782/watttool-a-simple-tool-that-combines-overclocking-with-vrm-monitoring-tweaking-for-rx-400-series

AMD/ATI ATIFlash
https://www.techpowerup.com/download/ati-atiflash/

Guide

Warning

Every command window and tool in this guide is being used in administrator mode. To open a command window in administrator mode, use the "Open command window here as administrator" tool to add the option to the right click explorer shell. To open a tool as administrator, use the right click to choose "Run as administrator".

Hardware

If you are like me and the last computer you built was 15 years ago, you have nothing to fear. Unlikely old computers, today personal computers main brands are very easy to build, like lego parts. There is no way to connect power to the wrong connector or to put a piece in the wrong place unless you are using a hammer. Of course, the labels or locations I use bellow are from my specific models, they are very similar if not equal for most brands out there, nevertheless check you manuals for your hardware specifics.

Warning

Avoid touching your boards chips holding each part by its edges.
Avoid reusing cables to connect multiple parts.
Use a non soft stand, some hard pressure is sometimes needed and you can break you motherboard by using your bed.
Do not install a powered riser or GPU for now.

Processor and processor fan

There is no right position to install the fan, just choose the position that the fan cable fits well with the CPU_FAN1 connector.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3yTF6wqTbg

RAM

There is no right slot, nor there is a way to install it the wrong way. Just choose the one that looks better to you.

SSD

Connect the SSD SATA connector to the motherboard SATA3_0 connector. They are backwards compatible, but if you have a SATA 3 SSD, use a SATA 3 connector.

Power button

Connect the power button to the motherboard PWRBTN connector. Usually they are the 2 red pins in the 9 pins panel in the image.

https://i.imgur.com/GthYyXX.jpg

Power supply

Connect the power supply ATX connector to the motherboard ATXPWR1 connector.
Connect the power supply CPU connector to the motherboard ATX12V1 connector.
Connect the power supply molex connectors to the motherboard PCIE_PWR1 and PCIE_PWR2 connectors.
Connect the power supply SATA connector to the SSD SATA connector.
Connect the power supply to the wall plug.

Input and output

Connect a mouse, a keyboard, a display and the ethernet cable connection to your motherboard.

Power on

If you have a power button, just press it, if you don't have, you have to close the PWRBTN circuit the same way the power button does by touching the 2 power pins with a screwdriver until the processor fan start spinning. If it doesn't work, try turning on the power supply.

Windows install

Software

Windows 10 Media Creation Tool

Bootable USB

Double click "Windows 10 Media Creation Tool".
Click "Accept".
Click "Create installation media" and "Next".
Click "Windows 10" and "64-bit" and "Next".
Click "USB flash drive" and "Next".
Connect your USB, click "Refresh drive list", click on your device and "Next".
Click "Finish".
Connect the newly created USB to your motherboard.

BIOS

Restart your motherboard and press the F2 key (check your motherboard manual for your specific key) to enter its bios, head to the boot section, choose your newly created USB as the main boot option, save and exit.

Installation

Choose your "Appropriate language", "Time and currency format" and "Keyboard or input method" and click "Next".
Click "Install now".
Click "I don't have a product key".
Click "Windows 10 Pro x64" and "Next".
Click "I accept the license terms" and "Next".
Click your drive and "Next".
When the installation finishes, click on "Restart", press the F2 key to enter the bios, set up your disk as the main boot option, save and exit.
Choose your region and click "Yes".
Choose your keyboard layout and click "Yes".
Click "Skip".
Click "Set up for personal use" and "Next".
Click "Offline account".
Click "Maybe later".
Create a username, a password and a hint for your password and click "Next".
Click "No".
Turn everything off and click "Accept".

Windows configuration

Software

Reclaim Windows 10

Windows Update

Press the Windows key and type "check for updates" and click it.
Click "Check for updates" and wait until your machine is up to date.
Restart and repeat until your windows is up to date.

Privacy and cleaning

Unzip the Reclaim Windows 10 script and to your desktop.
Press the windows key and type powershell, right click it, and click "Run as administrator".
Paste the code bellow at the powershell prompt and press enter, then type "y", and press enter.
Paste the code bellow at the powershell prompt and press enter, then type "y", and press enter.
Fix the code bellow with your username, paste it at the powershell prompt and press enter. This disables Windows Update, so just run this command after the update is finished.
Paste the code bellow at the powershell prompt and press enter.
Restart your computer.

Virtual memory

Right click "This PC" on your desktop and click "Properties".
Click on "Advanced system settings".
On "Advanced" tab where it says "Performance" click on "Settings".
Click on the "Advanced" tab.
At the bottom you will see virtual memory, click on "Change".
Uncheck "Automatically manage paging file size for all drives".
Check "Custom size".
In the initial size type 4000.
In the maximum size type 16000.
Click "Set", "Ok", "Apply", "Ok" and "Ok".
Restart your computer.

Power settings

Press the windows key and type power & sleep settings and click it.
On the right side, click "Additional power settings".
Click "Show additional plans" and "High performance".
Click "Change plan settings", choose never for both options and click "Save changes".

Mining

Soon

AMD and Nvidia (under construction)

The memory size has more impact on hashrate than frequency, but a bigger memory has a smaller effect on power consumption than frequency.

Warning

A fancy GPU with special cooling and leds can have different temperature and power draw offsets. Check your manual for your board specifics.
A lot of crashes and restarts are necessary, but eventually you will find the GPU golden spot.
If you messed up installing the full driver bloatware or the driver crashes use the Display Driver Uninstaller (best tool ever).
It can take days to verify if the GPU is stable.

Software

Mining
Afterburner
GPU-Z
Driver
Display Driver Uninstaller

Driver install

Extract the driver package to a folder.
When the extraction process is finished, cancel the installation.
Open the "Device Manager".
Open the "Display adapters" section.
Open the GPU "Properties".
Open the "Driver" section.
Open the "Update Driver" dialog.
Choose "Browser my computer for driver software".
Open the "Browse" dialog.
Navigate to the package root folder and proceed.
Keep "Include subfolders" enabled and proceed.
When the process is finished, perform a restart.

Overclocking and undervolting

Temperature reference
0 to 70C - Perfect
70 to 75C - Okay
75 to 80C - Regular
80 to 85C - Assume long term damage and smaller lifespan
85 to 90C - Definitive long term damage and smaller lifespan
90C+ - Can you smell the burning?

Power draw reference
80 to 120W

Open the mining tool.
Open the Afterburner tool.
Open the GPU-Z  tool at the sensors tab.
Use the reference values, the GPU-Z tool sensors power draw and temperature info and the following rules using small increments of 5 or 10 to overclock and undervolt the GPU.
Increase the memory until the GPU is unstable.
Decrease the frequency until a big drop on the hashrate occurs.
Decrease the voltage until a big drop on the hashrate occurs.
Loop.

AMD (under construction)

Warning

Flashing a GPU can be dangerous and permanently break the board.
Connect only one GPU at a time.
Do not flash using the Windows GUI.
Do not flash a software overclocked GPU.

A BIOS contains the GPU maximum memory, frequency, fan settings, temperature, memory straps, and so on. The mining work is done at the GPU memory, thus tighter memory straps and greater memory will greatly increase the hashrate. There are two kinds of memory straps, computer science PhD who write memory straps for a living, and mining geekery, where the default 1750 memory strap timing is simple copied to the greater timings. Most of the memory straps you will find are the second type, but you can pay a pro to write personalized memory straps.

List of pros writing personalized memory straps
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/wolf0-80740

Sometimes the BIOS is ready to go, and except for small stability tweaks, no additional overclocking or undervolting is necessary, but if the BIOS contains changes only to the memory straps, overclocking and undervolting is necessary to obtain good results. You can run any BIOS side by side with an overclocking tool, or you can use the overclock tool to obtain the best values to edit the BIOS and reflash the GPU with an improved version, discarding the overclocking tool altogether. After a few days of testing, I usually reflash the GPU with an improved BIOS version, but some people prefer to use them side by side.

Also, it is possible to obtain a very unstable GPU even if a similar GPU is working perfectly with a specific mod.

Software

AMD/ATI ATIFlash
Polarios BIOS Editor
Modded BIOS

Backup

Open a command prompt inside the ATIFlash folder.
Check if the GPU adapter is 0.
Save a copy of the bios from the 0 adapter to the ATIFlash folder giving an appropriate name.

Flash

Download the modded BIOS and save to the ATIFlash folder.
Reset any software overclock.
Stop any mining software.
Restart.
Open a command prompt inside the ATIFlash folder.
Flash the GPU.
Restart.

Black screen

Turn off the computer.
Disconnect the GPU.
Connect the monitor to the motherboard display adapter.
Turn on the computer.
Enter the motherboard BIOS.
Set the onboard display adapter as main (usually boot or advanced).
Turn off the computer.
Connect the GPU.
Turn on the computer.
Flash the GPU using the backup BIOS.
Restart.
Enter the motherboard BIOS.
Set the PCI display adapter as main.
Turn off the computer.
Connect the monitor to the GPU.
Turn on the computer.
Try again using a different BIOS.

Stability and tweak

Open WattTool
Open GPU-Z at the sensors tab.
Open a mining software to test.

Overclocking the GPU memory will greatly increase the mining hashrate, temperature, power consumption and instability. Aim for a greater value, but increase or decrease the memory using a small value (5 or 10) until the GPU is stable.
Undervolting the GPU frequency will slightly decrease the mining hashrate, but will greatly decrease the temperature and power consumption. Aim for a smaller value, trying slightly smaller MHz and mV ratios.

Edit the BIOS

Open Polarios BIOS Editor and load the modded base BIOS.
Edit the tweaked values.
Save the new BIOS to the ATIFlash folder.
Flash the GPU using the new mod (follow the steps in the flash guide or you can brick the GPU).

GPU Unbrick

If for some reason you bricked the GPU by flashing a software overclocked GPU, corrupted BIOS, interrupted flash process, flashing the wrong BIOS or something, try the black screen guide using the command bellow. If the adapter is successfully listed, most likely it is possible to force a writing process bypassing the warnings. If you can't list the adapter, you are out of luck. There are still a few methods available to try to recover the GPU but they are way more complicated. I will try to add them in the future.

List your adapter.
Force the flash.

Nvidia (under construction)

Soon

Resource

https://whattomine.com/
https://www.noisemeters.com/apps/db-calculator.asp
http://1stminingrig.com/spot-memory-types-rx-470-480-hynixelpidasamsungmicron/
https://outervision.com/power-supply-calculator

Beer Jar

Bitcoin 1HHk6dz6woMgFkiBEUBJ99fs5FXR8UkA4v
Ethereum 0xfbBd605062adbE272E3d76ff0FD0900E0E09B80f