Bitcoin Forum>Alternate cryptocurrencies>Mining (Altcoins)
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Topic: Basic knowledge about Altcoins Mining (Read 263 times)

riyaz1539
newbie
Activity: 2
Merit: 0
Basic knowledge about Altcoins Mining
August 30, 2018, 06:35:12 AM
#5
Building a mining rig isn’t “difficult” per say, it’s can just be really really frustrating.

Skills you need:

    Patience - yes, you’re dealing with hardware (it’s better now I suppose) but there are still electronic problems that arise
    Basic computer building skills - understanding what goes where, what types of things you need to build a desktop from the ground up
    Great research ability - everything is on Google or Reddit or Bitcoin talk forum, so you just have to know where to look and what to search for
    Basic understanding of networks (if you plan on running more than one computer on one network and run into router problems)
    Basic understanding of power usage & electrical outlets (if you plan on running more than 6 cards on one machine or more than one 6-card rig in your house / condo / apartment)

That’s about it.

Common problems you’ll run into:

    overloading electrical outlets
    blue screen of death for unknown reasons
    driver challenges

Good luck!
jillscarbrough
sr. member
Activity: 588
Merit: 335
Steady State Finance
Re: Basic knowledge about Altcoins Mining
August 30, 2018, 04:32:39 AM
#4
why not make an index thread for Mining I think it's good
lukeburchill
member
Activity: 78
Merit: 17
Re: Basic knowledge about Altcoins Mining
August 28, 2018, 05:02:44 AM
#3
Quote
2. There's a thread about CPU mining if you haven't seen it.
https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/cryptonight-cpu-mining-guide-coins-that-will-get-you-a-return-2891680
already posted in OP

Quote
3. I see that it's an airdrop though they are making it look that users are mining through simulation.
Yes,
Especially for ETN Mobile mining

The thread will be updated every time I have free time
terrific
hero member
Activity: 2338
Merit: 517
Catalog Websites
Re: Basic knowledge about Altcoins Mining
August 28, 2018, 04:54:58 AM
#2
Great thread for those of us that are aspiring miners soon.
2. There's a thread about CPU mining if you haven't seen it.
https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/cryptonight-cpu-mining-guide-coins-that-will-get-you-a-return-2891680

3. I see that it's an airdrop though they are making it look that users are mining through simulation.
lukeburchill
member
Activity: 78
Merit: 17
Re: Basic knowledge about Altcoins Mining
August 28, 2018, 04:09:56 AM
#1
Introduction
I know for now some miners in the west or east or other countries have differences in looking at altcoin mining, some are talking now altcoin mining is dead, altcoin mining is no longer profitable, mining is still profitable, etc., whatever that is a common discussion if associated with profit. I just want to share a brief experience about Altcoin mining starting from hardware commonly used by some miners. Maybe this things does not fully apply to other miners, because the problem of altcoin mining is very complex and too much to discuss. So I'm just a variety of things that I know and experience.

If you want to start mining of altcoins those things should be considered and knowing:
  • How much electricity costs and internet cost in your region or country
    These very important for now because many miners have been shut down their rigs and sell it because of an earning from mining can't be closed an electricity cost.
  • How fast do you want ROI
    Every miner, of course, wants as soon as possible for this matter but in mining is different, there are many things can be an influence such as coin are mined, coin prices when mined and sold, electricity and internet cost every a week or month, also durability their rigs.
  • Lists of devices that can be used for the mining of altcoins
    • Mining Rig
    • CPU, Laptops
    • The smartphone/cell phone
    • Bitmain products
    • FPGA


[1] Mining Rig
Usually call it the Mining Rig, which means a CPU with multiple GPUs and frames. The Mining Rig consists of:

Motherboard
These lists of MB is usually used:

Processor
Actually, for mining rigs, processors with low specifications are enough, examples: Celeron(Intel) as long as they support the chipset (motherboard). if anyone asks about the difference between AMD and Intel with mining performance, I don't think there is a significant difference(IMO).

RAM
for size, 4GB is enough as long as supporting (ex: DDR2, DDR3, DDR4) with the motherboard but above 4GB is better and for brands, I use  Kingston, Corsair has so far been very good for Mining Rigs.

SSD/HDD
Better to use SSD than HDD. This difference will be felt when you set the rig for the first time. Usually when you first often restart the rig and use SSD saves more power consumption than the HDD. For size at least 128 or there is some miners use 64GB and for brands, I use Samsung(128GB,256GB)

USB RISER
Basically, USB Riser is used only to convert PCIEx1 to PCIe-x16 on GPUs and also provides more space on the motherboard and this can have implications at temperature the GPU and motherboard itself (not direct).

The following are the types of USB Risers commonly used by miners:
  • VER008C
  • VER008S
  • VER006C
  • VER006
  • Etc

There is a bit of difference between the types, such as:
  • Number of Capacitor
  • Type of power connector
  • Led Indicator
  • Type of USB cable

PSUs
The most important thing is to use the PSU for mining at least PSU with 80+ a Gold rating and above Gold rate is better but more expensive and depending on the brand.

These are the difference between the rating of PSUs:
  • 80+ Titanium
    at least 90% efficiency at 10% load,   
    at least 92% efficiency at 20% load,   
    at least 94% efficiency at 50% load,
    at least 90% efficiency at 100% load.
  • 80+ Platinum
    at least 90% efficiency at 20% load,   
    at least 92% efficiency at 50% load,
    at least 89% efficiency at 100% load
  • 80+ Gold
    at least 87% efficiency at 20% load,
    at least 90% efficiency at 50% load,
    at least 87% efficiency at 100% load
  • 80+ Silver
    at least 85% efficiency at 20% load,
    at least 88% efficiency at 50% load,
    at least 85% efficiency at 100% load.
  • 80+ Bronze
    at least 82% efficiency at 20% load,
    at least 85% efficiency at 50% load,
    at least 82% efficiency at 100% load

some brands are usually used by miners like Corsair, EVGA etc. there are several miners who use Server PSU.

GPUs
This hardware is critical in a mining rig because it determines Hashrate and what coins can be mined adjust with type/series of GPU also algorithm of coins. AMD and NVIDIA both are popular in mining (altcoins).

Type/Series of AMDs:
  • RX Series
    Vega: Vega 64/56.
    500: 560, 570, 580.
    400: 460, 470, 480
  • R9 Series
    R9 200: 270, 270x, 280, 280x, 290, 290x, 295x2.
    R9 300: 380, 380x, 390, 390x.
    R9 Fury: Fury, Fury X.
    R9 Nano

Type/Series of NVIDIA:
  • 1060 3/6GB, 1070, 1080, 1080Ti

Another peripheral:

Software
  • OS
    like on a PC generally requires some software in the mining process, OS either Windows or Linux. These two OS have the advantages of each but the most important which OS we usually use and master. Personally, I use Win10.
  • Mining Software such as claymore, etc
  • GPUz
  • Atikmdag
  • DDU
  • Etc, adjust to your needs

Installation of Mining Rigs
These steps are based on my experience. If you assemble yourself:
  • like assembling a PC in general, but for thermal paste, I use Deepcool Z9 for a processor (MB)
  • Installing Win10 via a USB stick, wait for it to finish
  • Installing GPUz and atikmdag
  • Installing GPUs with drivers (using USB Riser)
  • Installing claymore / another mining software

And trying to run your Rigs but not as easy as imagined there is always a problem but don't worry there is always a solution. These are the problems and solutions that I have experienced.

If there are several GPUs that are not detected in the system (Win10)
Try these steps:
  • Check the driver
  • Plug a card, one by one
  • Check/change a cable PCI-e USB Riser
  • Move to another PCI-e slots
  • Check Power from/ to USB Riser
  • Patch atikmdag, using an atikmdag patcher
  • Patch Win Registry

If Asrock H81 Pro BTC R2.0 will not start (power failure and the like)
Try these steps:
  • Reset BIOS via jumper
  • Unplug the CMOS battery and plug it in again.
  • Move the CPU Memory Slot to DIM1 or DIM 2 or viceversa

If stability issue about Mining rig crash every hour
Try these steps:
  • Make sure the GPU doesn't power shortage
  • Check a cable from PSU to RISER
  • Try to use another PSUs

If claymore software hangs or freeze
Try these steps:
  • make sure a Virtual Memory at least 16GB
  • make sure the Power to a GPU isn't lacking power.
  • make sure RAM on CPU doesn't have a problem.
  • make sure doesn't have a problem with update windows

GPU Rig often restart itself when starting miner (e.g RX series)
Try these steps:
  • Clean the drivers use DDU
  • then reinstalling the driver again
  • check window (if use Win) update history, cases like this can be possible

[2] CPUs, Laptops
Many threads that contain questions about whether the CPU/Laptops can be used to mine?, actually, yes it can mine as long as the coin can be mined or is usually called a coin mined with the CPU. But some miners, including me, cannot give recommendations because of these things:
  • unprofitable
  • just a waste of time
  • The resulting hash rate is small

But if you want to try it, can use:
Minergate, for more information: https://minergate.com/downloads/gui

Another information:

[3] The Smartphone/cell phone
I prefer to call it airdrop, not mining. Personally, I don't a recommendation.

but if you want to try that, read this:
https://electroneum.com/

[4] Bitmain products
These are lists of Bitmain Products that can be used for altcoin mining:

[5] FPGA
I don't discuss FPGA because I don't have that, but there are several topics that can be used as References.
Bitcoin Forum>Alternate cryptocurrencies>Mining (Altcoins)
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