What else can millions of Ethereum 4GB video card mining machines do?

Editor's Note: This article comes fromBlock beats BlockBeats (ID: BlockBeats), reprinted by Odaily with authorization.

Editor's Note: This article comes from

Block beats BlockBeats (ID: BlockBeats)

Block beats BlockBeats (ID: BlockBeats)

With the launch of the Ethereum 2.0 beacon chain, most users began to discuss whether mining machines can still perform Ethereum PoW mining?

It will be a few years before PoW mining machines can continue to mine. The more immediate problem for PoW miners is that the mining machines with 4GB video memory and graphics cards in their hands can no longer mine.

Different from Bitcoin mining, the mining algorithm used by Ethereum 1.0 uses "Ethash", which is a memory-intensive algorithm, and the DAG (Directed Acyclic Graph) files generated by mining will be directly stored in In graphics card memory. This means that the video memory of the graphics card needs to be larger than the size of the DAG file when mining.

On December 25, 2020, the Ethereum network DAG file reached 4GB at block height 11,520,000. For early Ethereum miners, the biggest problem they are currently facing is not the upcoming Ethereum 2.0 but the Ethereum DAG file that has exceeded 4 GB.

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DAG file size of ETH, ETC and other tokens, image source: investoon

Previously, there were approximately 1.53 million to 3 million mining machines with 4GB video memory graphics cards mining ETH in the market, accounting for about 30% to 40% of the total network computing power of Ethereum. Rhythm BlockBeats has counted that after the Ethereum DAG file exceeds 4GB, there are three ways for the 4GB video memory graphics card mining machine to continue to run.

Replace the operating system to extend the service life of the mining machine

Because the Windows operating system will allocate up to about 600 MB of video memory to the virtual running memory (VRAM), while the virtual running memory of Linux only occupies about 120 MB. Therefore, the mining machine system can be replaced from Windows to Linux to extend the mining time of Ethereum, which is expected to be extended by 3 months.

Replace the memory of the mining machine

BEAM

Since the video memory is not enough, it is also a solution to increase the video memory capacity by modifying the graphics card. Currently, 8 256MB x 32bit GDDR5 memory particles are needed to expand to 8GB video memory. Without counting the manual cost, the modification cost of each video card is about 400 yuan. At present, there are many mining pools providing mining machine modification business.

ETC

The price of a 256MB x 32bit GDDR5 memory chip

RVN

Change mining currency

ZIL

Compared with the above two methods, the more convenient way is to mine with another token. At present, tokens that can use 4GB video memory cards mainly include BEAM, ETC, RVN, and ZIL.

BEAM is an encrypted currency developed based on the Mimblewimble protocol. BEAM does not use DAG files, but uses the BeamHashIII hash algorithm.

On January 9, ETC issued a document announcing that it is undergoing a network hard fork upgrade code-named Thanos (ECIP-1099). Participating core developers and community members reached a consensus on October 2, 2020 to accept ECIP-1099. This upgrade effectively reduces the size of the DAG. This modified Ethash is also known as EtcHash. This will allow miners with 3GB and 4GB GPU systems to resume mining etc., increasing security and promoting a more decentralized and healthy mining ecosystem.

RVN uses the Kawpow algorithm and is compatible with GPU mining, but has higher requirements for GPU and higher power consumption.