Archive for the ‘General Info’ Category

ccMiner SPMOD Release CUDA 6.5 vs CUDA 7.5 Performance Comparison

5, Jan 2016

ccminer-spmod-cuda-65-vs-75

The ccMiner SPMOD fork for Nvidia Maxwell GPUs (source) has recently been migrated to use the newer CUDA 7.5 from the older CUDA 6.5. The latest version with CUDA 6.5 support was version ccMiner 1.5.74 and the latest version is ccMiner 1.5.78 that already uses CUDA 7.5. The first release with CUDA 7.5 had not so good performance and was slower in some algorithms in terms of performance as compared to the latest CUDA 6.5 release, but the latest code has been optimized to offer similar or even better hashrate in most supported algorithms. We took an Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 (Gigabyte GV-N970WF3OC-4GD) running at stock frequencies for a spin with some of the currently popular algorithms to compare the performance of the latest CUDA 6.5 to the latest CUDA 7.5 release of ccMiner spmod. The results in the table clearly show that aside from NeoScrypt the latest CUDA 7.5 release offers very similar or even slightly better hashrate compared to the latest CUDA 6.5 version. The hashrate of X13, X15 and Qubit is still slightly slower, but not much. So unless you are mining NeoScrypt you should have no reasons not to upgrade to the newer CUDA 7.5 releases and soon we are probably going to see even better performance thanks to further optimizations of the code. Do note however that some other Maxwell GPUs might have some more variance in terms of performance difference between the two compared versions.

Adobe Flash Player Exploit Could Be Used to Install BitCoinMiner Trojan

29, Dec 2015

adobe-flash-player-update

We all know that the Flash Player is full of security issues and Adobe has been desperately trying to fix these in order to prevent the misuse of the popular software for installing backdoors, trojans and other unwanted software on user’s computers. The company has been releasing update after update for the Flash Player, so is is wise to always be up to date with the latest version in order to prevent the use of exploits that may install software on your computer unwillingly and without your knowledge. It seems that some of the security holes in the Flash Player might even lead to crypto currency mining software installed on your computer without your knowledge and consent in the form of a trojan that will be mining for somebody else. There is a report of a user that has found suspicious software in the Adobe Flash Player folder that appears to be a version of the ccMiner software for mining on Nvidia GPUs that was highly likely installed through a security hole int he flash player. So in order to avoid similar issues you should check your version of the Flash Player and update if it is not the latest one, the current up to date release is version 20.0.0.267.

– To download and install the latest version of Adobe Flash Player for your browser…

Bitcoin Mini, a Raspberry Pi 2 With Full Bitcoin Node

25, Dec 2015

bitcoin-mini

If you are looking for a plug and play full Bitcoin node solution you might want to check out the Bitcoin Mini solution that is powered by a Raspberry Pi 2 board with Arch Linux OS running a Bitcoin Core. The device comes with an 8 GB MicroSD card for the operating system plus 128 GB USB flash drive for storing the Bitcoin Blockchain. The 128 GB storage should be enough for quite some time considering that the size of the full Bitcoin blockchain data currently is getting close to 60 GB of data. The project offers two versions, the first one is a Mini Basic that is essentially a bare solution with just enough to plug in and have a full node running in your home with just basic command line functionality only for $139 USD. The second version is the regular Bitcoin Mini that comes with a custom Bitcoin API and webpage user interface that is available for $179 USD. You can also pay with Bitcoin which is to be expected from a project supporting crypto currencies taking into account the current exchange rate. The Bitcoin Mini is being shipped worldwide, but do note that shipping the product outside of USA is extra $25 USD.

– For more details about the Bitcoin Mini project for a full RPi-based Bitcoin node…


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