Karma (KARM) X11-based alternative cryptocoin

12 Feb
2014

karmacoin-logo

Karma (KARM), formerly Karmacoin, is a digital cryptocurrency based on the X11 algorithm. Like the philosophy behind the name, Karma stands for everyone reaping the results of his/her actions. By supporting good causes and helping others through Karma, Karma developers aim to make it the primary digital currency for rewarding good deeds and spreading good karma.

In a way, Karma is a new way to “Like” your family, friends, organizations, causes, and others. You can think of it as an actual token of appreciation. The goal of Karma is to become the global “currency with a heart”. Karma can be used for tipping, donating, buying, or micro financing; it enables users to send small amounts of money to friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, charities, and other causes for the good things they do.

Website:
– http://www.givekarma.net/

Block Explorer:
– https://chainz.cryptoid.info/karm/

Coin Specifications

  • Originally Scrypt, now X11 Algorithm
  • Approximately 92 billion total coins
  • Block reward: currently 10,000 KARM coins
  • 1 minute block time
  • 240 blocks to re-target difficulty
  • Includes Kimoto Gravity Well Algorithm

Wallet:
– Windows
– Mac OS

Source Code:
– at GitHub

Ports:
– RPC Port: 9432

Mining Pools:
– https://aikapool.com/karm/
– http://pool.lulupon.net:54092/
– http://www.hasher.ca/

Coin Exchanges:
– Bleutrade
– Yobit

Running AntMiner U1 USB ASIC with the Latest Cgminer 3.12.3

12 Feb
2014

cgminer-3-12-3-antminer-u1

The latest version of cgminer 3.12.3 has built-in support for the Bitmain AntMiner U1 USB ASIC devices, so there is no need to use the older modified version of cgminer 3.8.5 that Bitmain provides for use with their USB Bitcoin miners. The support in the new cgminer 3.12.3 offers much easier use and more stable hasrate, the HW error rate also seems a bit lower compared to the results with the older version of cgminer. So we would advice to download and use the new cgminer 3.12.3 along with your AntMiner U1 devices and below you can find information on how to run it:

cgminer.exe -o stratum+tcp://us-west.multipool.us:7777 -u yourworker.1 -p password --icarus-timing=short --anu-freq 200

The above example will run the AntMiner U1 at 200 MHz and should produce a hasrate of about 1.6GH/s, by increasing the frequency number to 250 for example you can get 2 GH/s hashrate and 275 should get you 2.2 GH/s. Do have in mind that overclocking the AntMiner U1 should be done only after you add a cooling fan to improve the operating temperature of the device. We’ve already measured the operating temperature of the AntMiner U1 at 1.6 GH/s and they do get quite hot even at “stock” frequency. Don’t forget to change the pol and worker/password with your own settings!

– To download the latest official cgminer 3.12.3 with ASIC only support…

Bitmain AntMiner U1 USB Bitcoin ASIC Thermal Images

11 Feb
2014

antminer-u1-btc-usb-asic-miner-thermal-1

AntMiner U1 is the smaller USB-based Bitcoin ASIC devices made by Bitmain, they contain just one BTC ASIC mining chip (BM1360) and has been designed to be powered by a USB 2.0 port. These devices are rated at 1.6 GH/s hasrate with 2W power consumption and you can downclock or overclock them by software as long as you are able to provide sufficient power and cooling. Bitmain recommends that you provide additional cooling for these devices if you plan to overclock them over the stock 1.6 GH/s performance, but we checked how hot these small USB powered BTC ASIC devices can get and their “default” hashrate and our findings confirm that it will be a good idea to think about using a fan to cool them even at 1.6 GH/s. On the back of the AntMiner U1 there is an aluminum cooling plate and our thermal images show that in just about 10 minutes of use this cooler gets to a temperature of about 68.8 degrees Celsius and that is actually quite hot.

antminer-u1-btc-usb-asic-miner-thermal-2

The other side of the Bitmain AntMiner U1 is more important as there you will find the actual elements of the device on the PCB, including the Bitmain BM1360 chip that does the actual calculating as well as the power elements that also get hot. The thermal image of this side of the USB ASIC shows even higher temperatures – up to 74.8 degrees Celsius maximum measured temperature. And while even at these quite high operating temperatures the AntMiner U1 does manage to work good and stable enough without active cooling, it is a wise idea to keep the temperatures lower especially on the long run if you plan on mining with these USB BTC ASIC devices for months without problems. Of course if you do plan to overclock the active cooling with the help of a fan is a must do!

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