How to set up Ergo mining with Autolykos v2? (Low power)

Understanding Autolykos v2 Algorithm Requirements

1. Autolykos v2 is a memory-hard, ASIC-resistant proof-of-work algorithm designed specifically for the Ergo blockchain. It emphasizes GPU-based mining while intentionally limiting efficiency gains from specialized hardware.

2. The algorithm relies on a large, dynamically generated lookup table derived from Blake2b hashes of block headers and a seed dataset. This table must be loaded into GPU VRAM before mining begins.

3. Minimum viable VRAM requirement is 4 GB, though 6 GB or more delivers significantly better hashrate stability and reduced stalling during epoch transitions.

4. CPU usage remains minimal—typically under 15%—making it suitable for concurrent system tasks without thermal or scheduling interference.

5. Power draw per GPU stays between 45–75 W depending on clock throttling and memory bandwidth tuning, enabling multi-GPU rigs to operate within sub-200 W total envelopes.

Hardware Selection for Low-Power Ergo Mining

1. NVIDIA GTX 1650 Super and AMD RX 580 (8 GB variant with Hynix memory) consistently deliver 35–42 MH/s at under 55 W each when undervolted and memory-tuned.

2. Older cards like the GTX 1050 Ti remain viable at ~18 MH/s with idle-to-load delta under 22 W—ideal for embedded or fanless deployments.

3. Dual-slot passive coolers are compatible with many low-TDP GPUs, eliminating fan noise and reducing failure points in silent mining environments.

4. PCIe riser cables must support full x16 bandwidth; cheap USB-based extenders introduce latency spikes that cause rejected shares and pool disconnections.

5. A 12 V DC-DC ATX power supply rated for continuous 180 W output suffices for a dual-GPU setup, avoiding inefficient AC-DC conversion losses typical in standard PSUs.

Software Stack Configuration

1. GMiner v2.77 or newer is the most stable miner for Autolykos v2 on both Windows and Linux; older versions lack proper epoch 12+ dataset handling.

2. Command-line flags must include --algo autolykos2 --server ergo.herominers.com:10200 --user YOUR_WALLET_ADDRESS with optional --gpuinit 0 to bypass unnecessary OpenCL initialization overhead.

3. On Linux, disabling GPU persistence mode (sudo nvidia-smi -r) prevents driver timeouts during long idle intervals without affecting mining continuity.

4. Memory overclocking should target +800 MHz on GDDR5/GDDR6 while keeping core clocks neutral or slightly reduced—this maximizes memory bandwidth utilization without increasing voltage.

5. System-level swap file size on Linux must exceed 8 GB to accommodate temporary dataset regeneration during wallet sync interruptions.

Pool and Wallet Integration

1. Herominers and Nanopool remain the two most responsive Ergo pools supporting low-hashrate submissions with sub-3-second average share acceptance latency.

2. Ergo’s native wallet (Ergo Desktop Wallet) must be fully synced before mining starts; unsynced nodes cannot validate block templates, causing repeated “invalid job” errors.

3. Payout thresholds can be set as low as 0.01 ERG on Nanopool, allowing frequent micro-distributions ideal for testing or intermittent operation.

4. Each miner instance requires a unique worker name appended to the wallet address using a dot notation: YOUR_ADDRESS.worker01.

5. TLS encryption is enforced by all major pools—miners failing to negotiate TLS 1.2+ will time out silently without logging explicit errors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does Autolykos v2 support CPU-only mining?A: No. CPU mining yields less than 0.05 MH/s even on high-core-count Ryzen Threadrippers and is economically nonviable due to energy inefficiency and pool rejection policies.

Q: Can I mine Ergo using integrated graphics like Intel Iris Xe?A: Not reliably. Integrated GPUs lack sufficient dedicated VRAM and memory bandwidth; observed hashrates fall below 1.2 MH/s with frequent kernel panics under sustained load.

Q: Why does my GTX 1660 show unstable hashrate despite correct settings?A: This card uses Micron GDDR6 memory which exhibits timing inconsistencies under Autolykos v2’s random-access pattern; downclocking memory to 12000 MHz stabilizes performance at ~48 MH/s.

Q: Is DAG generation required before starting the miner?A: No. GMiner auto-generates the required dataset in VRAM on first launch; no external DAG files or pre-allocation steps are needed.