How to set up RavenCoin mining on KawPow? (GPU setup)

Understanding KawPow Algorithm Requirements

1. KawPow is a memory-hard, ASIC-resistant algorithm designed specifically for RavenCoin to maintain GPU mining viability.

2. The algorithm mandates high-bandwidth VRAM access and large memory capacity, making GPUs with 6GB or more VRAM essential for stable operation.

3. NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB, RTX 3060, and AMD RX 580 8GB are among the most widely supported models in active mining pools.

4. Drivers must be updated to versions validated by the official RavenCoin GitHub repository—older drivers may cause DAG generation failures or kernel panics.

5. Windows users require Visual C++ Redistributables and .NET Framework 4.8; Linux miners need OpenCL 1.2+ or CUDA 11.2+ depending on GPU vendor.

Configuring GPU Mining Software

1. T-Rex Miner and TeamRedMiner are the two dominant open-source options supporting KawPow with real-time hashrate reporting and auto-tuning.

2. Configuration files must specify --algo kawpow, --url stratum+tcp://rvn.pool.example:3333, and valid wallet address using --user YOUR_RVN_ADDRESS.

3. Memory tuning parameters like --mt 2 (for memory tweak) and --lock-clocks improve stability on AMD cards but require manual testing per model.

4. NVIDIA users benefit from --lhr-tune flags when LHR detection triggers throttling, though this requires precise core/memory offset calibration.

5. Logging must be enabled via --log-path miner.log to capture DAG build time, stale share rates, and rejected submissions for diagnostics.

Optimizing Hardware Performance

1. GPU core clocks should remain at stock or slightly underclocked while memory clocks are aggressively increased—typical gains range from 8% to 15% hashrate uplift.

2. Power limits set between 65% and 75% on RTX 30-series cards reduce thermal throttling without sacrificing measurable performance.

3. Ambient temperature below 24°C and case airflow exceeding 60 CFM per GPU prevent DAG verification timeouts during epoch transitions.

4. Dual BIOS switching on compatible cards allows toggling between compute-optimized and gaming profiles without rebooting.

5. VRAM temperature must stay under 90°C; sustained readings above that threshold correlate directly with increased stale shares and driver crashes.

Connecting to RavenCoin Pools

1. RavenCoin’s official pool list includes rvn.minerpool.net, ravencoin.flypool.org, and raven.suprnova.cc—all offering variable fee structures from 0.5% to 1.5%.

2. Pool URLs must use the correct port: 3333 for standard TCP, 3334 for SSL-encrypted connections, and 3335 for failover redundancy.

3. Worker names should reflect GPU model and rig ID (e.g., rx580-rig01) to simplify statistics tracking across multiple machines.

4. Difficulty settings are auto-negotiated, but manual override via --difficulty 1000 helps avoid early rejection bursts during pool synchronization delays.

5. Failover configuration requires at least one backup pool URL in the config file, declared with --url2 and --user2 parameters.

Troubleshooting Common Mining Failures

1. DAG file corruption manifests as “Invalid DAG” errors—resolved by deleting the kawpow subdirectory in the miner’s cache folder and restarting.

2. Rejected shares exceeding 5% indicate incorrect wallet address formatting or pool-side rate limiting; verify address checksums using RVN Explorer.

3. Intermittent connection drops point to firewall interference—ensure outbound TCP ports 3333–3335 are unblocked and UPnP is disabled on consumer routers.

4. Zero hashrate after startup suggests driver incompatibility—roll back to NVIDIA 515.65.01 or AMD Adrenalin 22.5.1 if newer versions introduce instability.

5. High system memory usage (>95%) during DAG generation indicates insufficient RAM—minimum 16GB is required for multi-GPU rigs running six or more cards.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I mine KawPow on integrated graphics?A: No. Integrated GPUs lack sufficient VRAM bandwidth and capacity to meet KawPow’s memory access requirements. Only discrete GPUs with dedicated VRAM are supported.

Q: Why does my RTX 4090 show lower efficiency than expected?A: RTX 40-series cards suffer from KawPow-specific LHR-like behavior even when not officially locked. Undervolting and strict power capping often yield better stability than raw clock increases.

Q: Is overclocking VRAM safe for long-term mining?A: Yes, provided temperatures remain below 90°C and memory error checking is enabled in the miner. Persistent ECC errors signal unstable timings requiring reduction.

Q: Do I need to run a full RavenCoin node to mine?A: No. Solo mining requires a synced full node, but pool-based mining only needs a valid wallet address and network connectivity to the pool’s stratum server.