Although mining with improvised means has become unprofitable in 2021, many users continue to do it at home on a regular laptop or PC.
In order to simply get acquainted with the mining process, it is not necessary to invest a lot of money in the creation and development of a mining farm; it is enough to learn how to work with special programs that allow you to mine on a laptop and home computer.
This material will serve users as a detailed guide to mining on a laptop or computer.
- How to mine on a laptop
- Is it possible to mine on a laptop or home computer in 2021?
- Conditions for mining on a laptop Characteristics of a laptop or computer for mining
- Necessary equipment for mining on a laptop or PC
- Nice Hash
Is it possible to mine on a laptop or home computer in 2022?
Mining on a laptop in 2022
Many users over the past years have been wondering whether it is possible to mine on a laptop or home computer. Yes, it is possible to mine cryptocurrency in this way, but there is one caveat here - the performance of video cards installed on a laptop is significantly lower than those used by mining farms.
This is due to the fact that computer companies deliberately lower the performance of video cards in order to reduce the level of heat dissipation of the device.
As a result, the load on the cooling system is reduced significantly, which allows you to use the device around the clock. This is the first disadvantage of mining at home. After all, the lower the performance of the video card, the less cryptocurrency you can mine.
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But the situation can be corrected by purchasing an external video card.
In such cases, you should be prepared for its unstable operation when mining on a laptop; failures may occur due to a mismatch between the video card parameters and the laptop parameters.
It is also worth noting that connecting an external video card is far from a guarantee of getting good profits from mining on a laptop or home computer. The laptop must, among other things, have a certain range of characteristics that would meet the requirements of cryptocurrency mining programs.
When is ASIC better?
Khabilov and Modnov recommend purchasing ASIC miners only if you are organizing your own mining farm, since in the long term this will be the most correct and profitable decision. For investments up to $5 million, LAZM CEO advises investing in existing farms. According to him, already operating mining farms have a ready-made infrastructure, which will eliminate additional costs. If the investment volume exceeds $5 million, then Modnov recommends creating your own data center. In this case, it is worth considering that part of the capital will be spent on developing the site, resolving legal issues, land management, personnel training and other organizational issues.
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Conditions for mining on a laptop
Video cards for mining
In principle, in order to start mining at home, users only need a laptop or computer with a built-in or external video card. This is the most common type of mining used at home on a laptop or computer.
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In this context, it is worth recalling that mining is the process of finding the correct signature for a block using the computing power of computer devices.
Once the signature is found, the miner will immediately receive a reward. The amount of this reward will directly depend on the type of mining chosen:
- Solo
is the process of independently searching for a signature for a block. In such cases, one person will receive all the funds. The downside is that searching for a signature will take a lot of time, especially if one laptop is used as part of mining; - Collective
– this type of mining involves combining several people into a so-called mining pool. Users, by pooling their computing power, can speed up the process of finding a signature for a block. However, in this case, upon receipt of the reward, its amount will be equally divided among all participants.
Characteristics of a laptop or computer for mining
Laptop for mining
Mining is a process that places a very heavy load on a laptop or computer, so before you start mining cryptocurrencies, you need to make sure that the device meets certain characteristics. If you ignore this requirement and start mining cryptocurrency on a “weak” computer, it may very soon fail, and without the possibility of recovery.
Below is a list of characteristics that, as of 2020, a laptop or computer used by users for mining must meet:
The minimum amount of RAM is from 4 GB (preferably 6 GB);
The video card must have a modern version at the time of use (the amount of memory should start from 4-6 GB);
The computer you use must have the latest version of the Microsoft operating system from XP to Windows 10 or Linux installed;
The laptop must have a high-quality cooling system installed. This is necessary to regulate the temperature. If its performance remains high for a long time, you need to replace the cooling system.
Is it possible to mine on a laptop?
Necessary equipment for mining on a laptop or PC
To start mining on a laptop or computer, the device must meet the above requirements. Another thing is the efficiency of the cryptocurrency mining process, it depends on three components:
- Cooling systems;
- Power supply;
- Video cards.
In principle, 70-80% of success directly depends on how powerful the video card is.
Therefore, even with a well-packaged laptop, users often buy an external graphics card with the highest specifications.
Of course, the cost of external video cards varies, it depends on the power, manufacturer and quality. The most used video cards for mining in 2022:
- Inexpensive video cards: AMD Radeon RX 480, AMD Radeon RX 580 and Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060. Devices can be purchased at prices ranging from 18 to 25 thousand rubles;
- Mid-price video cards: Nvidia GeForce 1070 and Nvidia GeForce 1070 Ti. Their cost today ranges from 33 to 40 thousand rubles;
- Expensive video cards: AMD Radeon Vega 56 and Nvidia GeForce 1080. The price of these devices starts at 50 thousand rubles and above.
Which cryptocurrency is worth mining: advantages and features
It is definitely difficult to answer this question. After all, the TOP 10 altcoins, like Bitcoin itself, require powerful equipment. And before you buy it, you need to make a basic calculation of profitability, taking into account energy costs and the speed of mining new blocks. Less popular options should be assessed from an economic point of view. Thus, the financial company LATOKEN will provide the following analytics:
- There are more than 320 cryptocurrency pairs in the arsenal. You can see the cost of each of them;
- But the most important thing is to evaluate them in dynamics: the current trend, changes in quotes over the past few months;
- You can also read the analytics and forecasts of experts to identify the potential of the coin you like.
A significant advantage is the ability to exchange mined tokens for more stable and liquid ones. Thus, you can instantly sell little-known cryptocurrencies for shares of Bitcoin or Ethereum. Alternatively, you can get fiat money for them. And instantly. The algorithms of a financial company operating on the blockchain do not require a week-long wait and complex stages of identity verification - you can receive money on your card immediately.
TOP 5 programs for mining on a laptop
Programs for mining cryptocurrencies
Today, the already fairly developed industry of digital assets includes a large number of programs for mining cryptocurrencies. You can mine many assets at home, but most often, users prefer cryptocurrencies such as Bytecoin (BCN), Monero (XMR), Electroneum (ETN), Horizen (ZEN), etc.
In this material, readers will be presented with a list of the 5 most popular mining programs in 2022.
Nice Hash
Official website of the Nice Hash program
NiceHash is a Russian-language program for mining cryptocurrencies, it is completely free to download. The interface is very clear, even novice miners can use it without any problems. It is noted that Nice Hash is designed for mining XMR, ZEC, ETH, Dash and LTC, however, the payment of rewards occurs exclusively in Bitcoin.
The peculiarity of this software is that its utility allows you to evenly distribute the available power to achieve high efficiency in mining coins in real time. Nice Hash, by the way, can work on all Windows operating systems, starting with XP.
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Read the full article:
CGMiner
CGMiner program during operation
This program has been running for several years, and with each update it shows users more and more new features. A large community and a wide range of functions make this software popular not only among beginners, but also among experienced miners.
The CGMiner program is designed for mining LTC and XMR (payment is made in Bitcoin). The lack of a range of other cryptocurrencies, as time shows, does not scare away users and does not make the application less popular. This software has demonstrated successful compatibility with many operating systems - Windows, Mac OS X, Linux.
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In this context, it is worth emphasizing that CGMiner works successfully with the FPGA and ASIC software built into it.
Also, the application has a range of the following functions:
- Command line that conducts full monitoring during mining of BTS;
- Fan speed control system;
- Possibility of remote control of the cryptocurrency mining process.
The CGMiner program has a function to automatically search and detect new blocks in the BTC network. This is possible thanks to the database built into the software.
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Read the full article: Full review of the CGMiner program
MultiMiner
Official website of the MultiMiner program
The mining program called MultiMiner is also very used. It will function smoothly on operating systems such as Windows, Mac OS X and Linux. The MultiMiner program allows users to switch FPGA or ASIC between other digital assets that the software supports mining in a matter of seconds (BTN, Dash and LTC).
MultiMiner includes many advanced features:
- Automatic detection of network devices;
- Remote control of mining devices (in this case, laptop, computer);
- Carrying out monitoring remotely;
- Automatically detects new available hardware.
The operating principle of the MultiMiner program is based on the BFGMiner mechanism, often used in cryptocurrency mining.
BitMinter
Official website of the BitMinter program
BitMinter is a cryptocurrency mining program that has its own pool. This software is one of the very first applications that allows you to do mining on a laptop or computer. The first version of BitMinter was introduced in 2011.
The BitMinter program was developed based on the Java Network Launch protocol, and thus does not require installation on a computer - you can open it in a browser. To launch the software, it is enough to perform a number of the following manipulations:
- Go to the official BitMinter website-
- Connect to the mining pool.
- Set up video cards (according to the instructions posted on the website).
That's all. After completing a number of the above steps, the user will become a member of the pool and some time later he will begin to receive earned coins (ETS, ZEC, XMR, LTC).
EasyMiner
Official website of the EasyMiner program
EasyMiner is a unique software for mining cryptocurrency - it runs exclusively on the Windows operating system. This program is equipped with a large number of functions and capabilities; it allows users to mine cryptocurrencies (LTC, XMR, ETH, Dash, BCN) in several ways:
- Cryptocurrency mining using CUDAMiner - a device for video cards from Nvidia;
- Mining using the Cgminer device;
- Mining digital money using ASIC.
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The presence of a large selection of mining methods is one of the main advantages of this program.
This factor makes EasyMiner popular among both novice miners and experienced ones.
Here it is worth focusing the attention of readers on the simplicity of the process of mining cryptocurrencies in solo mode. Users will be able to independently select the pool they want to join. Miners also have the opportunity to choose a cryptocurrency algorithm.
One cannot help but recall the integration of the Network Hardware ID Layer protocol into the program. NHIL is an important component in the software security system. The protocol provides additional protection for both the mining pool and the wallet.
How to start mining bitcoins
Having understood the main essence and task of miners, you can move on to the process itself, for the implementation of which you will need to choose from:
- purchase local storage to accumulate funds on your PC;
- open an online wallet in any system.
Truly successful manners choose the first option. It will require the purchase of more powerful equipment or separate server storage, but it has greater productivity and only its owner is responsible for personal funds.
And the first thing a beginner should do, after creating a place to store virtual money, is to visit the official Bitcoin website, from where the official software for storing cryptocurrency is downloaded and installed.
When you first launch the program, the process of downloading Bitcoin blocks starts. This takes some time, but the process cannot be paused. Wait for complete synchronization and proceed further.
Fork selection
Fork is the use of the code base of a software project as a start for another. Each branch can develop and exist independently of the other. The main criterion for choosing a fork is profitability. It’s also worth paying attention to liquidity – the ability to transfer virtual money into all possible “live” ones.
Bitcoin itself is based on SHA-256, and owners of large and expensive farms receive high profits. For example, Scrypt uses a lot of RAM, which makes it difficult to create ASIC processors and makes it possible to use regular PCs for mining.
You can calculate profitability using any online mining calculator. This indicator depends on the video card and the speed of your PC, as well as the exchange rate. If the computer is not equipped with “hardy” components, then the average earnings per day will be only 100-200 rubles.
Pool selection
A mining pool is a server that distributes tasks across subscriptions among all connected participants. The contribution of each pool is valued as Share, the higher it is, the greater the chance of receiving an expensive signature. As soon as such a “Ball” hits the target, the pool says the block is ready and distributes a reward.
They select a pool based on the commission - a percentage of the block amount that will be divided between the miners. And also look at the features of withdrawing funds to your wallet. Some pools provide additional options for viewing worker statistics and monitoring them.
Note: Worker is a program that runs from your computer. The number of units of equipment you have, the number of “robots” you can launch. Each of them must be registered on the selected pool.
Miner's choice
Miner (“miner” translated from English) is a program for mining. It solves complex mathematical problems and counts rewards in the form of crediting several units of cryptocurrency to the account.
Usually, the selected pool indicates which miner is best suited to perform all functions, and detailed instructions for setting it up. Look for the “Get started” section.
Start of mining
Startup instructions are also included in the pool documentation. Typically the process occurs via the command line. For example, when using cgmoner on Linux without a graphical interface, you will need to enter the command:
./cgminer —scrypt -o stratum+tcp://pool_host:port -u Weblogin.Worker -p Worker_passwor
Where Weblogin.Worker is the name of the worker, and its password is Worker_passwor. To mine ether with the Ethminer miner, use the following command:
ethminer.exe -G -S eth-eu.coinmine.pl:4000 -FS eth-us.coinmine.pl:4000 -O VIPepol.1:1
All options are specified in the documents in the pool, including for starting the earning process in the absence of a video card.
Withdrawal to your wallet
From the official fork website, follow the links provided and create your wallet. You need to include an address in it so that you can receive the funds you earn. Then transfer the resulting line to the “Payments” section of your account.
You can send your withdrawal directly to the cryptocurrency exchange. And also do not forget that you will pay commissions for each transaction, so you should not pay out small amounts.
Advice: if you haven’t quite figured out how to set up the miner, there are special programs that go through all the steps step by step for you. But you will have to share with them. So, you give 1-1.5% to the pool, and 30-40% to software developers.
Mining Bitcoins on a home computer or laptop
Bitcoin mining on a home computer
Many beginners who are just exploring the possibility of mining on a laptop or computer expect a lot of income from this process. First of all, novice miners try to find information on how to start mining Bitcoin and Ethereum, the main assets by capitalization, using a laptop. Undoubtedly, the profit from mining these coins is more than solid, but in order to just start this process, users need to invest a lot of money (purchase of mining devices, payment of electricity).
The fact is that the complexity of mining such cryptocurrencies as BTC and ETH is very high. So much so that a computer, even with the best characteristics on the market, will not be able to handle such a heavy load.
There is a lot of material on the Internet about mining Bitcoin and Ethereum on a laptop or computer, but this is nothing more than another way to attract traffic in the form of inexperienced miners.
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In fact, mining BTC and ETH using a computer is impossible, at least now, although in the first years of the existence of cryptocurrencies this was possible.
Support for miners: some tips
Cryptocurrencies attract people with their growth dynamics, the ability to maintain anonymity and decentralization. But it is important to understand that the process of generating income does not end with the extraction of a new block - alas, in Russia you cannot go to a store with altcoins and pay with them at the checkout. This means that you will have to act further:
- Alternatively, you can store the mined tokens in your wallet and wait for them to grow. Unfortunately, this strategy is not always good. After all, even Bitcoin sometimes falls in price, not to mention altcoins;
- The second option is that you can exchange them for more stable and growing coins - Ethereum, Litecoin, Bitcoin Cash, Dash and others. It is best to carry out an exchange operation on the website of a specialized company. Here the interests of both parties to the transaction will be protected, and you will be able to carry it out at the current market rate;
- And finally, a reliable company allows you to instantly exchange altcoins for fiat money.
More than 300,000 crypto market participants trust LATOKEN. And there are good reasons for this. Firstly, this is turnover - $300 million worth of transactions are made per day, the second factor is the instant operation of services and reliable security mechanisms. And finally, in 2022, LATOKEN entered the TOP 20 according to CoinmarketCap.
So, now you know how to mine new blocks, and most importantly, what to do with them later. Choose your mining methods and act!
Pros and cons of mining on a laptop
Pros and cons of mining on a PC
Mining at home is great for getting acquainted with the field of cryptocurrencies, but you need to understand that you won’t be able to make money this way. In this context, it is worth starting with the advantages. There are indeed many of them, but attention should be focused only on the three most significant aspects:
- You don't need to invest a lot of money. Yes, when creating a mining farm, you would need to invest a lot of money, but when mining on a laptop or computer, no initial investment is needed;
- Low costs. So, when using a computer for cryptocurrency mining, the only thing users will have to pay for is electricity and the purchase of a video card. A full-fledged mining device consumes a lot of electricity, but not a laptop. Even if the computer works at full capacity for days, the bills for using electricity will be relatively small;
- No complicated settings. For example, when creating a mining farm, users, especially beginners, need a lot of time to set up and synchronize all devices. When mining on a laptop or computer, everything is much simpler - you just need to install a special program that will automatically make all the necessary settings before you start mining assets. And if you need to configure the application yourself, the user can always find detailed instructions on the developer’s website.
Is it possible to mine on a computer
? As for the disadvantages, they exist and they are very significant:
- As previously stated, the difficulty of mining some coins is too high (BTC, ETH, LTC). The laptop will simply not be able to mine some assets;
- In practice, it has been proven that the efficiency of mining on a laptop or computer is low. This method is generally considered to be a good experience for beginners rather than a source of income;
- To get at least some income from mining at home, users will have to use the laptop to its full capacity (at increased power). Sooner or later, this will lead to serious overheating and wear on the computer.
Pool selection
A pool is a service where those who want to mine on their PC. They pool their power, after which this hashrate is used to mine the chosen cryptocurrency. Among the proven and powerful pools are Coinotron, Nanopool and Minergate.
If for some reason you don’t like these services, then you can look for any convenient pool for yourself. Criteria for selection: pool statistics, reviews and overall hashrate. Be careful when choosing so as not to stumble upon scammers.
