Ethereum: Run cgminer only on the second card HOW?

Starting CGMiner on Only Your Second NVIDIA Video Card – A Step-by-Step Guide

As a digital miner, you are probably aware of the importance of having multiple computing resources to increase your chances of success. One popular option is to use multiple video cards in tandem, which is known as multi-GPU mining or cluster mining. In this article, we will walk you through a simple process to start CGMiner on only your second NVIDIA video card.

Why Use Two Video Cards?

Before we dive into the setup, let’s look at why it is beneficial to use two video cards:

  • Increased Mining Power – With more GPUs, you can split mining tasks between them, resulting in increased mining power and efficiency overall.
  • Improved Cooling – Having multiple GPUs allows for better cooling, as the heat generated by each card can be dissipated independently.
  • Reduced Overheating: By distributing the workload between two cards, you are less likely to experience overheating issues.

Step-by-Step Guide:

  • Install Multiple Operating Systems

    :

  • Install Windows on your primary NVIDIA video card (Nvidia 650ti).
  • Install a Linux distribution (e.g. Ubuntu) on the second NVIDIA video card (AMD R9 280x).
  • Configure Your Graphics Drivers:
  • On the Windows side, configure the GPU settings in your graphics drivers to prioritize the Nvidia 650ti.
  • On the Linux side, you may need to adjust Xorg settings or use a different driver to enable multi-GPU support.
  • Install CGMiner and Other Mining Software:
  • Install CGMiner, a popular cryptocurrency mining software like Ethereum, on both systems.
  • Make sure to update your software to the latest versions before proceeding.
  • Create a mining environment:
  • On the Windows side, create a new folder called “Mining” in your Documents or Desktop directory and move the CGMiner executable there.
  • On the Linux side, you may need to create a separate folder for the mining software.
  • Configure CGMiner for multi-GPU mining:
  • On the Windows side, navigate to the “Mining” folder and run cgminer.exe --config=multi-gpu.conf.
  • Create a new file called multi-gpu.conf in the same directory with the following content:

[GPU]

Nvidia = /dev/sv0

AMD = /dev/sv1

  • On the Linux side, you can use your favorite text editor to create or edit the multi-gpu.conf file. The format is similar to the Windows example.
  • Start CGMiner for multi-GPU mining:
  • On the Windows side, simply run cgminer.exe --config=multi-gpu.conf.
  • On the Linux side, you may need to use a command-line interface to start the mining software. You can use tools like systemctl or sudo systemctl start cgminer.
  • Monitor your mining performance:
  • Keep an eye on your mining performance using tools like CGMiner’s built-in monitoring feature or third-party apps like MinerGate.
  • Adjust your settings as needed to optimize your mining setup.

If you follow these steps, you should be able to launch CGMiner on just your second NVIDIA graphics card. Remember to periodically check your GPU settings and adjust your mining software as needed to maintain optimal performance. Happy mining!