Mining performance with Apple's new M1 chip?

[Abiky]

The new M1 chip used by Apple's latest MacBook seem to be quite hyped these days. The company claims that the new chip is much faster than chips used by previous models of the MacBook. This makes me wonder how good the new chip will be for mining CPU-based cryptocurrencies using the CryptoNight, RandomX, and M7M algorithms?

I'm intrigued to know the results of mining CPU-based coins with a MacBook powered by the new M1 chip before ordering one. I'll be using it as both a development and mining station for crypto. The new M1 chip could be a blast if it mines Monero efficiently. Even if it doesn't, I'm still curious what hashrate/performance you'll get when doing such a task on a shiny, new microprocessor.

Your input will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[JayDDee]

Mobile devices should not be used for mining, they aren't designed for continuous 100% load.
Mobile devices cost more and perform less.

The M1 is a hybrid CPU (4 big + 4 small cores) which isn't ideal for mining.

It's an ARM architecture CPU, mining software is very limited.

It's OS is neither Windows nor Linux, mining software is even more limited.

[adaseb]

Since it’s designed for their MacBook I am assuming it’s mostly geared towards low power usage, to prolong battery life and won’t be ideal for 100% usage applications. If they designed a processor for their high power desktops then maybe it would be able to compete with some of the higher end AMD processors.

However the biggest hurdle here will be price. It obviously won’t be cheap and won’t be ideal for mining even if it proves to be very powerful. If Apple released a GPU on the other hand, one to compete with the higher end Nvidia graphic cards then that would be a game changer, however I don’t think Apple would go into that direction, not much profit really for them.

[philipma1957]

 the m1 is in more then laptops. it is in mac minis and some other gear.

mac minis can have extra cooling.

but i am not sure you can run windows with the m1

I am also not sure you can run linux with the m1


also the cores of 4+4 are not the issue the issue is the size of the cache it needs to be 16-20 mb

just checked and there are only 12mb

so five or six cores of the eight would be the max cores.

when I mine xmr on my thread rippers  i can get five or six hundred a core

so if the m1 does 5 cores at six it is 3000 vs the 29000 my threadripper ripper gets

although it is not much it would be 20 to 30 cents a day.

I wonder how much power you would use?

if the mini pulls only 30 watts it would be .75 kwatts.

if the mini pulls forty watts it would be 1 kwatt.

so at best it could clear 20-22 cents a day.

 

[Metroid]

This reminds me of 3 years ago, trolls said "anything helps", in regards to using a celeron to mine and making 10 cents a month, trolls will always justify their mindless actions hehe

[Abiky]

Mobile devices should not be used for mining, they aren't designed for continuous 100% load.
Mobile devices cost more and perform less.

The M1 is a hybrid CPU (4 big + 4 small cores) which isn't ideal for mining.

It's an ARM architecture CPU, mining software is very limited.

It's OS is neither Windows nor Linux, mining software is even more limited.

That's certainly true, mate. Mobile CPUs are essentially low-powered compared to traditional ones used in today's desktops and laptop computers. I can't imagine why Apple took this route, when Intel's CPU performance exceeded expectations. We'll see how successful Apple's own ARM chips will turn out to be in the long run. If they improve over time, they might become as good as an ordinary microprocessor for mining crypto.

As you've said before, the selection of software available on the ARM architecture is very limited. I'm not aware of any mining software available for Apple that will make use of the ARM architecture yet. With this limitation, I doubt people will be able to mine CPU-based coins directly with the new M1 chip. Besides, CPU mining is not as profitable as GPU or ASIC mining. I think the chip's current limitations won't affect the crypto community whatsoever. It'll have very little impact in the mining industry, as most miners are using ASIC, FPGAs, and GPUs on top of CPUs. We're going to have to see if this changes in the future, if new cryptocurrencies with CPU-oriented PoW algorithms become extremely popular in the mainstream world.

For now, I'll just stick with my traditional Windows 10 laptop for everyday CPU mining. The returns are not the same as mining with an ASIC or GPU. But it's better something than nothing. I'm now looking into HDD mining which seems to be a viable alternative to CPU-only mining. Time will tell us whenever CPU mining will survive or not.