CraPE v0.3 beta - Boot from USB - Win8 PE Based Mining OS

[swiftshoot]

Installed V0.3.  Like the cleaner look of it.  However, found a few issues:

• 7970 cards can't go over 530kh/sec.  This needs to be fixed.
• Could not use thread concurrency of 40960.  had to use 8192 to make it work for me.  even 20480 did not work.
• Windows PE is only 32-bit.  Could not run MINERD 64bit SSE4 with Quark code in it.  Could you please make a 64bit version?
• CGMiner-xtc.conf should contain "auto-gpu" : true, to start up with a quieter system. starting up at 80% is too noisy.

I think the problem with the low thread concurrency may be due to the system only being 32bits.  I would love to see CraPE in 64 bit mode so I can run 64 bit miners.

[crazyates]

Installed V0.3.  Like the cleaner look of it.  However, found a few issues:

• 7970 cards can't go over 530kh/sec.  This needs to be fixed.
• Could not use thread concurrency of 40960.  had to use 8192 to make it work for me.  even 20480 did not work.
• Windows PE is only 32-bit.  Could not run MINERD 64bit SSE4 with Quark code in it.  Could you please make a 64bit version?
• CGMiner-xtc.conf should contain "auto-gpu" : true, to start up with a quieter system. starting up at 80% is too noisy.

I think the problem with the low thread concurrency may be due to the system only being 32bits.  I would love to see CraPE in 64 bit mode so I can run 64 bit miners.

I replaced my 7970 GHz in my gaming rig with 2 7950s. Those are the only GPUs I have anymore, so testing for your setup is a little hard.

That said, I tested v0.3 with my 7970, and I could use TC of 21000 with no issues. I couldn't get above 550KH/s on my 7970, but I couldn't on Win7 or Win8 either. Now my 7950s can get 600KH/s each easy. Can you get higher than 530KH/s on another OS using the same GPU?

I can see how the 32-bit limitation is a factor for Altcoins that want to mine using a 64-bit CPU. I've started testing this out with a 32-bit PrimeCoin miner, but a 64-bit rebuild would be more time than what I have available.

And lastly, "Auto-gpu: true" has nothing to do with the fan speed, which I'm assuming you're talking about? This setting can potentially be bad for LTC mining, which is very particular to what core/memory ratios you're running.

Remember that you can edit those config files as you see fit, and the changes will remain, so you can adjust them and add whatever parameters you want for your setup.

[Pentel]

I can't seem to run Teamviewer, for some reason.  It just won't start.

[crazyates]

I can't seem to run Teamviewer, for some reason.  It just won't start.

Can't get it to work either. I think VNC will work, but I haven't had much time to test it. I'm working 60hrs/week, plus another ~10 at the church, and then I need some family time.

I was actually kinda glad the forum went down for a while. Gave me a break haha!

[shacky]

Hiii!

This OS can work with 6 x 7950?

Thanks for your answer!

[Zeek_W]

Ah thankyou Shacky for bumping this thread! I couldn't remember what it was called. Will be trying with my new system soon

[Pentel]

It works great on a old Dell Inspiron 1200 with 1.2 GB 
The only problem I have is when I close the laptop and the screen goes off, I can't get the screen back on. 

So having Teamview would be great, tried VNC but can't get the server program to work 
No biggy.

[AmDD]

I just found this, seems interesting...

Downloading now

[AmDD]

I assume this is for 7xxx cards only? I have a rig of 5850's thats been giving me problems with BAMT. When booting CraPE it throws errors and doesnt mine. Looks like it doesnt even see the cards.
Is there anything specific I need to know about switching drivers in PE?

[litecross]

0.3 version did not work with LTC.

error -5: enqueueing kernel onto command queue. clEnqueueNDRangeKernel said, before I did not  have this error, but mine 10 percent capacity.
Ram is not the problem, I use 4GB but x86 only take 2.

[Injust]

You guys should know that instead of using the crappy ISO to USB tool that OP mentioned, you can just format the USB to FAT32 or NTFS, name the USB "WIN8PESE" and then just extract the files over
Pretty much faster and simpler.

[want2eat]

What can i do to start mining with 5770, 5870 cards?

[bi0h4z4rd]

Bugs found on V0.3:

-If i update cgminer, i loose GPU support (i know its because its later than 3.7).
-7970 gpus are not working with cgminer, they crash inmediately (using same config file as for my windows 7 rig)
-why does it start asic/bitcoin miner if i only want litecoin? (yes, i know how to tweak the bat files)
-Cant run teamviewer on it, should come preinstalled (or either VNC)

Otherwise, keep up the good work!

BR

[bi0h4z4rd]

And i forgot to mention that adding multiminer would be a really valuable asset

[nwoolls]

And i forgot to mention that adding multiminer would be a really valuable asset

Happy to assist if needed. The requirements are pretty light (.NET Framework 3.5).

[fran2k]

I can't seem to run Teamviewer, for some reason.  It just won't start.

Can't get it to work either. I think VNC will work, but I haven't had much time to test it. I'm working 60hrs/week, plus another ~10 at the church, and then I need some family time.

I was actually kinda glad the forum went down for a while. Gave me a break haha!

Hi crazyates,

First thank you for sharing this great project with us.
I really appreciate.
I'm trying to get best results from my R9280X, but I can't with drivers that you integrated.
Can you please tell us how to integrate newer driver (13.12) in boot.wim
I already tried to this manually, with dism, ... but without success.

Thanks!

Yeah, I would like to see a version with updated drivers for 280/290 GPUs and a x64 build for the CPU&GPU miners.

Thanks for the work done.

[ivanlabrie]

"version with updated drivers for 280/290 GPUs and a x64 build for the CPU&GPU miners." bounty material indeed...

I think the 64 bit part is impossible with PE or so I read, but updated drivers, can't we just install them manually?
I haven't tested this yet, I'll try it tomorrow.

[captchunk]

Newbie miner here, just built my first GPU mining rig on a budget with a 6950 and two 6870s.  Was struggling hard with BAMT...gave this a shot and seems to be working! Props to the builder, now I can relax some. Sucks going through the whole process of finding parts and building, only to have the rig sitting in front of you doing nothing.

Cgminer wasn't working out of the gate (kept getting an error message, something like "libcurl4.dll is missing", so I downloaded cgminer 3.7.2 and replaced it in the CGMINER folder in the w: drive, ran cgminer from the command prompt, and it worked.

Only thing now is to get the autorun features happening. A lot of the files were orginally named with 8 character limits, (like "CGMINE~1.CON" and "CGMINE~0" instead of "Cgminer-ltc.conf"), I don't think this is optimal?

[captchunk]

All right well, the lack of remote access for this build is starting to get to me, because I'd like to move my rig out of my room as soon as possible. Does anybody have any workarounds? Even a cheap monitor solution - all I need is something to be able to tweak the rig if need be without dragging it all the way back to my room to plug it in my main monitor (carrying a 36" monitor to my rig every time it needs tweaking isn't really a viable option).

What about something like iDisplay for Android? It apparently can work with a USB connection. I tried it on CraPE but couldn't get it to install properly...

[ivanlabrie]

All right well, the lack of remote access for this build is starting to get to me, because I'd like to move my rig out of my room as soon as possible. Does anybody have any workarounds? Even a cheap monitor solution - all I need is something to be able to tweak the rig if need be without dragging it all the way back to my room to plug it in my main monitor (carrying a 36" monitor to my rig every time it needs tweaking isn't really a viable option).

What about something like iDisplay for Android? It apparently can work with a USB connection. I tried it on CraPE but couldn't get it to install properly...

y no teamviewer or vnc?