Tweaking R9 290 scrypt mining - cgminer

[jimdrake]

Hi,

This is a new thing for me, just got setup this week.

I wonder if you could take a look at my output and comment?

Code:

 cgminer version 3.7.2 - Started: [2013-12-10 16:32:18]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (5s):874.5K (avg):874.7Kh/s | A:8384  R:320  HW:0  WU:754.7/m
 ST: 2  SS: 0  NB: 21  LW: 107  GF: 0  RF: 0
 Connected to pool1.eu.multipool.us diff 64 with stratum as user XXXX
 Block: e352f665...  Diff:49  Started: [16:42:41]  Best share: 4.99K
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 [P]ool management [G]PU management [S]ettings [D]isplay options [Q]uit
 GPU 0:  74.0C 3902RPM | 874.3K/874.7Kh/s | A:8384 R:320 HW:0 WU: 754.7/m I:20
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 [2013-12-10 16:41:32] Pool 0 stale share detected, submitting as user requested
 [2013-12-10 16:41:32] Rejected 03010224 Diff 85/64 GPU 0 pool 0 (STALE SHARE (Previous Job '1
 [2013-12-10 16:41:33] Accepted 3a8e1c67 Diff 1.12K/64 GPU 0 pool 0
 [2013-12-10 16:41:36] Accepted 01c65d6b Diff 144/64 GPU 0 pool 0
 [2013-12-10 16:41:39] Stratum from pool 0 detected new block
 [2013-12-10 16:41:39] Rejected 026452f1 Diff 107/64 GPU 0 pool 0 (STALE SHARE (Previous Job '1
 [2013-12-10 16:41:39] Rejected 0336b622 Diff 80/64 GPU 0 pool 0 (STALE SHARE (Previous Job '1
 [2013-12-10 16:41:42] Accepted 02443b4e Diff 113/64 GPU 0 pool 0
 [2013-12-10 16:41:46] Accepted 03d70160 Diff 67/64 GPU 0 pool 0
 [2013-12-10 16:41:47] Stratum from pool 0 detected new block
 [2013-12-10 16:41:51] Accepted 03abcf07 Diff 70/64 GPU 0 pool 0
 [2013-12-10 16:41:51] Accepted 0332c62a Diff 80/64 GPU 0 pool 0
 [2013-12-10 16:42:02] Accepted 0146c5a3 Diff 201/64 GPU 0 pool 0
 [2013-12-10 16:42:06] Stratum from pool 0 detected new block
 [2013-12-10 16:42:11] Stratum from pool 0 detected new block
 [2013-12-10 16:42:23] Accepted 02b6970e Diff 94/64 GPU 0 pool 0
 [2013-12-10 16:42:24] Accepted 015e93ea Diff 187/64 GPU 0 pool 0
 [2013-12-10 16:42:24] Accepted 023b270e Diff 115/64 GPU 0 pool 0
 [2013-12-10 16:42:24] Accepted 025fe7a5 Diff 108/64 GPU 0 pool 0
 [2013-12-10 16:42:41] Stratum from pool 0 detected new block
 [2013-12-10 16:42:48] Accepted 4e4a2e69 Diff 837/64 GPU 0 pool 0
 [2013-12-10 16:42:54] Accepted 03259db2 Diff 81/64 GPU 0 pool 0
 [2013-12-10 16:42:57] Accepted 03810188 Diff 73/64 GPU 0 pool 0

I had lots of help from all the websites and forums, especially here:
http://www.cryptobadger.com/2013/04/build-a-litecoin-mining-rig-linux/
http://www.coinminingrigs.com

I am currently running a single Asus R9 290.

I have a startup script which looks like this:

Code:

#!/bin/sh
export DISPLAY=:0
export GPU_MAX_ALLOC_PERCENT=100
export GPU_USE_SYNC_OBJECTS=1
cd /home/XXXX/cgminer-3.7.2-x86_64-built
./cgminer -c cgminer.conf

And this is the contents of cgminer.conf:

Code:

{
"pools" : [
	{
		"url" : "stratum+tcp://pool1.eu.multipool.us:7777",
		"user" : "XXXX",
		"pass" : "XXXX"
	},
	{
		"url" : "stratum+tcp://pool1.us.multipool.us:7777",
		"user" : "XXXX",
		"pass" : "XXXX"
	}
],

"scrypt" : true,
"gpu-threads" : "1",
"worksize" : "512",
"lookup-gap" : "2",
"thread-concurrency" : "24550",
"intensity" : "20",
"gpu-fan" : "70",
"gpu-engine" : "1000",
"gpu-memclock" : "1500",
"gpu-powertune" : "20"

}

I understood that this card could push to around 900 KH/s, so I'm close, but not quite there.

Is there anything to look at to maybe increase the speed some more?

The first thing I noticed is that the fan is way louder than I expected! Now I have set it up in the basement which holds an ambient temperature of around 14 °C. What is an acceptable temperature and RPM for the GPU to hold at for long periods?

Any input would be great, thanks.

[FarmerGreene]

Good Afternoon.

In the cgminer archive there is a file called SCRYPT-README.txt.  It does a fairly good job of explaining the performance tuning process for Scrypt mining.

Off the top of my head the biggest performance gains for me were tuning the thread concurrency.  I couldn't get the auto-fan and auto-gpu options to "stick", so I coded them as command-line options into my startup script.  This was important for me as my card throttles noticeably at higher temperatures. (on Windows)

...It's 30 degrees today and the miners are keeping my bonus room toasty warm. 

FarmerGreene
ExtraParts.info

[jimdrake]

Thanks, I will have a look at that file.

I was also reading this:
http://forum.litebonk.com/index.php?topic=275.0

Which seems to suggest that you just leave everything at default (including thread concurrency) and then gradually increase gpu-memclock until you find the best value, and then tweak gpu-engine and then ramp the intensity up.

I have been running overnight for the first time, and the room that usual holds around 14°C (winter and summer) is not at all 14°C any more! Maybe I should get a thermometer to hang on the wall.

The card seems to be holding the speed and temperature that I posted yesterday. So I guess that's stable and there should be room for me to tweak it.

I should also get one of those power meters to see how much I am pulling, but with just one R9 290 and the cheapest AMD board/cpu and a Seasonic Platinum 1000W PSU I'm guessing around 300W?

[jimdrake]

Oh, forgot to mention, I am NOT using a dummy plug. As these cards don't have a VGA output.

[Catswold]

You will also want to tune your card's core clock (and possibly the memory as well, although my experience with GPU memory is that the R9 series likes it's default mem clock.

My R9 280x has a default core clock of 1000MHz, but it runs best at 995 (a difference of about 60-100 kh/s, so the adjustment isn't trivial.  Don't just look at over-clocking.  Under-clocking may be better.

[jimdrake]

You will also want to tune your card's core clock (and possibly the memory as well, although my experience with GPU memory is that the R9 series likes it's default mem clock.

My R9 280x has a default core clock of 1000MHz, but it runs best at 995 (a difference of about 60-100 kh/s, so the adjustment isn't trivial.  Don't just look at over-clocking.  Under-clocking may be better.

is the core clock the gpu-engine setting?

[jimdrake]

I was just reading the SCRYPT-README, it mentions about RAM:

If you have less system ram than your GPU has, it may not be possible
to mine at any reasonable rate.

Now I just stuck the minimal cheapest 2GB RAM in my system, and the ASUS R9 290 has 4GB of RAM. Is this something I should look at?

[Illusmare]

I use GUIminer - scrypt alpha with my Asus R9 290 so my speed is pretty crappy (dunno if the GUImier is the reason).

Stable/silent setup:
Intensity 14
Thread concurrency 32765

With GPU Tweak:
GPU Clock 747MHz
GPU Voltage 1150mV
Memory Clock 4000MHz

Stable with this setup and fan is running at 37% and temp is at 92C.
Speed is 460kH/s.

Tried with Intensity 20 but the computer becomes alittle unstable and the temp is around 95C and the fan is around 45% which is too loud for me.
Speed with this was only 600kH/s. Don't know if the limiting factor is the low clockspeeds or GUIminer.

Should get my waterblock for the GPU this week so I guess I will have to test alittle more after that.

[BrewCrewFan]

I was just reading the SCRYPT-README, it mentions about RAM:

If you have less system ram than your GPU has, it may not be possible
to mine at any reasonable rate.

Now I just stuck the minimal cheapest 2GB RAM in my system, and the ASUS R9 290 has 4GB of RAM. Is this something I should look at?

If that is true , then I been doing it wrong lol. I been sticking nothing more than 1 stick of whatever I can find, usually like 1 gig LOL.
I find that I get less stales as I drop the intensity at least on my 7850's and 270x's

[Catswold]

You will also want to tune your card's core clock (and possibly the memory as well, although my experience with GPU memory is that the R9 series likes it's default mem clock.

My R9 280x has a default core clock of 1000MHz, but it runs best at 995 (a difference of about 60-100 kh/s, so the adjustment isn't trivial.  Don't just look at over-clocking.  Under-clocking may be better.

is the core clock the gpu-engine setting?

Yes, your GPU frequency.

You might want to try some of the settings other have used and posted on the litecoin hardware comparison page:
https://litecoin.info/Mining_hardware_comparison

There are currently 7 R9 290's listed.

[Tequilablob]

You want to have as much system ram as you have in Vram.  Here is what my conf file looks like, I'm getting around 820Kh/s with these settings with a sapphire R9 290.

Code:

{
"pools" : [
    {
          "name" : "xxx",
          "url" : "xxx",
          "user" : "xx",
          "pass" : "xx"
     }
]
,
"intensity" : "20",
"vectors" : "1",
"worksize" : "512",
"kernel" : "scrypt",
"lookup-gap" : "2",
"thread-concurrency" : "32764",
"shaders" : "0",
"gpu-engine" : "800-964",
"gpu-fan" : "0-67",
"auto-fan" : true,
"auto-gpu" : true,
"gpu-memclock" : "0",
"gpu-memdiff" : "0",
"gpu-powertune" : "0",
"gpu-vddc" : "0.000",
"temp-cutoff" : "97",
"temp-overheat" : "96",
"temp-target" : "85",
"api-mcast-port" : "4028",
"api-port" : "4028",
"expiry" : "120",
"failover-only" : true,
"gpu-dyninterval" : "7",
"gpu-platform" : "0",
"gpu-threads" : "1",
"hotplug" : "5",
"log" : "5",
"no-pool-disable" : true,
"queue" : "1",
"scan-time" : "60",
"scrypt" : true,
"temp-hysteresis" : "3",
"shares" : "0",
"kernel-path" : "/usr/local/bin"
}

[Illusmare]

I use GUIminer - scrypt alpha with my Asus R9 290 so my speed is pretty crappy (dunno if the GUImier is the reason).

]Stable/silent setup:
Intensity 14
Thread concurrency 32765

With GPU Tweak:
GPU Clock 747MHz
GPU Voltage 1150mV
Memory Clock 4000MHz

Stable with this setup and fan is running at 37% and temp is at 92C.
Speed is 460kH/s.
Tried with Intensity 20 but the computer becomes alittle unstable and the temp is around 95C and the fan is around 45% which is too loud for me.
Speed with this was only 600kH/s. Don't know if the limiting factor is the low clockspeeds or GUIminer.

Should get my waterblock for the GPU this week so I guess I will have to test alittle more after that.

Tried some different settings in GPU Tweak. This was the best I found that even runs with Intensity 14 (after trying lots of different settings and had to restart comp few times).
GPU Clock 1100MHz
GPU Voltage 1225mV
Memory Clock 4905MHz
Intensity 14 now gave me 620kH/s and was stable.

For some weird reason increasing intensity just lowers my speed and makes it jump alot. Guess it just can't handle it?

[jimdrake]

Hey all,

I have been trying to follow these instructions for overclocking, where you find your max thread concurrency, then max memory clock, then tweak the engine clock.

Thing is that the setting you give to cgminer for the engine clock does not get accepted by the GPU.

For example, I have set here gpu-engine as 1000 but cgminmer reports it as being 925.

Code:

GPU 0: 771.3 / 775.5 Kh/s | A:19  R:1  HW:0  U:7.07/m  I:20
71.0 C  F: 71% (3971 RPM)  E: 925 MHz  M: 1500 Mhz  V: 0.000V  A: 100%  P: 0%

Anyone else see this?

[biohack]

Hey all,

I have been trying to follow these instructions for overclocking, where you find your max thread concurrency, then max memory clock, then tweak the engine clock.

Thing is that the setting you give to cgminer for the engine clock does not get accepted by the GPU.

For example, I have set here gpu-engine as 1000 but cgminmer reports it as being 925.

Code:

GPU 0: 771.3 / 775.5 Kh/s | A:19  R:1  HW:0  U:7.07/m  I:20
71.0 C  F: 71% (3971 RPM)  E: 925 MHz  M: 1500 Mhz  V: 0.000V  A: 100%  P: 0%

Anyone else see this?

Where's the link to your tutorial? I can try it out and get back to you tonight.

[jimdrake]

Where's the link to your tutorial? I can try it out and get back to you tonight.

this is what i was referring to

I was also reading this:
http://forum.litebonk.com/index.php?topic=275.0

[LiteMine]

I use GUIminer - scrypt alpha with my Asus R9 290 so my speed is pretty crappy (dunno if the GUImier is the reason).

Stable/silent setup:
Intensity 14
Thread concurrency 32765

With GPU Tweak:
GPU Clock 747MHz
GPU Voltage 1150mV
Memory Clock 4000MHz

Stable with this setup and fan is running at 37% and temp is at 92C.
Speed is 460kH/s.

Tried with Intensity 20 but the computer becomes alittle unstable and the temp is around 95C and the fan is around 45% which is too loud for me.
Speed with this was only 600kH/s. Don't know if the limiting factor is the low clockspeeds or GUIminer.

Should get my waterblock for the GPU this week so I guess I will have to test alittle more after that.

Get cgminer and use the

Code:

--auto-fan

parameter. And open up your case, you want those temps under 80 to get max life out of your card.

[Treggar]

I know this is an old topic, but since alot of R9 290's are being sold this week due to new stock, I figured I'd post what settings I run.

I get a solid 918kh/sec scrypt mining on my XFX R9 290's holding steady at the 71-72 degrees C range air cooled.

The settings I use are

thread-concurrency 32765
intensity 20
gpu-engine 1050
gpu-memclock 1450
gpu-fan 80
gpu-powertune 20

The rest are default/whatever cgminer detects upon loading.

[frank754]

I've found that if you have your browser open in another window, the screen refresh cuts down the hashing quite a bit while looking at the browser page. It could go down by 100 or more. I don't have to close my browser, just go back to the screen where the terminal window is running, and it will quickly go back up. I'm using Ubuntu where you can have 4 "pages" or "windows" and have apps running in each. So before I turn off the monitor for the night, I make sure I'm looking at the page which shows the terminal window. Regardless of whether I shut down the browser or not, it hash rate will stay close to the max just by looking at the terminal only, on it's separate screen.

[yslyung]

does not affect my hashing speed with browser, well i lower my intensity when i browse or use my main pc.

here's my 290's sapphire's non x non BF, can't undervolt, if oc too much hash goes down same goes to TC, try different TC's it may help

left is my full time rig with 5 cards, yes you see 4 now cuz 1 broke down the fan just keeps on spinning & not detected so gonna rma it. right side is my main pc gonna add 3 more cards & a psu, gpu 1 on right is slightly lower cuz i'm a little bz & lazy to flash new bios. try that too might bump up a few hashes.

the cards has been hashing for more than 12 hrs+ , yes you don't see 12 hrs+ of running time cuz i was switching pools.

eng 1015, mem 1500



happy mining

[gtraah]

I got mine hashing without any errors no matter how much I lower settings HIgher settings for some reason the ratio between Acceppted and rejected is ALWAYS higher with the 290 than the 280x .... How do I lower rejection rate... or is this just a server issue here is an example

R9 280x TOXIC OC = ACC 297984 REJ = 10240  HASH = 750KH
R9 280x TOXIC OC = ACC 342016 REJ = 7168  HASH = 750KH
R9 280x TOXIC OC = ACC 322560 REJ = 5120  HASH = 750KH
R9 290 TOXIC OC = ACC 386048 REJ = 41984  HASH = 880-920KH

NO HARDWARE ERRORS

All the 280 are the same settings obviously the 290 isn't , What do you think is the prob or is there even a problem here

Rejection rate is like 4.5% and this is because of that 290. If you take this out of the picture the rate would be 1.2-1.5%