How to Install, Use, and Overclock an AntMiner U1 Bitcoin ASIC Miner in Windows

[PaintShopPro6]

UPDATE 8/4/14

I updated the guide to apply to S3's. Thanks for the kind emails about my previous tutorials! The S3 tutorial is here: http://www.rubicite.com/Tutorials/AntMinerS3Tutorial.aspx



UPDATE 2/4/14

I've added additional detail to the tutorial and I've also added an S1 tutorial here: http://www.rubicite.com/Tutorials/AntMinerS1Tutorial.aspx


UPDATE 1/21/14

I strongly recommend that you use BFGminer for Antminer U1's. The tutorial below is for CGMiner. I have made the switch. It is simpler for a single device, and it just works with multiple devices.

I am keeping my tutorial up to date on my website here: http://www.rubicite.com/Tutorials/AntminerU1Tutorial.aspx


The following is from early January:


How to Install, Use, and Overclock an AntMiner U1 Bitcoin ASIC Miner in Windows

1. Visit the https://github.com/AntMiner/AntGen1/tree/master/cgminer   This is your resource for documentation and software.
2. Download the special branch of CGMiner for AntMiner U1's from GitHub https://github.com/AntMiner/AntGen1/blob/master/cgminer/cgminer-run-windows-20131224.zip (click the "raw" button to download the zip).
3. Unzip that file into a folder on your drive. Remember the location. For this example, I will assume G:/CGMiner
4. Download the CP210x USB driver http://www.silabs.com/products/mcu/Pages/USBtoUARTBridgeVCPDrivers.aspx - download the one for your operating system.
 - Image: https://i.imgur.com/ZFGu1kk.png
5. To install the CP210x USB Driver, select the x64.exe file for 64bit operating systems, or the x86.exe file for 32-bit operating systems.
6. Plug in your AntMiner U1 to a USB port on your computer. If you had already done this, unplug it and plug it back in.
7. Download Zadig for your operating system from http://zadig.akeo.ie/
8. Run the Zadig Executable.
9. Go to the options menu, and select "List All Devices"
 - Image: https://i.imgur.com/j03c71y.png
10. Select the CP2102 USB to UART Bridge Controller (or similar)
 - Image: https://i.imgur.com/fpbtSPQ.png
11. Click "Reinstall Driver" or "Replace Driver"
12. When that is done, close Zadig.
13. Create a new text file and save it as AntMiner.CMD on your desktop.
14. The contents of this command file should be as follows:
 g:\cgminer\cgminer.exe --bmsc-options 115200:20 -o MY_POOL_URL:PORT -u MY_WORKER_NAME -p MY_WORKER_PASSWORD --bmsc-freq 0781
15. Double Click the command file. If you get any errors:
    - Confirm that your pool settings are correct
    - Confirm that the path to your cgminer executable is correct in the command file
    - If it is still not working, unplug the AntMiner U1, plug it back in, and try again
    - Finally, if it is still not working, reboot your computer and consider trying a different USB port.
16. To overclock your AntMiner U1, you will change that last part of the AntMiner.CMD file. The number following "--bmsc-freq" will change.
    - For 1.8 GH/s, use 0881
    - For 2.0 GH/s, use 0981
    - For 2.2 GH/s, use 0A81


Keep in mind that the AntMiner gets VERY hot VERY quickly when you overclock. Your must add additional cooling to your device. I recommend a strong fan blowing cool air directly onto your AntMiner U1.

[captplanet]

Am I supposed to be replacing the silabs driver?

[Rh3nium]

Am I supposed to be replacing the silabs driver?

yes, by using the Zadig.

[Rh3nium]

Nice write-up. The only thing I have been struggling with is following:
(well, this, and that I have trouble mixing with Block Erupters, but that is another topic perhaps)

.....

14. The contents of this command file should be as follows:
 g:\cgminer\cgminer.exe --bmsc-options 115200:20 -o MY_POOL_URL:PORT -u MY_WORKER_NAME -p MY_WORKER_PASSWORD --bmsc-freq 0781

.....

I can get my U1 to run with the special cgminer BUT: BMSC options gives me error:  "unrecognized option"
What gives?


Odd, now that I wrote this and tried it again, it seems to work... Apologies.

[JakeC]

I'm having difficulty getting mine to work. I've followed instructions to the letter but just getting no device found when running cgminer.

Running i3 laptop 64bit Windows 7 off powered USB hub (although straight into USB doesn't make a difference)

I've managed to finally get it working in bfgminer but only getting 1.0gh/s and can't understand why.

Any suggestions please?

Thanks

http://s30.postimg.org/lvr25i2nk/cgminer.jpg

[Rh3nium]

I'm having difficulty getting mine to work. I've followed instructions to the letter but just getting no device found when running cgminer.

Running i3 laptop 64bit Windows 7 off powered USB hub (although straight into USB doesn't make a difference)

I've managed to finally get it working in bfgminer but only getting 1.0gh/s and can't understand why.

Any suggestions please?

Thanks

http://s30.postimg.org/lvr25i2nk/cgminer.jpg

If you got it to work with BFGminer then you must have at least the CP210 drivers installed, I guess.
For CGminer you will need to run Zadig. If you did, have you tried to restart the machine? I remember having had troubles there in the beginning as well.
And make sure you use cgminer from the github repository, not the "regular one", but I guess you did that?
PS: they take some time to come up to speed.

[JakeC]

If you got it to work with BFGminer then you must have at least the CP210 drivers installed, I guess.
For CGminer you will need to run Zadig. If you did, have you tried to restart the machine? I remember having had troubles there in the beginning as well.
And make sure you use cgminer from the github repository, not the "regular one", but I guess you did that?
PS: they take some time to come up to speed.

I tried the Zadig  for cgminer and rebooted etc but still wouldn't see the U1 so that's why I resorted back to bfgminer because you can add it manually.

See this image

http://s28.postimg.org/a5safgst9/bfg.jpg

Thanks for the response

[kokojie]

Does this guide also work for running multiple U1 on a hub? say like 10 U1?

[Suika]

I'm having difficulty getting mine to work. I've followed instructions to the letter but just getting no device found when running cgminer.

Running i3 laptop 64bit Windows 7 off powered USB hub (although straight into USB doesn't make a difference)

I've managed to finally get it working in bfgminer but only getting 1.0gh/s and can't understand why.

Any suggestions please?

Thanks

http://s30.postimg.org/lvr25i2nk/cgminer.jpg

Yeah, I'm getting the same issue.
It shows up fine in the Device Manager before Zadig:

http://img.psiblade.net/antmineru1-01.jpg

and after Zadig:

http://img.psiblade.net/antmineru1-02.jpg
http://img.psiblade.net/antmineru1-04.jpg

But either way, the antminer version of cgminer won't detect anything:

http://img.psiblade.net/antmineru1-03.jpg

The first attempt was with the U1 plugged in and the second attempt was with it removed from the system.  In both cases, it's only detecting 4 USB devices total.

I have tried uninstalling all of the drivers and reinstalling them, as well as rebooting the machine, but no matter what I do, I can't get it to detect even just one of them (I have 2).

[Rh3nium]

I'm having difficulty getting mine to work. I've followed instructions to the letter but just getting no device found when running cgminer.
.....
Any suggestions please?

Thanks

Yeah, I'm getting the same issue.
It shows up fine in the Device Manager before Zadig:
...
and after Zadig:
...
But either way, the antminer version of cgminer won't detect anything:

The first attempt was with the U1 plugged in and the second attempt was with it removed from the system.  In both cases, it's only detecting 4 USB devices total.

I have tried uninstalling all of the drivers and reinstalling them, as well as rebooting the machine, but no matter what I do, I can't get it to detect even just one of them (I have 2).

That's odd, but I know I have had something similar with a Fury stick, it doesn't show up, but is still recognized by e.g. Bfgminer.
Try to download USBDview:
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/usb_devices_view.html

It shows all devices, even "hidden" ones and if active or not, etc. You can easily delete drivers there. Might help to restart the install process.

[[fakker]]

so, can you have multiple U1's easily? Like blockerupter/bitfury it's just add COM ports and it works?

[nyymor]

Is it still profitable to buy bunch of these vs mining scrypt coins?

[Suika]

That's odd, but I know I have had something similar with a Fury stick, it doesn't show up, but is still recognized by e.g. Bfgminer.
Try to download USBDview:
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/usb_devices_view.html

It shows all devices, even "hidden" ones and if active or not, etc. You can easily delete drivers there. Might help to restart the install process.

I will check it out, but interestingly enough, I installed a VirtualBox VM running Windows 8 on this machine and then attached the two U1's to the VM's USB and now both of them work in the VM.  I'm wondering if it has something to do with the Intel USB drivers for my Asus Maximus VI Hero motherboard.

EDIT:
Turns out that they are now working on my machine without running them in the VM.  I uninstalled the drivers for the USB 3.0 controller on my motherboard and the cgminer version on the antminer github picks them up now.  Of course, this means now my USB 3.0 ports don't work on my motherboard, so hopefully the cgminer/bfgminer devs will add support for multiple USB controllers in the future.

[styleruk]

Ohhhhhhh!  I just cannot get an antminer working with cgminer on windows 7.  I have re-installed the drivers so many times now...rebooted and tried different USB slots and hubs...No luck whatsoever.
Strange, I can get BitMinter to see it and run at 1.6gh (although with at least 10% errors), but can't get cgminer to find it at all, it's although the ant ain't there! :-(
I shall continue to abuse it with the beta java BitMinter client until someone comes up with a something I have yet to try.  I'm guessing it's early days yet.
Anyone have anything to suggest that worked for them, let me know please?
This is what I'm running

CP210x_VCP_Windows

zadig install WinUSB (v6.1.7600.16385)  (when I do this step, BitMinter can't see it any more, to get BitMinter to work again I install the CP210x driver and voila, there it is....but not on cgminer at any time)


C:\cgminer\new\cgminer-run\cgminer.exe --bmsc-options 115200:20 -o stratum+tcp://mint.bitminter.com:3333 -u xxxxxx.xxxxxx -p xxxxxxx --bmsc-freq 0781


I really want to get it running on cgminer so I can play with cooling and oc-ing it.

Si

[dmpotter]

Ohhhhhhh!  I just cannot get an antminer working with cgminer on windows 7.  I have re-installed the drivers so many times now...rebooted and tried different USB slots and hubs...No luck whatsoever.
Strange, I can get BitMinter to see it and run at 1.6gh (although with at least 10% errors), but can't get cgminer to find it at all, it's although the ant ain't there! :-(
I shall continue to abuse it with the beta java BitMinter client until someone comes up with a something I have yet to try.  I'm guessing it's early days yet.
Anyone have anything to suggest that worked for them, let me know please?
This is what I'm running

CP210x_VCP_Windows

zadig install WinUSB (v6.1.7600.16385)  (when I do this step, BitMinter can't see it any more, to get BitMinter to work again I install the CP210x driver and voila, there it is....but not on cgminer at any time)


C:\cgminer\new\cgminer-run\cgminer.exe --bmsc-options 115200:20 -o stratum+tcp://mint.bitminter.com:3333 -u xxxxxx.xxxxxx -p xxxxxxx --bmsc-freq 0781


I really want to get it running on cgminer so I can play with cooling and oc-ing it.

Si

Why not just use bfgminer 3.10.0 supports ANTMiner.

[CryptoReaper]

Is it still profitable to buy bunch of these vs mining scrypt coins?

I wondered the same. Is it more sensible to spend this money on GPUs to mine scrypts?

[redrage]

Why not just use bfgminer 3.10.0 supports ANTMiner.

Does it support Overclocking as well?  Thanks!

[BitcoinNational]

lost weekend trying to setup\ will come back when have more freetime

AntMiner U1 in Windows7 = nightmare

--update--
can install and run Ant u1 on another Windows7 PC
so issues likely to be with PC hardware (although it is a brand new PC)

did any one say life of a miner is easy

[doctormandrake]

reserved

lost weekend trying to setup\ will come back when have more freetime


AntMiner U1 in Windows7 = nightmare

I got them running in win7 with cgminer (the antminer edition listed in the antminer pdf) overclocked at 2gh with some hw errors (about 1.5%) using zadig drivers, have to start cgminer with the proper .bat or cmd and just one miner plugged in, then plug each miner in. also have to use zadig for each port after you put in an ant for the 1st time in a given port.

Also on bfgminer 3.10.0 but when I added all my pools to the conf (17 pools for btc, alts etc) bfgminer crashed (but had no hardware errors at 2gh) So I am working on editing the conf down to just the pools I will need (can always copy paste the others in and remove some etc if I need to) on bfgminer the silab drivers worked.

[PaintShopPro6]

OP here. Just wanted to let everybody that I have been keeping my tutorial up to date on my website. http://www.rubicite.com/Tutorials/AntminerU1Tutorial.aspx

Your life will be a lot easier if you use BFGminer. It wasn't available when I wrote the original tutorial.

If you have any questions, let me know.