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README: Moved CPU sections to README.CPU and elaborated more on it

Red_Wolf_2 12 years ago
parent
commit
29cee86424
2 changed files with 47 additions and 22 deletions
  1. 2 22
      README
  2. 45 0
      README.CPU

+ 2 - 22
README

@@ -349,22 +349,7 @@ must download the proper bitstream from the vendor's website and copy it to the
 
 
 See README.ASIC and README.FPGA for more information regarding these.
 See README.ASIC and README.FPGA for more information regarding these.
 
 
-CPU only options (not included in binaries):
-
---algo|-a <arg>     Specify sha256 implementation for CPU mining:
-        fastauto*       Quick benchmark at startup to pick a working algorithm
-        auto            Benchmark at startup and pick fastest algorithm
-        c               Linux kernel sha256, implemented in C
-        4way            tcatm's 4-way SSE2 implementation
-        via             VIA padlock implementation
-        cryptopp        Crypto++ C/C++ implementation
-        cryptopp_asm32  Crypto++ 32-bit assembler implementation
-        sse2_32         SSE2 32 bit implementation for i386 machines
-        sse2_64         SSE2 64 bit implementation for x86_64 machines
-        sse4_64         SSE4.1 64 bit implementation for x86_64 machines
-        altivec_4way    Altivec implementation for PowerPC G4 and G5 machines
---cpu-threads|-t <arg> Number of miner CPU threads (default: 4)
-
+See README.CPU for information regarding CPU mining.
 
 
 ---
 ---
 
 
@@ -730,12 +715,7 @@ A: Virtually always, the DEFAULT parameters give the best results. Most user
 defined settings lead to worse performance.
 defined settings lead to worse performance.
 
 
 Q: What happened to CPU mining?
 Q: What happened to CPU mining?
-A: Being increasingly irrelevant for most users, and a maintenance issue, it is
-no longer under active development and will not be supported unless someone
-steps up to help maintain it. No binary builds supporting CPU mining will be
-released for Windows but CPU mining can be built into BFGMiner when it is
-compiled. For builds which do support CPU mining, it is still disabled by
-default, and must be enabled using the -S cpu:auto option.
+A: See README.CPU for more information.
 
 
 Q: Will there ever be a GUI version?
 Q: Will there ever be a GUI version?
 A: No, however the RPC interface makes it possible for someone else to write one
 A: No, however the RPC interface makes it possible for someone else to write one

+ 45 - 0
README.CPU

@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ON CPU USAGE:
+
+By default, BFGMiner will NOT mine on CPUs unless it is explicitly compiled with
+support and told to do so. CPU mining for bitcoin is generally considered to be
+obsolete as it requires considerably more power per hash computed than either
+GPU, FPGA or ASIC based mining. If you still wish to mine using CPUs you will
+need to build a custom binary with support enabled (refer to the build notes in
+README for further information).
+
+The following CPU mining options are available:
+
+--algo|-a <arg> Specify sha256 implementation for CPU mining:
+        fastauto*       Quick benchmark at startup to pick a working algorithm
+        auto            Benchmark at startup and pick fastest algorithm
+        c               Linux kernel sha256, implemented in C
+        4way            tcatm's 4-way SSE2 implementation
+        via             VIA padlock implementation
+        cryptopp        Crypto++ C/C++ implementation
+        cryptopp_asm32  Crypto++ 32-bit assembler implementation
+        sse2_32         SSE2 32 bit implementation for i386 machines
+        sse2_64         SSE2 64 bit implementation for x86_64 machines
+        sse4_64         SSE4.1 64 bit implementation for x86_64 machines
+        altivec_4way    Altivec implementation for PowerPC G4 and G5 machines
+--cpu-threads|-t <arg> Number of miner CPU threads (default: 4)
+
+CPU FAQ:
+
+Q: What happened to CPU mining?
+A: Being increasingly irrelevant for most users, and a maintenance issue, it is
+no longer under active development and will not be supported unless someone
+steps up to help maintain it. No binary builds supporting CPU mining will be
+released for Windows but CPU mining can be built into BFGMiner when it is
+compiled. For builds which do support CPU mining, it is still disabled by
+default, and must be enabled using the -S cpu:auto option.
+
+Q: So, should I even try CPU mining?
+A: No, it honestly will waste more power and time than it is worth at this stage.
+If you really wish to mine, you are better off getting a suitable ASIC instead.
+
+Q: But, if the computers aren't mine and I'm not paying for the power?
+A: If you are trying to use computers that aren't yours, you really should
+reconsider. Attempting to mine with a large number of devices will often impact
+negatively on many pools and will likely pay almost nothing due to the small
+number of successful shares submitted. Apart from that, you will probably get
+into trouble with someone down the track for misusing the computers.