MadMax Chia Plotter is a free, open-source program for Windows that creates plot files for the Chia blockchain. It is aimed at farmers and hobbyists who have a multi-core PC and want to shorten the time plotting takes. The project's last code update was in March 2024, so check the official site for the most recent release before you start.
Plotting is the slow, disk-heavy step that comes before farming on Chia, and plotters differ mostly in how they use CPU threads, RAM and temporary storage. MadMax takes a pipeline approach, in which work moves through stages much like a GPU processes data, with ordinary CPU threads acting as the workers. The result is a tool built for speed rather than simplicity, so it suits users who are comfortable tuning settings.
What Is a Chia Plot?
Chia farming relies on proof of space, a method in which storage capacity rather than computing power helps secure the network. Before a farmer can take part, they need plot files, large files that hold precomputed data the farming software uses when it answers network challenges.
Creating a plot is the expensive part of the process because it requires heavy disk reads and writes along with significant memory use. Once a plot exists, the farmer does not need to rebuild it for every challenge, which is why plotting is typically done in advance. A dedicated plotter such as MadMax exists to make that one-time preparation faster and more efficient.
Understanding this distinction helps explain why plotter choice matters. The plotter affects how long preparation takes, while the farming software decides how plots are used afterward.
Who Is MadMax Chia Plotter For?
MadMax Chia Plotter fits several common scenarios. A hobbyist with a spare Windows desktop might use it to build a batch of plots over a weekend. A farmer who already runs Chia on a dedicated machine might use it to prepare plots in larger volumes between other tasks.
It is also a practical choice for people who enjoy comparing tools. Running two plotters on identical hardware, with the same storage and thread settings, is a straightforward way to see which one finishes faster on your system.
The program is less suitable for laptops or machines with limited memory. Its RAM demands and heavy disk activity can slow down everyday work, so plan plotting for times when the PC can run uninterrupted.
Key Terms: Threads, Buckets and Temporary Directories
Threads are independent sequences of work that a processor can run at the same time. A plotter with more threads can often do more work in parallel, but each thread also needs memory and disk throughput to stay productive.
Buckets are subdivisions of the data the plotter sorts during creation. The number of buckets affects how memory is allocated, and the default of 256 buckets is the baseline most users will start from.
Temporary directories hold intermediate data while a plot is being built. The first directory usually sits on a fast SSD, while the second can sit on a RAM drive if you have the memory for it. Final plot files are moved to their destination once the process completes.
Key features
Pipeline Architecture
Configurable Thread Count
Flexible Temporary Storage
Free and Open Source
Multiple Platforms
Supported coins
The project's documentation names Chia as the network its plots are made for. Plots created with MadMax are used by Chia farming software, so the program fits into a Chia workflow.
How to install MadMax Chia Plotter on Windows
- 1
Download from the official source
Download the program only from the official website or the project's GitHub Releases page at github.com/madMAx43v3r/chia-plotter. Avoid mirror sites, file-sharing links and bundles from unknown publishers.
- 2
Verify the file
Calculate the SHA-256 checksum of the downloaded file and compare it with the value published by the project. If a signature is provided, check it as well. Do not continue if the values do not match.
- 3
Install or extract the program
Run the installer or extract the Windows build to a folder you control. Keep the program in a location you can find easily, since you will call it from a command prompt or PowerShell window.
- 4
Prepare your storage
Identify a fast drive for the first temporary directory and decide whether a RAM drive will serve as the second one. Check free space on both drives before starting, because the process writes heavily to them.
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Review the documentation
Read the README and documentation in the project repository to confirm the current command-line options. Settings can change between releases, so the documentation is the reliable reference for the version you installed.
System requirements
- About 110 GiB of space for the second temporary directory, ideally a RAM drive, which absorbs about 75 percent of all writes
- Roughly 128 GiB of system RAM at minimum if you use a RAM disk for temporary storage
- Memory use of about 0.5 GB per thread at most with the default of 256 buckets
How to use MadMax Chia Plotter
MadMax Chia Plotter runs from the command line, so the setup is mostly about choosing sensible values before you start. The steps below cover a typical first run. Adjust them to your hardware and check the project's documentation for the exact options in your version.
- Open Command Prompt or PowerShell in the folder where the program is installed.
- Choose a thread count that your RAM can support, keeping in mind the roughly 0.5 GB per thread estimate.
- Point the first temporary directory to your fastest SSD with enough free space.
- If you have sufficient memory, point the second temporary directory to a RAM drive.
- Start a single plot and watch RAM, CPU and disk usage in Task Manager or Resource Monitor.
- Compare the completion time with your expectations, then adjust threads or storage for the next run.
- Move the finished plot to the location your farming software reads from, once the process completes.
Pros & cons
- Free and open source, with source code available on GitHub
- Pipeline design built for throughput on multi-core CPUs
- Flexible temporary storage options, including a RAM drive
- Available as a Windows build or installer
- Documented Docker option for users who prefer containers
- The last code update was in March 2024, so check recent activity before relying on it
- RAM-disk setups demand a large amount of memory
- Plotting is resource-intensive and can slow other work on the same PC
- Settings require some technical understanding to tune well
Is MadMax Chia Plotter safe?
Download MadMax Chia Plotter only from the official website or the project's GitHub Releases page, never from mirror sites or file-sharing links. Compare the SHA-256 checksum of the file with the value published by the project, and check a signature if one is provided. A plotter has no reason to ask for your wallet seed phrase, so never enter it on a third-party website or inside any tool that requests it.
Antivirus software often flags mining and plotting programs as suspicious, and these warnings can be false positives. Do not turn your protection off entirely. If a warning appears, verify the checksum first and, if you are confident in the file, add an exclusion only for the verified program folder. The last code update was in March 2024, so check the official site for the latest version before installing.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/madMAx43v3r/chia-plotter. Ignore ads and lookalike domains.
- Check the SHA-256. Compare the installer hash with the value the developer publishes before running it.
- Never share your seed phrase. No developer, support agent or website — including CryptApps — will ever ask for it.
Alternatives
MadMax is one of several Chia plotters, and BladeBit is the closest alternative on this list because it serves the same purpose. Choosing between them usually comes down to hardware, memory budget and how much tuning you want to do. Testing both on your own machine is the most reliable way to see which one finishes faster with your storage setup.
Chia Blockchain works differently. It is the full node and farming software that uses plot files, not a plotter. The GPU miners on the list, including GMiner, Rigel and WildRig Multi, target GPU mining workloads and do not create Chia plots, so they are useful as reference points rather than replacements.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- —
- Latest version
- —
- Last update
- 14 Mar 2024
- Windows support
- Yes (Windows build or installer)
- Source code
- github.com/madMAx43v3r/chia-plotter
Frequently asked questions
Yes, MadMax Chia Plotter is free and open source. Its source code is published on GitHub, and there is no license fee to download or use it. Your real costs come from the hardware, memory and storage you use for plotting.
Yes, the project offers a Windows build or installer alongside builds for macOS and Linux. Obtain the file from the official source, verify it, and run it on a standard Windows PC. Settings are managed from a command prompt or PowerShell window.
The answer depends on your settings. Memory use grows with the number of threads, at roughly 0.5 GB per thread at most with the default 256 buckets. If you place the second temporary directory on a RAM drive, plan for about 110 GiB of RAM and at least 128 GiB of system memory.
MadMax Chia Plotter creates plots for Chia, as its documentation states. Plots are used in Chia farming, so the program is aimed at people who already run or plan to run Chia software. It does not create plots for other cryptocurrencies.
Yes, the project documents Docker as an option. A container can be useful in some setups, especially when you want an isolated environment. For most people, a native Windows build is the simpler route to start with.
It can be, if you get it from the official website or GitHub Releases and verify its SHA-256 checksum. Plotting tools are often flagged by antivirus software, so expect possible warnings. Never enter a seed phrase on a third-party site, and check for the latest version before installing.
BladeBit is the closest alternative, since it is also a Chia plotter. Testing both on your own hardware is the most reliable way to see which one suits your system and storage setup. Compare completion times and memory use across several runs.
Verdict
MadMax Chia Plotter suits Windows users who already have a capable multi-core PC and want detailed control over threads, RAM and temporary storage. It is free and open source, and its pipeline design is built for throughput. Because the last code update dates to March 2024, check activity on GitHub and the official site before committing. Beginners who want a simpler tool may prefer an easier starting point, and anyone with limited memory should weigh the RAM requirements carefully.