Quai GPU Miner Archive is an open-source command-line miner for people who want to mine with graphics cards on Windows and Linux. It suits experienced miners who are comfortable working in a command prompt and want to study or reuse a ProgPoW-based mining tool.
The program is an archived release rather than an actively developed product. Its latest version is v0.3.0-rc.0, and the last code update dates back to December 2023. That means it is best treated as a reference build, a learning resource or a starting point for your own modifications, not as a fully supported production tool. Check the project's GitHub page before you rely on it for anything serious.
What Is Quai GPU Miner Archive?
Quai GPU Miner Archive is a preserved copy of a GPU miner written in C and C++. Its name signals that it is kept as a record of an earlier release line. The project is distributed as open-source code, so anyone can read how the hashing work is organized.
Because the code is public, the archive is most useful to developers and advanced users who want to see how a ProgPoW miner handles memory, kernels and pool communication. It is less suited to someone who simply wants a one-click tool.
Who Is This Miner For?
The program fits three types of users. The first is an experienced miner with NVIDIA or AMD cards who wants a lightweight, command-line-based setup and is comfortable editing launch parameters.
The second is a student or hobbyist learning how proof-of-work mining works at the code level. Reading a mature C/C++ miner is a practical way to understand DAG handling, hashing kernels and stratum messages.
The third is a developer who wants a base for a custom fork. Because the source is available, you can adapt it to new pool protocols or test changes to the kernels.
How ProgPoW Differs from Ethash
Ethash was the proof-of-work algorithm used by Ethereum for years. ProgPoW was proposed as a modification that changes the hashing program so that the mix of operations better reflects general-purpose GPU workloads. The idea is to reduce the advantage that specialized hardware would otherwise hold.
In practice, this means a miner built for ProgPoW will not produce valid shares on networks that still run plain Ethash. Before you configure anything, confirm which algorithm your target network uses. Mixing up the two is one of the most common reasons a setup produces rejected shares or no output at all.
Understanding the DAG and Epochs
Ethereum-style mining relies on a large dataset called the DAG, which grows over time. The DAG is organized into epochs, and each epoch requires a fresh dataset. This is why a miner must know which epoch a block belongs to before it can start hashing.
The benchmark and on-GPU generation features are tied to this concept. When you test a card against a specific epoch, you get a more realistic picture of performance than a generic synthetic test would give. Memory capacity matters here, because a larger DAG requires more VRAM on the card.
Key features
ProgPoW Mining Support
OpenCL and CUDA Backends
Realistic Benchmarking
On-GPU DAG Generation
Stratum Mining Without a Proxy
OpenCL Device Selection
Farm Failover
Supported coins
The documentation mentions two assets: Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH). The algorithms covered are Ethash and ProgPoW. Keep in mind that the miner works only with Ethereum-based ProgPoW implementations, so Bitcoin is referenced in the docs but is not mined with this program's ProgPoW path.
How to install Quai GPU Miner Archive on Windows
- 1
Download the Release
Get the build from the official project page on GitHub. Use the Releases section, where the archived version and its files are listed. Avoid mirrors and third-party download sites that repackage the file.
- 2
Verify the File
Compare the SHA-256 checksum of the downloaded archive with the value published by the project. On Windows, open PowerShell and run Get-FileHash followed by the file path. If the hashes do not match, delete the file and download it again from the official source.
- 3
Extract the Files
Unpack the archive to a dedicated folder, such as C:\Miners\quai-gpu-miner-archive. Keeping miner files in their own folder makes it easier to manage configuration and logs later.
- 4
Install GPU Drivers
Make sure the latest stable driver for your card is installed. NVIDIA cards need the CUDA-capable driver for the CUDA backend, while AMD cards need a working OpenCL runtime for the OpenCL backend.
-
Prepare a Launch Command
Open a Windows command prompt in the program folder and run the executable with the --help flag to see the available options. Then build a launch line with your wallet address, pool address and backend choice.
System requirements
- Windows operating system with a current driver for your GPU
- NVIDIA graphics card with CUDA support, or an AMD card with OpenCL support
- Sufficient VRAM for the DAG of the epoch you plan to mine
- Stable internet connection for pool communication
How to use Quai GPU Miner Archive
Using the miner is a matter of building a correct command line and then checking that it runs cleanly. Start with a benchmark so you know what your card can do before you connect to a pool.
A typical first session looks like this:
- Open a command prompt in the folder where you extracted the program.
- Run the help command to review the available parameters for your build.
- Run a benchmark against a recent epoch to measure hashrate on your hardware.
- Choose the backend that matches your card, either CUDA for NVIDIA or OpenCL for AMD.
- Enter your pool address and wallet details in the launch command, using the parameter names shown in the help output.
- Start the miner and watch the console for accepted shares and any error messages.
- Save the working command in a batch file so you can relaunch the same setup without retyping it.
- Review the logs after the first hour to check temperatures, rejected shares and stability.
Pros & cons
- Open-source code that can be read, audited and modified
- Supports both CUDA and OpenCL backends
- Includes a benchmark mode tied to specific epochs
- Can connect to stratum pools without an extra proxy
- Lets you choose which OpenCL devices to use
- Offers failover between getwork and stratum endpoints
- Free to download
- The release is archived and no longer receives recent code updates
- Works only with Ethereum-based ProgPoW, not plain Ethash or Bitcoin forks
- Command-line only, with no graphical interface
- Requires manual configuration and some technical comfort
- Documentation is less extensive than what modern commercial miners offer
Is Quai GPU Miner Archive safe?
Mining software is a common target for malware, so treat the download step with care. Get the archive only from the official GitHub repository, not from forums or file-sharing sites. Compare the SHA-256 checksum of the file with the published value before you extract it, and where a signature is provided, verify that too.
Antivirus programs often flag mining tools as suspicious because they consume a lot of GPU power and talk to external pools. If your antivirus reports the miner, review the file and its source rather than turning protection off. Adding a narrow exclusion for a verified folder is a safer option than disabling your security software.
Because the project is archived, it may not reflect current security practices. Run it on a machine you use for mining rather than your main personal computer, and never enter a seed phrase or private key on a third-party website.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/dominant-strategies/quai-gpu-miner-archive. 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
Quai GPU Miner Archive is a preserved release, while several entries in this catalog are either current forks or other GPU miners that serve different networks. Compared with a general-purpose NVIDIA miner such as T-Rex, this program is narrower: it targets ProgPoW on Ethereum-based networks rather than a broad list of algorithms. Its advantage is transparency, since the full source is open for review.
If you want an actively maintained build with a similar purpose, the Quai GPU Miner entry in this catalog is a related option. The Back version is another archived relative. Before choosing among them, compare their update dates and documented features, because an older build may lack fixes that newer forks include.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- —
- Latest version
- v0.3.0-rc.0
- Last update
- 6 Dec 2023
- Windows support
- Yes (Windows build or installer)
- Source code
- github.com/dominant-strategies/quai-gpu-miner-archive
Frequently asked questions
Yes, the program is free to download from its official GitHub repository. There is no license fee for the software itself. Any costs you incur come from electricity, hardware wear and pool fees that you choose to pay.
Yes, the project provides a Windows build. You run it from a command prompt, so it is best suited to users who are comfortable with terminal commands and launch parameters.
The documentation mentions Bitcoin, but the miner is designed for Ethereum-based ProgPoW implementations. It does not support Bitcoin-based forks, so you should not expect it to mine Bitcoin in a practical setup.
Yes. NVIDIA cards can use the CUDA backend, and AMD cards can use the OpenCL backend. Check that your driver supports the backend you select before you start.
Antivirus tools often flag mining software because of its GPU load and network activity. Verify the file's SHA-256 checksum first. If it matches the official release, add a narrow exclusion for that folder rather than disabling your protection.
The release is archived, and the most recent code update is from December 2023. You should expect limited support and check the GitHub repository for any newer activity before you rely on it.
CUDA is NVIDIA's parallel computing platform, while OpenCL is an open standard that works across many GPU vendors. Choose CUDA for NVIDIA hardware and OpenCL for AMD, since each backend is designed for its matching hardware.
Verdict
Quai GPU Miner Archive is a useful reference for experienced miners, students and developers who want to study an open-source ProgPoW miner. It is not a plug-and-play product, and its archived status means you should review its update history before committing hardware to it. If you value transparency and command-line control, it is worth a look. If you want a current, supported tool with a graphical interface, look at the more recent options listed in this catalog.