Quai GPU Miner Back is a free, open-source command line program for GPU mining on Windows and Linux. It is aimed at hobbyist miners and rig operators who want direct control over their graphics cards, from benchmarking to pool connections, without a graphical interface getting in the way.
The project targets ProgPoW, a mining algorithm built for Ethereum-based networks, and it supports both OpenCL and Nvidia CUDA hardware. Its last code update dates to December 2023, and the latest listed version is v0.3.0-rc.0, a release candidate. Read the project's status on its GitHub page before building a mining setup around it.
What Is GPU Mining and Why Does the Algorithm Matter?
GPU mining uses graphics cards to perform the repeated hash calculations that secure a proof-of-work blockchain. Each card tries large numbers of candidate values until one meets the network's difficulty target, and the miner that finds it is rewarded.
The algorithm defines the rules of that search. Ethash, the older design, was built to favor memory bandwidth. ProgPoW was proposed as a successor that adds more varied computation, which is intended to make specialized hardware less competitive against general-purpose GPUs. Because the algorithm sets the work, a miner must match the algorithm the network uses, or it will produce no valid shares.
Who Is Quai GPU Miner Back For?
The program suits people who already understand GPU mining and are comfortable working with configuration files and a terminal. Hobbyists running one or a few cards on Windows will find the command line direct and predictable, while rig operators may appreciate scripting it through batch files.
It is less suited to beginners who want a graphical dashboard, automatic coin switching or a built-in wallet. Those features are not part of this program, so newcomers may prefer a miner with a richer interface and then add their own tooling.
Real-World Scenarios for a Command Line Miner
A common setup is a Windows machine with a single Nvidia card that runs overnight. You launch the miner from a batch file that holds your pool address and worker name, so the rig starts the same way after every restart.
Another scenario is benchmarking before buying hardware. By testing against a chosen epoch and DAG size, you can compare how two cards perform under the same conditions, which is more useful than relying on marketing figures.
A third case is a multi-GPU rig where one card is used for display output. Selecting only the OpenCL devices you want keeps that card out of the mining workload, avoiding instability on the display adapter.
Understanding Key Mining Terms
A few terms appear repeatedly in this program's documentation and are worth understanding first. A DAG, or directed acyclic graph, is the large dataset that mining algorithms read from memory. Its size grows over time, which is why an epoch is used as a checkpoint.
Hashrate is the number of hash calculations a device completes per second, usually written in megahashes or gigahashes. Stratum is a protocol that lets miners receive work from a pool efficiently, while getwork is an older method. Farm failover describes what happens when the preferred pool becomes unreachable and the miner switches to a backup.
Knowing these terms helps you read logs and configure the tool correctly, and it makes it easier to compare this miner with others that use the same vocabulary.
Key features
ProgPoW mining
OpenCL and CUDA support
Benchmarking against chosen parameters
On-GPU DAG generation
Stratum mining without a proxy
OpenCL device selection
Farm failover
Supported coins
The documentation mentions Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) in connection with the mining algorithms covered here. The miner is built for ProgPoW-based Ethereum networks, so Ethereum-compatible chains that use ProgPoW are the relevant targets. It does not support the previous Ethash version or Bitcoin-based forks, so you should confirm that your chosen network uses ProgPoW before pointing hardware at it.
How to install Quai GPU Miner Back on Windows
- 1
Get the program from the official source
Download the build from the project's GitHub Releases page, which is linked from the official repository. Do not use mirrors or links from forums, because a modified executable is a common way for malware to spread among miners.
- 2
Verify the download
Compare the SHA-256 checksum of the file with the value published on the release page. If the project provides a signature, check it as well. A mismatch means the file should not be run.
- 3
Extract and place the files
Unpack the archive into a dedicated folder, such as C:\Miners\quai-gpu-miner-back. Keeping the miner in its own folder makes it easier to manage batch files and logs.
- 4
Install GPU drivers
Make sure the latest drivers for your Nvidia or AMD card are installed. Outdated drivers are a frequent cause of crashes and failed OpenCL or CUDA initialization.
-
Run a benchmark first
Launch the miner from the Windows command prompt with the benchmark option to confirm that your GPUs are detected and perform as expected before connecting to a live pool.
System requirements
- Windows operating system; a Windows build or installer is provided
- A compatible AMD GPU for OpenCL mining, or an Nvidia GPU for CUDA mining
How to use Quai GPU Miner Back
The program runs from a command line, so you launch it in a Windows command prompt or PowerShell and pass the options you need. The full list of commands is shown when you run the help option from the program folder, which is the authoritative reference for flags and their current behavior.
A typical session follows a simple pattern. Start with a benchmark to confirm the cards are detected. Then connect to a pool and watch the output for accepted shares. Once stable, move the launch command into a batch file so the rig starts the same way each time.
- Open a command prompt in the miner folder.
- Run the help command to see the available options for your version.
- Start a benchmark against a chosen epoch to confirm device detection.
- Select the OpenCL devices you want to use if you have several GPUs.
- Enter your pool address and worker name using the stratum settings.
- Watch the output for accepted shares and any error messages.
- Save the working command line in a batch file for repeat launches.
Pros & cons
- Free and open source, so the code can be inspected
- Supports both OpenCL (AMD) and CUDA (Nvidia) hardware
- Benchmarking against chosen epoch, DAG and block number
- On-GPU DAG generation reduces reliance on the CPU
- Direct stratum connection without an extra proxy
- Device selection and farm failover for multi-GPU rigs
- Last code update dates to December 2023, which is a long gap for mining software
- Current version is a release candidate, not a stable release
- Supports only ProgPoW Ethereum-based implementations, not Ethash or Bitcoin-based forks
- Command line only, with no graphical interface
- Requires familiarity with terminals and configuration
Is Quai GPU Miner Back safe?
Mining software is a common target for malware, so treat every download with caution. Get the program only from the official GitHub repository or its Releases page, and verify the SHA-256 checksum against the published value before running anything. Never rely on files shared through third-party download sites.
Mining tools also tend to be flagged by antivirus programs, sometimes falsely, because they consume heavy GPU resources. If your protection reports a detection, investigate it instead of ignoring it. Avoid disabling your antivirus entirely; add a narrow exclusion for the miner folder only if you are confident the file is authentic. Because this project's last code update is from 2023, review the open issues on GitHub before running it on production hardware.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/dominant-strategies/quai-gpu-miner-back. 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 Back sits in the same family as several other GPU miners in this catalog, but it is narrower in scope. T-Rex Miner and BzMiner are aimed at Nvidia hardware and offer a wider set of algorithms, while this program focuses on ProgPoW for Ethereum-based networks and supports both OpenCL and CUDA. If your goal is ProgPoW specifically, its dedicated focus is an advantage; if you want broad algorithm coverage, the others may suit you better.
It is also a sibling of the Quai GPU Miner and Quai GPU Miner Archive entries. Choose the version that matches the network and release you plan to mine, and check which one is maintained before you commit.
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-back
Frequently asked questions
Yes, the program is free and open source. You can download it from the official GitHub repository and review the code yourself. There is no license fee for the miner itself, though electricity and hardware costs apply to any mining you do.
Yes, a Windows build or installer is provided. The miner runs from the Windows command prompt, and it supports both AMD cards through OpenCL and Nvidia cards through CUDA, as long as the drivers are current.
The miner is built for ProgPoW, the algorithm used by certain Ethereum-based networks. It does not support the earlier Ethash version used by some Bitcoin-based forks, so confirm that your target network uses ProgPoW before configuring the software.
The documentation mentions Bitcoin in connection with the algorithms it discusses, but the miner is designed for ProgPoW on Ethereum-based networks. It does not support Bitcoin-based forks, so it is not a general Bitcoin mining tool.
No. The program can connect directly to stratum pools, so you can skip a separate proxy layer. This keeps the setup simpler and removes one component that could fail during mining.
Benchmark mode tests how your GPUs perform against a chosen epoch, DAG or block number without committing to a live pool. It is useful for estimating performance and comparing hardware before you start mining on a real network.
Yes. You can select which OpenCL devices take part in mining, which is helpful when one card is used for display output or other work. Farm failover also helps keep multi-GPU rigs running if a pool connection drops.
The listed version is v0.3.0-rc.0, which is a release candidate. Release candidates are generally intended for testing before a final release, so run it on a test rig first and check the project page for any newer stable build.
Verdict
Quai GPU Miner Back is a focused, free tool for operators who want direct, scriptable control over GPU mining with ProgPoW on Ethereum-based networks. Its benchmarking, device selection and direct stratum support are useful strengths. The long gap since its last code update and its release-candidate status mean it suits experienced users who can test and monitor it closely, rather than those who need a polished, actively maintained product.