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Re: Using supercomputers for crypto-coin mining

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On 2014-02-22, wjwlsn <ibillwilson@gmail.com> wrote:
> It apparently takes a lot of work to mine for crypto-currencies like
> BitCoin, or my personal fave, DogeCoin. It's actually so much work now
> that using general purpose CPUs is completely fruitless, and even
> GPU-based mining is falling out of favour. However, what if you had
> access to a supercomputer? You could buy your own for around $45k:
>
> "http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Cray-XD1-Supercomputer-System-5-Chassis-Rack-60-x-Opteron-2-2GHz-Super-Computer-/191068522653?pt=US_Vintage_Computers_Mainframes&hash=item2c7c92489d"
>
> The problem with that option, beyond the initial cost, will be the
> expense of actually running and maintaining the thing. (Do you have
> spare parts for a Cray just laying around?) Instead, what if you could
> just "borrow" somebody else's supercomputer for a while? They're
> already paying for it anyway, right? They probably won't even notice!
>
> "http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2014/02/harvard-supercomputing-cluster-hijacked-to-produce-alt-cryptocurrency/"
>
> Or maybe they will... uh oh.
>
> -- Now frequenting comp.misc daily in a prolonged fit of netstalgia.
>

This is maybe the equivalent of using the office computer over the
weekend to download a bunch of torrents - the machine wasn't being used
and the network is paid for so it's not exactly an additional expense.

I still wouldn't buy any special hardware to mine bitcoins or whatever
because I strongly suspect the whole house of cards is going to come
tumbling down.

Wouldn't mind the excuse to go play with a supercomputer for a bit
though, although I'd be embarrassed to say what I was doing.

"Calculating launch trajectories for satellites?"

"Uh, no.  generating a fictitious currency."

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Using supercomputers for crypto-coin mining wjwlsn <ibillwilson@gmail.com> - 2014-02-22 01:23 +0000
  Re: Using supercomputers for crypto-coin mining RS Wood <rsw@therandymon.com> - 2014-02-22 12:09 +0000
    Re: Using supercomputers for crypto-coin mining Lewis <g.kreme@gmail.com.dontsendmecopies> - 2014-02-22 17:44 +0000
      Re: Using supercomputers for crypto-coin mining Marek Novotny <mach2@hushmail.com> - 2014-02-22 12:34 -0600
        Re: Using supercomputers for crypto-coin mining Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2014-02-22 21:55 +0200
          Re: Using supercomputers for crypto-coin mining Marek Novotny <mach2@hushmail.com> - 2014-02-22 14:26 -0600
            Re: Using supercomputers for crypto-coin mining Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2014-02-23 00:16 +0200
              Re: Using supercomputers for crypto-coin mining Marek Novotny <mach2@hushmail.com> - 2014-02-22 16:49 -0600
              Re: Using supercomputers for crypto-coin mining Huge <Huge@nowhere.much.invalid> - 2014-02-23 09:33 +0000
                Re: Using supercomputers for crypto-coin mining Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2014-02-23 12:54 +0200
          Re: Using supercomputers for crypto-coin mining Huge <Huge@nowhere.much.invalid> - 2014-02-23 09:33 +0000
            Re: Using supercomputers for crypto-coin mining Dave Garland <dave.garland@wizinfo.com> - 2014-02-23 16:46 -0600
              Re: Using supercomputers for crypto-coin mining Huge <Huge@nowhere.much.invalid> - 2014-02-23 23:21 +0000
                Re: Using supercomputers for crypto-coin mining Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2014-02-24 02:00 +0200
        Re: Using supercomputers for crypto-coin mining Lewis <g.kreme@gmail.com.dontsendmecopies> - 2014-02-22 22:14 +0000
        Re: Using supercomputers for crypto-coin mining Huge <Huge@nowhere.much.invalid> - 2014-02-23 09:31 +0000
    Re: Using supercomputers for crypto-coin mining wjwlsn <ibillwilson@gmail.com> - 2014-02-22 17:02 +0000
      Re: Using supercomputers for crypto-coin mining "tdk" <forum.tdk@squte.com> - 2014-02-22 16:38 +0000
      Re: Using supercomputers for crypto-coin mining Aragorn <thorongil@telenet.be.invalid> - 2014-02-23 12:23 +0100
      Re: Using supercomputers for crypto-coin mining Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> - 2014-02-23 10:38 -0500

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