NBMiner Solo Mining Setup: Multi-GPU Configuration Guide

Hey, I’m Hugo — and if you’ve been reading my other articles, you know I’m all about solo mining. Today we’re diving into something I personally spent weeks figuring out: NBMiner for solo mining with multiple GPUs. No joke, this miner is crazy versatile, but the documentation for solo mining specifically? Pretty scattered.

The cool part is: Once you get NBMiner configured correctly, you can switch between algorithms in seconds. KawPow for Ravencoin, Ethash for classic chains, even Conflux. All from the same software.

This guide covers everything from basic installation to advanced multi-GPU tweaking. I’ll show you my actual configuration files, explain which algorithms work best for solo mining, and honestly tell you which coins are worth your electricity.

Why NBMiner for Solo Mining Setup Actually Makes Sense

Look, there are tons of miners out there. T-Rex, lolMiner, TeamRedMiner. So why NBMiner?

First: It supports both NVIDIA and AMD cards in the same rig. That’s huge if you’re like me and bought whatever GPUs were available during the shortage. My current setup has two RTX 3070s and an RX 6600 XT. NBMiner handles all three without complaining.

Second: The solo mining configuration is straightforward once you understand the stratum URL format. Unlike some miners that need weird proxy setups, NBMiner connects directly to solo pools like WoolyPooly Solo, 2Miners Solo, or even your own node.

Third thing that sold me: Low dev fee. Only 1% on most algorithms, 2% on Ethash. Compare that to some miners charging 3-5%. When you’re solo mining and maybe hitting one block every few months, that 1% difference actually matters.

What I wish I knew earlier: NBMiner is Windows-friendly but runs better on Linux. I started on Windows 10, moved to HiveOS later, and saw about 2-3% better hashrate. Depends on your comfort level with Linux though.

Installing NBMiner for Your Solo Mining Rig

The installation process is pretty simple, but I’ll walk you through both Windows and Linux because they’re slightly different.

Windows Installation

Download the latest version from the official NBMiner GitHub releases page. Make sure you grab the Windows .zip file. Extract it to a folder — I use C:NBMiner because short paths are easier for batch files.

Important: Windows Defender will flag the .exe file as a virus. It’s a false positive (mining software always gets flagged), but you need to add an exception. Go to Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Manage settings > Add exclusion > Folder, then select your NBMiner folder.

That’s basically it for Windows. No installer, no registry entries. Just extract and run.

Linux Installation (HiveOS Method)

If you’re running HiveOS (which I honestly recommend for multi-GPU rigs), NBMiner is already in the miner list. You literally just select it from the dropdown and specify the version.

For Ubuntu or other Linux distros, download the Linux .tar.gz file from GitHub, extract it to a directory like /home/yourusername/nbminer, and make sure the nbminer binary has execute permissions:

chmod +x nbminer

Linux generally runs mining software more efficiently. On my RTX 3070, I got 62.5 MH/s on Ethash in Windows, but 64.1 MH/s in HiveOS with the same power settings. That naturally depends on your setup, but the difference is real.

NBMiner Solo Mining Setup: Configuration Files That Actually Work

Here’s where most guides get confusing. They show you the command-line syntax but don’t explain why each parameter matters for solo mining specifically.

Let me show you my actual configuration files for different algorithms. These work as of 2026, tested on my own rig.

KawPow Solo Mining (Ravencoin)

Ravencoin is honestly my favorite coin for GPU solo mining. The difficulty resets every block, so even with lower hashrate you have a shot. Check out my guide to the best GPUs for Ravencoin solo mining if you’re building a rig specifically for RVN.

Here’s my Windows batch file for solo mining Ravencoin via WoolyPooly Solo:

nbminer -a kawpow -o stratum+ssl://rvn-solo.woolypooly.com:55555 -u YOUR_RVN_WALLET.WorkerName -log

Replace YOUR_RVN_WALLET with your actual Ravencoin wallet address. WorkerName can be anything — I use “RTX3070rig” so I know which rig found the block if I ever get lucky.

The -log parameter creates a log file. Super useful for troubleshooting if your miner keeps disconnecting.

For Linux/HiveOS, the syntax is identical, just save it as a shell script or enter it in the HiveOS flight sheet.

Ethash Solo Mining (Ethereum Classic)

With Ethereum on PoS now, Ethash still lives on through Ethereum Classic and a few other chains. ETC solo mining with GPUs is tough though — the network hashrate is pretty high. But here’s the configuration anyway:

nbminer -a ethash -o stratum+tcp://solo-etc.woolypooly.com:35555 -u YOUR_ETC_WALLET.WorkerName -log

Honest warning: Solo mining ETC with anything less than 500 MH/s is basically a decade-long lottery ticket. I tried it for a month with 190 MH/s and found zero blocks. Switched to Ravencoin and felt way better about my odds.

Octopus Solo Mining (Conflux)

Conflux is interesting because it uses a DAG that grows slowly, so older GPUs stay relevant longer. Here’s the NBMiner solo setup:

nbminer -a octopus -o stratum+tcp://solo-cfx.woolypooly.com:3094 -u YOUR_CFX_WALLET.WorkerName -log

CFX has decent solo mining odds if you have 100+ MH/s on Octopus. Better than ETC, worse than Ravencoin in my experience.

Ergo (Autolykos2) Solo Mining

Ergo is another solid option. The algorithm is memory-hard, so it’s ASIC-resistant. My RTX 3070 pulls about 168 MH/s on Autolykos2.

nbminer -a ergo -o stratum+tcp://ergo-solo.woolypooly.com:3100 -u YOUR_ERGO_WALLET.WorkerName -log

What’s cool about Ergo: The block reward is still fairly high at around 67 ERG per block (as of early 2026), though the price at $0.3491 means you need to calculate if electricity costs make sense.

Advanced Multi-GPU Configuration for NBMiner Solo Mining

Running multiple GPUs in NBMiner is automatic — it detects all cards by default. But sometimes you want more control. Maybe one card runs hotter, or you want to disable a specific GPU for gaming while the others mine.

GPU Selection and Exclusion

Use the -di parameter to select specific GPUs. NBMiner numbers them starting at 0.

nbminer -a kawpow -o stratum+ssl://rvn-solo.woolypooly.com:55555 -u WALLET.worker -di 0,1,2

This runs GPUs 0, 1, and 2, but skips GPU 3. Super useful if you have a quad-GPU rig and want to keep one card free.

Per-GPU Overclocking in NBMiner

NBMiner supports basic overclocking via command line, but honestly? Use MSI Afterburner on Windows or HiveOS overclocking profiles on Linux. Way more reliable than command-line OC.

That said, here’s the syntax if you want NBMiner to handle it:

nbminer -a kawpow -o POOL_URL -u WALLET --gpu-params 0:core_clock=1500:mem_clock=2000:power_limit=120

The problem: If it crashes, you might boot loop. I learned this the hard way when I set my RTX 3070 memory clock too high and Windows couldn’t even load. Had to boot in safe mode to delete the batch file.

Temperature and Fan Control

NBMiner can throttle GPUs if they get too hot. Use these parameters:

--temperature-limit 75 --temperature-start 65

This throttles mining if the GPU hits 75°C and resumes at 65°C. Pretty useful if you’re running your rig in a small room. I actually wrote a whole guide about building a mining shed because heat management in a bedroom gets ridiculous fast.

My Favorite Coins for NBMiner Solo Mining Setup

Not all coins are created equal for solo mining. Some have reasonable block times and difficulty, others are basically impossible unless you have a mining farm. Here’s my honest ranking after testing most of them:

Ravencoin (RVN) — My Top Pick

Block time: 1 minute
Algorithm: KawPow
My hashrate: 95 MH/s (two RTX 3070s + one RX 6600 XT)
Block reward: 2,500 RVN

Ravencoin is perfect for solo mining. The difficulty adjusts every single block, so you’re competing fairly every 60 seconds. I’ve hit three blocks in eight months with my setup. Pure luck? Sure. But it felt amazing every time.

Current RVN price is $0.005653, so do the math on whether a 2,500 RVN block covers your electricity for the months between wins. For me in the US with $0.12/kWh, it barely breaks even, but I’m not in it for profit — I genuinely enjoy the lottery aspect.

For more on picking coins based on your hashrate, check out my article on the best solo mining coins for low hashrate.

Ergo (ERG) — Solid Second Choice

Block time: 2 minutes
Algorithm: Autolykos2
My hashrate: 450 MH/s
Block reward: ~67 ERG

Ergo has a bigger block time, so fewer attempts per day, but the network hashrate is lower than you’d think. If you have 400+ MH/s, the odds are decent. Not “expect a block monthly” decent, but better than Ethereum Classic for sure.

Conflux (CFX) — Worth Testing

Block time: 0.5 seconds (but really it’s more complex)
Algorithm: Octopus
My hashrate: 155 MH/s
Block reward: Variable

Conflux is weird because it uses a DAG-based consensus instead of longest chain. Block rewards vary. I solo mined CFX for two weeks and found… nothing. But mathematically, with 200+ MH/s, you should hit blocks occasionally. I might just have been unlucky.

Kaspa (KAS) — Don’t Bother with GPUs

I’m putting this here because people always ask. Kaspa solo mining with GPUs is dead. ASICs dominate the network now. If you want to solo mine Kaspa, you need an ASIC — check my comparison of Kaspa ASIC vs GPU solo mining for details.

Solo Pool vs Running Your Own Node for NBMiner

Solo pools like WoolyPooly Solo, 2Miners Solo, and CKPool make life easy. You point NBMiner at their stratum server, and if you find a block, they verify it and you get the reward (minus a small fee, usually 1-1.5%).

But some people prefer running their own node. Is it worth it?

Depends on your goals. If you care about helping Bitcoin decentralization or learning how blockchain works at a deeper level, absolutely run your own node. I run a Ravencoin node at home, and NBMiner connects directly to it via local stratum proxy.

Setup is more complex though. You need the coin’s full node software, a stratum proxy like CKPool, and decent bandwidth for blockchain sync. For beginners, I honestly recommend solo pools first. Learn the mining part, then dive into node operation later.

For a detailed comparison of different solo pools, I wrote this comparison of CKPool, K1Pool, and 2Miners.

Common NBMiner Solo Mining Problems and Fixes

I’ve hit basically every error message NBMiner can throw. Here are the ones that drove me crazy and how I fixed them:

GPU Error: Unspecified Launch Failure

This usually means your overclock is unstable. Lower your memory clock by 50 MHz and try again. On my RTX 3070, anything over +1300 on memory causes this error in KawPow.

Pool Connection Failed

Check your stratum URL. Common mistake: Using http:// instead of stratum+tcp://. NBMiner needs the proper protocol prefix.

Also, some solo pools use SSL connections. If the URL starts with stratum+ssl://, make sure your miner supports SSL (NBMiner does, but older versions had bugs).

Low Hashrate on Multi-GPU Rig

PCIe bandwidth issues. If you’re running 4+ GPUs, make sure they’re all in at least x8 slots. An x1 riser can bottleneck some algorithms. KawPow is less sensitive, but Ethash definitely suffers on x1 connections.

Miner Crashes After 5-10 Minutes

Usually thermals or power. Check your GPU temps and power draw. I totally fried my first rig because I forgot about cooling — stuck six GPUs in a closed case and wondered why they kept crashing. Now I run them open-air with direct fan cooling.

No Shares Submitted

In solo mining, you might not submit shares for hours or even days. That’s normal. Solo mining means you only submit a share when you find an actual block. No partial credit like in pool mining.

If you want to verify your miner is working, point it at a regular pool temporarily. If shares appear there, your config is fine — solo mining just hasn’t found a block yet.

Hardware Recommendations for Multi-GPU NBMiner Rigs

If you’re building a rig specifically for NBMiner solo mining, here’s what I recommend based on actual testing:

Best NVIDIA GPU for NBMiner Solo Mining

The 3070 is my personal favorite. Decent hashrate, doesn’t pull crazy power, and you can usually find used ones for reasonable prices now that the mining craze died down. I paid $380 for a used one in late 2026.

Best AMD GPU for NBMiner Solo Mining

AMD cards run cooler and use less power in most cases. The 6600 XT isn’t the fastest, but the efficiency is amazing. At 55W, you can run four of them on a single 850W PSU with room to spare.

Motherboard for 4-6 GPU Rigs

Mining motherboards have quirks, but they save you headaches. Regular gaming motherboards often have trouble recognizing 4+ GPUs. Mining boards just work.

Power Supply Sizing

Calculate total GPU power draw + 150W for system overhead, then add 20% safety margin. For four RTX 3070s (120W each), that’s 480W + 150W = 630W, plus 20% = ~756W. I’d use a 850W PSU minimum.

Electricity Cost Reality Check: Is NBMiner Solo Mining Worth It?

Let me be completely honest: NBMiner solo mining probably won’t make you rich. In most cases, you’re paying more in electricity than you earn in block rewards.

Here’s my actual math from eight months of Ravencoin solo mining:

My rig: 3 GPUs, total 95 MH/s KawPow, 340W power draw
Electricity cost: $0.12/kWh
Monthly electricity: 340W × 24h × 30 days = 244 kWh = $29.28
Blocks found: 3 (pure luck)
Total RVN earned: 7,500 RVN
Value at $0.005653: Calculate it yourself

Was it profitable? Barely. The three blocks I found roughly covered my electricity for those eight months. If I’d been pool mining, I would’ve made… probably about the same after pool fees, but more consistently.

So why solo mine? Honestly, for the thrill. Hitting a solo block feels incredible. It’s like winning a mini-lottery. Plus I learned so much about how cryptocurrency actually works. No joke, solo mining teaches you more in a month than a year of just reading about crypto.

I wrote more about the psychological side in my article on solo mining psychology and managing expectations. Worth reading if you’re considering this seriously.

Stay Away From These Mistakes in NBMiner Solo Setup

I made every beginner mistake. Learn from my stupidity:

Don’t solo mine Bitcoin with GPUs. I wasted two weeks pointing NBMiner at a Bitcoin solo pool before someone on Reddit told me GPU mining BTC died in like 2013. You need ASICs. Even cheap ones like the Lucky Miner LV06 are better than any GPU for Bitcoin.

Don’t skip thermal pads replacement on used GPUs. I bought a used RX 580, and it thermal throttled constantly. Opened it up, thermal pads were basically dust. $15 in new pads fixed it completely.

Don’t run miners from sketchy websites. Only download NBMiner from the official GitHub page. There are fake versions with malware that steal your wallet balance. Yes, it happens. I know someone who lost 0.3 ETH to a fake miner.

Don’t forget your wallet address. Sounds dumb, but I once solo mined for three days before realizing I’d typed my Ravencoin wallet wrong. Three days of hashrate, no way to claim it even if I’d found a block. Now I triple-check every wallet address.

NBMiner Alternatives: When to Use Something Else

NBMiner is great, but it’s not always the best choice.

For AMD cards on Ethash, TeamRedMiner often pulls 1-2% better hashrate. If you’re running an all-AMD rig, test both miners and see which performs better on your specific cards.

For NVIDIA cards on KawPow, T-Rex Miner is slightly faster on newer GPUs like the RTX 3080 and 3090. The dev fee is 1% like NBMiner, so it’s a fair comparison.

For RandomX (Monero), don’t use NBMiner at all — it doesn’t support CPU mining. Use XMRig instead. That algorithm is CPU-only anyway.

But for mixed rigs (NVIDIA + AMD), NBMiner remains the most convenient option. One miner for all cards beats switching between different software.

Solo Mining Multiple Coins: Switching Between Algorithms

One cool thing about NBMiner: You can easily switch between coins by just changing the batch file. I keep four different .bat files in my NBMiner folder:

• ravencoin-solo.bat
• ergo-solo.bat
• etc-solo.bat
• cfx-solo.bat

Each file has the full NBMiner command for that coin. When I want to switch, I close the current miner and double-click a different batch file. Takes like 5 seconds.

Some people ask: Can you mine multiple coins at once on different GPUs? Technically yes, but it’s complicated. You’d need to run two separate NBMiner instances with -di parameters to assign specific GPUs to each instance. I tried it once and the Windows scheduler got confused, caused weird performance issues. Not worth the hassle unless you really want to diversify your solo mining lottery tickets.

Actually, I wrote about solo mining multiple coins simultaneously in more detail if you want to try the advanced setup.

Security Tips for NBMiner Solo Mining

Mining software has full access to your GPU, which means it runs with high privileges. That’s a security risk if you’re not careful.

Always verify checksums. The NBMiner GitHub page lists SHA256 hashes for each release. Download the hash tool (like HashTab for Windows) and verify the .zip file matches. If it doesn’t, someone tampered with the file.

Use a dedicated mining wallet. Don’t mine to your main wallet that holds your entire crypto portfolio. Create a separate wallet just for mining, and transfer coins out regularly. If something goes wrong, you lose mining earnings, not your life savings.

Firewall your rig. Mining rigs don’t need full internet access. They only need outgoing connections to the mining pool/node. Block all incoming connections unless you’re remote-managing the rig.

For way more detail, I have a complete guide on solo mining security for nodes and wallets.

Final Thoughts on Setting Up NBMiner for Solo Mining

NBMiner is honestly one of the best GPU miners for solo mining, especially if you run mixed NVIDIA/AMD rigs. The configuration is straightforward once you understand the stratum URL format, and the dev fee is reasonable.

Solo mining itself though? It’s not for everyone. If you need consistent income, pool mining makes way more sense. But if you enjoy the lottery aspect, if you want to learn blockchain deeply, if you get excited about cryptographic puzzles — solo mining is genuinely fun.

What I wish I knew earlier: Start with Ravencoin. It has the best solo mining odds for GPUs, decent community support, and wallet software that just works. Once you hit your first solo block, you’ll understand why people get addicted to this.

And remember: Solo mining is about the journey, not the destination. Sure, finding a block is amazing, but honestly? I’ve learned more about cryptocurrency from eight months of solo mining than from years of just trading coins. That knowledge alone is valuable, even if the electricity bill makes you question your life choices occasionally.

Frequently Asked Questions About NBMiner Solo Mining

Can you solo mine with NBMiner on a single GPU?

Yes, NBMiner works fine with a single GPU. Your chances of finding blocks are lower than with a multi-GPU rig, but it’s definitely possible. I started with just one RTX 3070 and found my first Ravencoin block after six weeks. Pure luck, but it happened. For single-GPU solo mining, stick to coins with lower difficulty like Ravencoin or consider checking the solo mining probability chart to set realistic expectations.

What’s the best algorithm for GPU solo mining in NBMiner?

KawPow (Ravencoin) is the best algorithm for GPU solo mining in 2026. The difficulty adjusts every block, network hashrate is manageable, and block time is only 1 minute so you get many attempts per day. Autolykos2 (Ergo) is a solid second choice if you have 400+ MH/s. Avoid Ethash chains like Ethereum Classic unless you have 500+ MH/s — the odds are brutal with lower hashrate.

Does NBMiner have a built-in solo mining mode?

No, NBMiner doesn’t have a special “solo mode” switch. Instead, you solo mine by pointing it at a solo mining pool (like WoolyPooly Solo, 2Miners Solo) or directly at your own node via stratum proxy. The configuration is the same as pool mining, just different stratum URL and your wallet address instead of username. That’s actually simpler than miners that need separate solo configurations.

How much electricity does a 3-GPU NBMiner solo rig use?

Depends on which GPUs and your power settings. My 3-GPU rig (two RTX 3070s at 120W each, one RX 6600 XT at 55W) pulls about 340W total including motherboard and CPU. That’s roughly 8.2 kWh per day, or 246 kWh per month. At $0.12/kWh, that’s about $29.50 monthly. Bigger cards like RTX 3080s or 3090s can pull 250-350W each, so a 3-GPU rig could easily hit 800-1000W. Calculate your specific cards and measure with a kill-a-watt meter to be sure.

Is NBMiner better than T-Rex or lolMiner for solo mining?

NBMiner is better for mixed NVIDIA/AMD rigs because it supports both in one miner. For pure NVIDIA rigs, T-Rex is slightly faster on some algorithms (like 1-2% better on KawPow for RTX 3080/3090), but the difference is small. lolMiner is excellent for AMD cards, especially on Ethash. Honestly, test all three with your specific hardware and see which gives best hashrate. The dev fee is similar (1-2% for all of them), so performance is the main deciding factor. For solo mining specifically, the miner software matters less than picking the right coin for your hashrate.