Ethereum is finally running on a proof-of-stake network, and that means Ethereum mining is over... or not. ETH miners can mine the forked Ethereum version called EthereumPOW (ETHW). Another alternative is Ethereum Classic (ETC), which has been around for over five years.
To be a successful miner, it's important to constantly check and calculate the DAG size needed for mining. So, what is DAG? And what does DAG stand for? This article explores what DAG is and how to calculate the required DAG size for mining.
What is the Definition of DAG?
DAG stands for "Directed Acyclic Graphs," which is a mathematical system used to create computerized distributed systems and networks. DAG originated from the work of English mathematician James Joseph Sylvester, who conducted extensive research on graphs.
But what's a DAG have to do with crypto? In the crypto mining world, the DAG is used similarly to blockchains. A blockchain is meant to serve as a distributed ledger system used to process crypto transactions. A DAG is also a distributor system but is different from blockchains because, as opposed to storing transaction data in a block, a DAG system stores it in vertices. These vertices are found in a finite directed graph and are connected by edges, similar to how hash connects blocks on the blockchain.
A blockchain prevents system compromise or hacking by cryptographically connecting blocks. This is done in such a way that the block chain cannot be altered. Any alteration would lead to a new version of the blockchain being created ; this modified version is called a forked blockchain.
For the DAG, vertices are connected by the edges, and any modification to the edge leads to a whole new DAG with a different history from the previous one. This process helps preserve the integrity of DAG systems.
For the DAG, there is a relationship between vertices, a relationship given by the edges such that if an edge is modified, its relation is rewritten, generating a new DAG and thus a different history.
What Is DAG Epoch?
The word "epoch" is quite critical in crypto mining. So, what is DAG crypto epoch? For DAG systems, an epoch is a period of mining. The mining period for Ethereum Classic, for example, increases every 60 000 blocks. A major determinant of epoch is the DAG file size.
What Is the DAG Size?
The relationship between DAG size and DAG mining was discovered with the Ethash algorithm. At first, ETH required a dataset of about 1GB, so the eth DAG size was also 1 GB. But as mining continued, the DAG file size increased on the next DAG epoch. After every 30,000 blocks, the epoch increased.
This increase has also caused a lot of GPUs to become outdated for mining. To find out if your GPU is still effective for mining, check the memory of your GPU. If the DAG file size is larger than the GPU memory, then it's not going to work as efficiently. This is because the Video RAM (VRAM) of the DAG is located in the GPU, and there must be enough space to contain it for it to work properly.
One important thing to note is that crypto coins use different DAG sizes because they're mined on different blockchains. Proof-of-work blockchains like Etchash or KawPow require larger DAG sizes because they use a lot more memory. The current DAG file size for ETC is about 3 GB and you'll need a GPU of at least 3 GB of VRAM.
Ethereum DAG Growth
You can calculate Ethereum DAG size or that of any other blockchain using a DAG calculator. Ethereum DAG size has grown rapidly over the years, and mining ETH is now impossible since it's been moved to a proof-of-stake blockchain. You need at least 4 GB of VRAM to mine Ethereum Classic (ETC) and Ethereum PoW (ETHW). What DAG size you use matters, as it determines how fast you can mine coins. You can alternatively use bitcoin mining server rental to make passive income.
Recommended DAG Calculator
What is DAG calculator and how can you determine ethereum DAG file size? You can use the calculator offered by Minerstat to get updates on epoch and DAG size. On entering the website, you'll see a dashboard containing an icon to choose your desired coin, an icon for the block height, another for the epoch and DAG size, and finally, one for the estimated block date. You'll find more than 20 mineable coins on the page, along with a detailed DAG size calendar to glance through. You can find out the DAG size of a coin by searching for the coin in the search icon.
