How the miner is set up
- It starts only after the Owner accepts the EULA at first-run Setup.
- It runs only inside the RepairAmigo VM, as a locked-down system user with no login. It never runs on the rest of your computer.
- It's capped at a bit over half of the VM's processor and runs at the lowest system priority (for both CPU and disk), so tickets, checkout and printing always come first. If it stalls, it restarts itself.
- It runs at a low hash rate. One example: an 8-vCPU RepairAmigo VM (v1.06) did 81–91 hashes per second over a 7-minute sample. We don't know that host's processor, so treat it as an example only. Rates vary by CPU.
- It only runs while the VM is running. If you shut the computer down at night, it costs nothing at night.
How many extra watts? (estimate)
These are estimates. Your real number depends on your processor; a plug-in watt meter will tell you exactly.
Formula: extra watts ≈ (full-load watts − idle watts) × 0.6 × 1.1. The 0.6 is the miner's cap on the VM's processor; the 1.1 allows for power-supply and cooling overhead.
| Shop computer | Estimated extra power | Estimated extra energy per month (24/7) |
|---|---|---|
| Mini PC or laptop-class chip (35 W CPU) | about +18–20 W | about 13–15 kWh |
| Desktop (65 W CPU) | about +35–40 W | about 25–29 kWh |
If the host has more than 8 threads, the VM uses a smaller part of the chip and the extra draw is lower.
Monthly cost, running 24/7 (estimate)
A month is about 730 hours (24 × 30.4). kWh = watts × 730 ÷ 1,000. Cost = kWh × your rate. Below we use the middle of each range: 19 W → 13.9 kWh for the mini PC and 37.5 W → 27.4 kWh for the desktop.
| Rate | Mini PC (13.9 kWh) | Desktop (27.4 kWh) |
|---|---|---|
| Example rate: 14¢/kWh | 13.9 × $0.14 = $1.95 | 27.4 × $0.14 = $3.84 |
| US average, residential (18.31¢) | $2.55 | $5.02 |
| US average, commercial (14.53¢) | $2.02 | $3.98 |
| Texas, residential (15.88¢) | $2.21 | $4.35 |
| Texas, commercial (8.47¢) | $1.18 | $2.32 |
US and Texas prices: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A, average price by state and sector, July 2026 (EIA). Plug in your own rate: find the price per kWh on your bill and multiply it by 13.9 (mini PC) or 27.4 (desktop).
Ways to keep it low
- Use a mini PC as the RepairAmigo host. It costs a fraction of a tower to run, mining or not.
- Shut the host down when the shop is closed (if nobody needs the system after hours). Twelve hours a day halves the numbers above.
- Keep the vents clean. A hot, dusty PC draws more power.
The bottom line
For a typical shop, our estimate is about two dollars a month on a mini PC and three to five dollars on a desktop. That's what "free" costs here, stated plainly. Compare that with a monthly subscription for repair shop software. Ready to install? See the setup guide and download RepairAmigo. Want to know why it runs in a VM? Read why a local Linux VM is safer. Questions: support@repairamigo.com.
FAQ
How much electricity does RepairAmigo's miner use?
Our estimate is about 18–20 extra watts with a 35 W laptop-class CPU and 35–40 W with a 65 W desktop CPU, or about 13–15 and 25–29 kWh a month running 24/7.
What does that cost per month in the US?
Estimated at EIA's July 2026 averages, about $1–$3 on a mini PC and $2–$5 on a desktop. Multiply your kWh by your own rate.
Will the miner slow down my shop?
It runs at the lowest CPU and disk priority, capped at a bit over half of the VM's processor, so shop work always comes first.
Does the miner run when the computer is off?
No. It only runs while the RepairAmigo VM is running.
Questions?
Read the setup guide or go back to More about RepairAmigo.
Made in Texas.