---
title: Plotting
slug: signum/plotting
docTags: 
createdAt: 2025-04-13T09:07:26.182Z
---

## Preparing Your Hard Drive for Mining 

Before you can mine Signum, you need to "plot" your hard drive. **Plotting **is a one-time process where you generate cryptographic data and store it on your hard drive. This data is then used during mining to find valid blocks. The larger your plotted space, the more chances you have to forge a block and earn rewards.

Signum mining does not involve real-time computation — it relies on pre-generated data (plots), which your miner software scans efficiently when a new block is forged.

## 🧠 Plotting vs. Mining: What's the Difference? 

- **Plotting** = Generating data once and storing it
- **Mining** = Scanning that data to find valid block deadlines

:::hint{type="success"}
You only plot **once**, and you can mine with that data for years — unless you want to expand your capacity for better rewards.
:::



## 🟢 Easiest Way – TurboPlotter 9000  

The fastest and most beginner-friendly way to get started is with the ** TurboPlotter 9000**, a graphical plotting tool: 

🔗 [https://blackpawn.com/tp/](https://blackpawn.com/tp/) 

### Steps

1. **Download & install TurboPlotter** 
   - [Windows](https://blackpawn.com/tp/drop/TurboPlotter_0.10.2.zip) x64
   - [macOS](https://blackpawn.com/tp/drop/TurboPlotter_0.9.6.dmg) 
   - [Linux](https://blackpawn.com/tp/drop/TurboPlotter_0.10.1.tar.gz) 
2. **Enter your Signum address** (you'll need a wallet – [Creating an Account](docId\:vgCDMoeAo-3hsosYUZmeW).
3. **Choose a folder and disk size** for your plots.
4. Click **“Start Plotting”** and let the software work.
5. Once your plots are generated, you’re ready to move on to mining! 

For a visual guide on how to start plotting with TurboPlotter 9000,  you might find this video helpful: 

::embed[]{url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erTp8J2oVgM"}



## ⚙️ Option B: Advanced – Command-Line Plotting 

For advanced users, servers, or headless systems (e.g., Linux), use the official ** Signum Plotter CLI tool**: 

🔗 [https://github.com/signum-network/signum-plotter](https://github.com/signum-network/signum-plotter) 

### Basic Usage

```javascript
 signum-plotter.exe [FLAGS] [OPTIONS] --n <nonces> --id <numeric_ID> --sn <start_nonce>
```

### Flags

```javascript
FLAGS:
    -d, --ddio       Disables direct i/o
    -a, --daio       Disables async writing (single RAM buffer mode)
    -l, --prio       Runs with low priority
    -q, --quiet      Runs in non-verbose mode
    -b, --bench      Runs in xPU benchmark mode
    -h, --help       Prints help information
    -V, --version    Prints version information

OPTIONS:
    -i, --id <numeric_ID>     your numeric Account ID
    -s, --sn <start_nonce>    where you want to start plotting
    -n, --n <nonces>          how many nonces you want to plot
    -p, --path <path>         target path for plotfile (optional)
    -m, --mem <memory>        maximum memory usage (optional)
```