Bytes

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Bytes are a virtual currency added in the Research Update. Bytes are used to purchase/unlock new schematics. Bytes are gained by researching various objects in the Research Chamber ranging from Research Items (high output but rare) to Resources (cheap but low output), or by collecting Research Samples from various plants, rocks or Astroneer bodies. Bytes are shared between all players in a multiplayer game, along with any schematic unlocks.

Byte Outputs

Research Sample

Research Samples spawn on various plants and rocks around the planets, as well inside of the EXO Dynamics Research Aids scattered on the planets. Organic and mineral samples respawn within a few minutes of being gathered. They can be a valuable source of bytes, with the amount gained increasing based on which planet and how deep the player goes. However, the game is able to glitch and organic/mineral samples may completely disappear from all planets .

Research Item

Research Items grant a slow, steady stream of bytes when placed in a Research Chamber. The amount gained per item increases based on the depth and which planet the item was found on.

Resources

Resources are able to be researched for bytes, and, running the Research Chamber at full power, each takes 2 minutes 30 seconds to complete. Soil and Hydrazine cannot be researched.

Natural Resources

Resource Byte Value Bytes per Minute
Compound 50 20
Resin 50 20
Organic 50 20
Ammonium 75 30
Clay 75 30
Quartz 75 30
Graphite 75 30
Laterite 75 30
Malachite 100 40
Sphalerite 100 40
Wolframite 100 40
Hematite 200 80
Titanite 200 80
Lithium 200 80
Astronium 500 200

Refined Resources

Resource Byte Value Bytes per Minute
Carbon 75 30
Ceramic 125 50
Glass 125 50
Aluminum 125 50
Copper 200 80
Zinc 200 80
Tungsten 200 80
Iron 250 100
Titanium 250 100

Atmospheric Resources

Resource Byte Value Bytes per Minute
Hydrogen 100 40
Nitrogen 200 80
Argon 300 120
Sulfur 300 120
Methane 400 160
Helium 500 200

The amount of Bytes converted per Atmospheric Condenser per second can be calculated with this equation:

( 150s / SpU (seconds per Unit) * 5 ) * BpM = TBpM (total Bytes per minute)

Composite Resources

Resource Byte Value Bytes per Minute
Rubber 150 60
Plastic 250 100
Aluminum Alloy 450 180
Tungsten Carbide 350 140
Graphene 350 140
Diamond 850 340
Silicone 600 240
Explosive Powder 600 240
Steel 700 280
Titanium Alloy 850 280
Nanocarbon Alloy 1000 400

Other Resources

Resource Byte Value Bytes per Minute
EXO Chip 500 200
Scrap 300 120

Soil Centrifuge

Since soil is readily available on all planets, the soil centrifuge provides an almost unlimited supply of resources that can be researched. This potentially offers virtually free bytes. However, each canister yields only a modest amount of resources and, thus, also bytes.

The table below compares the yield of bytes per canister across the different resources available at the soil centrifuge. Evidently, clay is the most efficient choice in terms of byte output per canister.

Name Bytes Resource Per Centrifuge Tank Bytes Per Canister
Compound 50 8 200
Resin 50 8 200
Organic 50 8 200
Clay 75 6 225
Quartz 75 4 150
Graphite 75 2 100
Ammonium 75 1 37.5

Trivia

  • A total of 284,050 bytes are needed to research every Schematic in the game.
  • Small items can be researched until they have 1 byte left and then consumed/used as usual.
  • Medium Resource Canister and Large Resource Canister don't store the value of research bytes left for each item. Thus, by utilizing Automation items, players can create an infinite bytes production flow as follows:
  1. Switch resource canister to dispensing mode and place dispenced item for researching.
  2. Detect if item has a negligible amount of bytes left to research. While there is no direct way to do that, a timing mechanism can be constructed which is tied to day/night cycles of specific planets and/or to batteries charge level.
  3. Switch resource canister to holding mode and store an item.
  4. Repeat.