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In this guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about the different graphics cards to use in 2024 for mining Bitcoin and other crypto.
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This guide is designed for people who are interested in or already familiar with the subject of mining and who want to be more effective in their strategy.
The cryptocurrency sector is constantly evolving, not only in terms of monetary value, but also in terms of popularity and recognition. Cryptocurrencies have become an economic reality that’s hard to escape. And among the most talked-about facets is mining. This key activity requires state-of-the-art equipment, such as mining GPUs or graphics cards.
Once reserved only for gamers seeking the best possible graphics for their video games, graphics cards now play an important role in cryptocurrency, particularly for mining. Thanks to their performance in parallel calculations, they are the tool of choice for mining many cryptos.
But how do you choose the best graphics card for bitcoin mining? The competition between manufacturers is fierce. Here we’ll take a look at the 5 best graphics cards for cryptocurrency mining in 2024, a selection based on performance, power consumption and cost
Crypto Mining Graphics Card: Criteria
Here are the features to consider when choosing your graphics card for mining bitcoin or other cryptos.
Mining Performance
For mining GPUs to be effective, it must have high mining performance. This is measured in mega-hashes per second (MH/s), the unit of measurement for mining speed. The higher this value, the faster the graphics card is capable of solving the complex equations involved in mining cryptos.
Power Consumption
Another fundamental selection criterion is the graphics card’s power consumption. The more energy a card consumes, the higher the electricity costs associated with its use. And high electricity costs inevitably mean less profit. So choose a card that offers a good balance between mining performance and power consumption.
Value for Money
The cost of purchasing a graphics card as a is another factor to consider. The most powerful graphics cards can be very expensive, so it’s important to ensure that your investment is worthwhile. Value for money is a measure of the effectiveness of your investment. A card with good value for money will deliver high mining performance at a relatively low cost.
Durability
Mining crypto can put a strain on hardware, as it requires continuous and intensive use of the graphics card. So opt for a graphics card with a reputation for robustness and longevity.
Crypto Mining GPUs: our Top 5
It’s hard to find the right mining graphics card for your needs, given the many models available on the market. That’s why we’ve selected for you the five best graphics cards for cryptocurrency mining in 2024. We assessed each of these mining GPUs based on the criteria mentioned above, so we’ve come up with an objective list for you.
1. Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090
Launched in October 2022, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 is one of the first graphics cards to use the Ada Lovelace architecture. This top-of-the-range card features 16384 Nvidia Cuda cores and 24 GB of GDDR6X video memory, all for exceptional mining performance. Its base frequency is 2.23 GHz, but can be boosted up to 2.52 GHz, a capacity that contributes to its processing power. It supports maximum resolutions of 7680 x 4320 pixels, allowing you to play in 8K HDR via the ShadowPlay feature. All this while consuming around 450 Watts, which is quite reasonable given the card’s power.
- High mining performance: Thanks to the Ada Lovelace architecture and its 16384 Cuda cores, this card offers exceptional mining performance.
- Large memory capacity: With 24 GB of GDDR6X video memory, the RTX 4090 is capable of processing large amounts of data simultaneously.
- High resolution: This card supports resolutions up to 8K, so you can play games in ultra high definition while mining crypto.
- High power consumption: With a consumption of 450 Watts, this card will significantly increase your electricity bills.
- High price: With a starting price of around €1,500, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 is one of the most expensive graphics cards on the market.
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–> The Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 is a powerful, high-performance graphics card, ideal if you’re looking for the best technology for mining Bitcoin yourself. However, its power consumption and high price may be an obstacle for some users.
2. Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 is one of the best mining GPUs. Positioned slightly below the GeForce RTX 4090, it is nonetheless an interesting piece of equipment for mining.
The RTX 4080’s graphics processing unit, the AD103 chip, is slightly smaller than that of the 4090, but is still extremely powerful, with a frequency of 2505 MHz. The memory capacity of 16 GB, coupled with a frequency of 2800 MHz, ensures excellent bandwidth for processing crypto transactions. The RTX 4080 features Nvidia cooling technology, which is effective even under intensive workloads.
It should be noted, however, that this graphics card needs a very well-ventilated case to maintain optimum temperature. We appreciate its excellent finish and robust software ecosystem: an ideal combination for demanding mining tasks!
Despite its power, the GeForce RTX 4080’s power consumption remains relatively reasonable, averaging 250 Watts.
- High mining performance thanks to a powerful AD103 chip and 16 GB memory.
- Efficient cooling system to maintain optimum temperature during intensive mining sessions.
- Excellent finish and robust construction for long life.
- Extremely rich NVIDIA software ecosystem for precise control and performance optimisation.
- Relatively low power consumption for a graphics card with this performance.
- Requires a very well ventilated case (and therefore additional costs).
- The cooling system can be a problem with air-cooled CPU heatsinks, and liquid cooling is sometimes necessary.
- Position of power connector problematic for certain cases.
- Relatively high cost, although lower than that of the GeForce RTX 4090.
3. Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti is one of the most popular graphics cards for crypto mining, for a number of reasons.
Firstly, it offers exceptional performance with high graphics processing capacity. This power allows you to quickly process the complex calculations needed to mine crypto, which can increase the amount of cryptocurrencies you can mine over a given period of time.
Secondly, the RTX 3080 Ti is equipped with 12 GB of GDDR6X video memory. This is a major advantage for crypto mining, as it allows the card to efficiently handle mining algorithms that require a lot of memory, such as Ethereum for example.
What’s more, this card features Nvidia’s advanced cooling technology, which maintains stable temperatures even during intensive use. This extends the life of the card, a key factor given the initial investment cost of these cards.
Finally, although its cost can be high, the RTX 3080 Ti offers excellent value for money in terms of mining performance per dollar spent. This makes it a popular choice among crypto miners, despite its premium price. For all these reasons, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti is a popular option among mining GPUs for crypto.
- High mining performance
- Designed specifically for mining
- Efficient cooling system
- No game features
- High price
- No memory overclocking
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4. Radeon RX 580 8GB
It’s THE must-have choice for people who want to learn all about cryptocurrencies and get started in mining. The AMD Radeon RX 580 8GB, originally designed as a budget gaming graphics card, has quickly gained popularity in mining thanks to its exceptional performance and competitive value for money.
With 8 GB of GDDR5 memory, this mining graphics card is capable of delivering excellent mining performance. It boasts an impressive hash rate of 29 MH/s, while maintaining a relatively low-power consumption of 135 Watts. It’s the ideal balance between mining power and energy efficiency!
In terms of profitability, it takes around 114 days for the RX 580 8 GB to pay off. That’s not very long! One of our top recommendations is the XFX Radeon RX 580 8GB GTS XXX. This variant has a good construction, with excellent cooling performance thanks to a pair of silent fans. A must-have if you want to overclock your graphics card for bitcoin mining!
- Solid mining performance
- Reasonable power consumption
- Good overclocking capabilities with certain models
- Accessible price
- Limited availability, so difficult to buy
- Less powerful than a higher-budget graphics card
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5. Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070
Because it incorporates advanced technology and offers superior performance, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070, launched in April 2024, is now one of the best graphics cards for mining crypto.
Based on Nvidia’s new Ada Lovelace architecture, the RTX 4070 features 5888 CUDA cores, accompanied by 12 GB of GDDR6X memory. It is designed to offer up to twice the performance and energy efficiency of previous generations. Equipped with cutting-edge technologies like DLSS 3 for high performance in 1440p, it’s a high-end graphics card with excellent performance for mining. It is particularly interesting for miners because of its efficient cooling system, which keeps the card at the right temperature, even during intense mining sessions. At the same time, its power consumption, estimated at 200 Watts, is quite reasonable for a card of this power.
The main strength of the RTX 4070? Its Nvidia software ecosystem and its wide choice of tools and functions… A must for optimising your mining performance!
- High performance mining thanks to the Ada Lovelace architecture
- Efficient cooling system
- Nvidia software ecosystem and various optimisation tools
- Controlled energy consumption
- Hot air is blown onto the ventirad, what about long-term durability?
- Power connector in the middle of the card (not very practical for certain configurations)
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Of course, there are also other very interesting graphics card models for cryptocurrency mining, both recent and older. The Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, while not as powerful as previous models, offers excellent energy efficiency for mining. It uses Nvidia’s Ampere architecture and offers excellent performance per Watt.
The older AMD Radeon VII is still a viable option for mining. It offers a large HBM2 memory capacity of 16 GB and high bandwidth. The result? It is particularly well suited to mine Ethereum (ETH). Although this card consumes a lot of power and is increasingly difficult to find at a reasonable price, it remains a solid choice for miners.
Another interesting alternative: the AMD RX Vega 56 is an excellent option for mining. Also older, it still offers good mining performance and good energy efficiency. This card also has the advantage of being more affordable than many others!
In the mid-range, there is the Nvidia GTX 1660 as well, which is a safe bet. With a good hash rate for its price range and relatively low-power consumption, it’s ideal for miners on a budget! As for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070, this is a powerful mining graphics card that offers excellent mining performance. It uses Nvidia’s Ampere architecture and has 8 GB of GDDR6 memory.
Our Recommendations
Choosing your new graphics card for crypto mining will depend on your profile, but also on your budget, your objectives and power consumption. Remember to define your needs carefully before investing.
For beginners who want to start without investing a fortune, the AMD Radeon RX 580 8GB seems to be the best GPU for mining. It offers excellent value for money, good mining performance, reasonable power consumption and excellent durability. This card is also perfect if you want to set up a low-budget mining farm.
If you’re a medium-term miner, ready to invest more to increase your profits, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 is an excellent choice among mining GPUs. It offers great mining power while remaining energy-efficient. Its higher price will be offset by better crypto yields and a longer lifespan thanks to its robust construction.
For professional cryptocurrency miners or if you’re prepared to invest a lot to maximize your gains, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 is a must-have. Despite its high-power consumption and fairly high initial cost, it offers the highest mining performance on the market. Ada Lovelace technology and 16384 CUDA cores maximize the hash rate, and therefore profits.
Are you looking for a graphics card that’s just as suited to mining as it is to everyday use, such as gaming? The Nvidia RTX 4080 is an excellent choice. It offers high mining performance while maintaining its role as a graphics card for next-generation video games.
Best Graphics Cards for Mining: Conclusion
This in-depth analysis of the best mining GPUs for crypto has enabled us to draw a clear conclusion: the choice depends on a number of factors, including your objectives, your budget and your risk tolerance. From the powerful Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090, aimed at the most demanding miners, to the more affordable Radeon RX 580 8GB, ideal for beginners, the offering is as vast as it is varied. Take into account not only the mining performance, but also the power consumption and price of each card. And don’t forget: mining crypto is an expensive and energy-intensive business, so make sure you analyze the cost-benefit ratio of each option before you take the plunge!