Which graphics cards for mining in 2022?
"What is the best graphics card for mining?" We are asked this a lot, but the most powerful card is not necessarily the most profitable, and there is no single answer. In this video (in French), we go through the criteria to consider when choosing a mining graphics card and compare several NVIDIA and AMD models, with figures to back it up.
Video from 2022: the prices and performance figures below date from that time. See "What about today?" at the end of the article.
1. Price: think in euros per MH/s
The RTX 3090 is the most powerful card, but its price can make it unattractive. To compare, divide the price of the card by its hashrate. Some examples, with prices taken from listings at the time:
- RTX 3080 non-LHR: about 100 MH/s for €1,400, i.e. €14 per MH/s;
- RTX 3070 non-LHR: about 60 MH/s for €800 to €850, i.e. about €14 per MH/s, the same ratio as the 3080;
- Radeon RX 6800: about 60 MH/s, but around €1,000 or more, i.e. about €16.50 per MH/s;
- Radeon RX 6600 XT: about €550 new;
- GTX 1660 Super: around €400 to €450, depending on the model. On price per MH/s, it is really the best.
Note that at the time, non-LHR RTX 3070 and 3080 cards could only be found as Founders Editions, second-hand or new on Leboncoin and the grey market. To compare cards, we recommend the hashrate.no and WhatToMine websites.
2. Memory: 6 GB is enough
The only memory-related constraint is the DAG file, which has to fit in the card's memory for it to mine. The minerstat website shows the current size of this file for each cryptocurrency: on Ethereum it had already reached 4.7 GB. Any older card with no more than 4 GB can therefore no longer mine Ethereum.
From 6 GB upwards it is enough, including for older-generation cards. On Ethereum, the 6 GB mark was not expected to be reached until 2023, and the move to proof of stake was expected within the year: for us, it was therefore not an issue.
3. Cooling: brand and range matter
On our own rig, we use Asus and EVGA cards as well as NVIDIA Founders Editions. We particularly like:
- EVGA: our RTX 3070 FTW3 Ultra barely gets warm, you can put your hand on it and feel nothing (the memory was running a little cooler at the time because we were mining Flux);
- Asus: cards that are generally very well designed and cool very well. The design is not necessarily the most attractive, but it is a very good brand.
Within the same brand, the range also makes a difference. Take the RTX 3080 at MSI: the Ventus range is entry-level, and you will probably have to open the card to replace the thermal pads and paste. Next come the Gaming X Trio in the mid-range and the Suprim X at the top end.
On Ethereum, the memory of some cards runs very hot. That is not necessarily the case with other cryptocurrencies: on Flux or Ergo, the memory heats up much less.
4. Power consumption and the coin you mine
The ratio between hashrate and power consumption also matters, and it depends on the algorithm. We compare the non-LHR RTX 3070 and the Radeon RX 6800:
- Ethereum: almost identical, around 60 MH/s for 115 to 120 W;
- Flux: 43 Sol/s for 135 W on the RX 6800, an efficiency of 0.32, versus 56 Sol/s for 150 W on the RTX 3070, i.e. 0.37 (the higher the figure, the better);
- Ravencoin: 33 MH/s for 140 W on the RX 6800, while the RTX 3070 mines slightly less, at 30 MH/s, and draws slightly more.
So you also need to ask yourself which cryptocurrency you want to mine. Another example: the RX 6600 XT is known for its low power draw, with about 32 MH/s for 65 to 70 W. Yet compared with a non-LHR RTX 3070, it does not have a better hashrate-to-power ratio.
Finally, if the cost of electricity is not an issue for you, you may be better off choosing a more powerful card.
5. New or second-hand?
Some cards are bought second-hand, which calls for a few precautions. Our advice to limit the risks:
- try to get an invoice;
- if possible, go to the seller's home to see the card running;
- check the reviews and details on the seller's profile, on Leboncoin for example.
What about today?
Since Ethereum moved to proof of stake in September 2022, Ethereum can no longer be mined with graphics cards, and GPU mining income has collapsed. The prices and hashrates above are out of date. The criteria, however, still apply when choosing an ASIC miner: price per unit of hashrate, power consumption, cooling, new or second-hand.
To dig deeper into restricted cards, read our article LHR vs non-LHR GPUs: which is more profitable? To mine today, browse our ASIC miners and estimate your earnings with our Bitcoin mining profitability calculator. Not sure before you buy? Contact us.