Graphics cards for Ethereum mining must have a sufficient amount of accelerator, speed, a certain bit width. Models released under the AMD and Nvidia brands are often used.
One of the popular cryptocurrencies that can be mined on video cards is Ethereum. Its peculiarity lies in the complexity of the mining algorithm and the need for increased amounts of memory. This reduces the likelihood of creating programs that allow digital money to be mined on an industrial scale. Thanks to this, it remains possible to carry out mining on video cards.
Choosing a video card for mining Ethereum by technical characteristics
The device must meet certain requirements:
- the amount of memory of the accelerator: at least 3 GB of video memory is required;
- speed: affects the final result, preference should be given to new cards;
- bit width: it is worth focusing on the 256-bit indicator;
- cooling: when mining, the cards work around the clock, close to other cards, so the risk of overheating will need to be reduced.
The most important metric is the hash rate. In Ethereum mining, it is designated MH / s. This concept denotes a set of technical parameters of video accelerators. The more powerful the device, the more suitable it is for mining.
Varieties of cards for mining Ethereum
AMD
Some of the best are AMD Radeon graphics cards. They are suitable for all POW cryptocurrencies. For relatively little money, the user gets a powerful device. RX Vega 64 has the maximum hash rate (36 MH / s). To work, you need 295 watts. In second place is the RX Vega 56. This video card has slightly lower values. For home use, the Radeon 470 and Radeon 480 are suitable.
Some miners prefer video cards based on the AMD Fury X chip. It was designed on the basis of outdated processors, but has high performance. Its only drawback is the lack of energy efficiency.
Nvidia
When deciding on which graphics cards to mine Ethereum, you can pay attention to Nvidia devices. They are less adapted to this digital currency than the previous version, but they have sufficient power. For example, the 1050 Ti model can deliver up to 12 MHS / s per month. A rig of 6 similar products will provide income at the level of 300 other types per month. The main feature is lower energy consumption.
In any case, the choice of a video card should be based on the power of the system unit itself. Not every computer can work with two video cards. It is also important to choose the right motherboard that supports the options you need. You can mine on any other video card, the main requirement is the availability of at least 2 GB of free RAM. Before buying, pay attention to the payback, taking into account the cost of electricity. More time will be required for the Radeon Fury X (278 days), least of all for the Radeon RX 470 (183 days).