Updated on August 14, 2022
Even the finest graphics card can’t keep up with the demands of cryptocurrency mining. Your PC’s GPU will be under heavy strain for extended periods of time when you’re mining these materials. Some crypto miners may not need the most costly and powerful GPU available, therefore we’ve compiled a list of some of the top mining GPUs to assist you in making the right decision. It’s a great card, but if you’re concerned about power consumption and the initial cost, there are other options for the best mining GPU.
The best GPU for crypto at a glance
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti — Best overall: 60MH/s, 200W TDP, 8GB GDDR6 VRAM, $399 MSRP.
- AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT — Runner-up: 54MH/s, 225W TDP, 8GB GDDR6 VRAM, $399 MSRP.
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 — Best value: 36MH/s, 225W TDP, 8GB GDDR6 VRAM, $499 MSRP.
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 — Best performance: 121MH/s, 350W TDP, 24GB GDDR6X VRAM, $1,499 MSRP.
- AMD Radeon RX 580 — Best budget AMD: 28MH/s, 185W TDP, 8GB GDDR5 VRAM, $229 MSRP.
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER — Best budget NVIDIA: 26MH/s, 125W TDP, 6GB GDDR6 VRAM, $229 MSRP.
What is the best GPU for crypto mining?
You can’t just buy the most expensive graphics card you can find and call it a day when it comes to choosing the finest graphics card for crypto mining. It’s important to weigh the pros and disadvantages of different GPUs before making a purchase with the intention of (hopefully) making some money. The efficiency of a GPU is critical when it comes to crypto mining since you want the highest hash rate possible while using the least amount of electricity.
Take, for example, our top pick. An superb GPU for both gaming and crypto mining, the NVIDIA GeForce 3060 Ti is a great choice. Even though it doesn’t have the best hash rate, it will get you up and running quickly and for a lower cost. Those looking for something more affordable that doesn’t sacrifice much in terms of performance need look no further than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070.
NVIDIA’s GPUs aren’t the only ones worth considering; there are countless additional options available. In terms of performance per dollar spent, the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT is the clear winner. If you’re on a tight budget and need to save some Bitcoins or Ethereum in the event of a financial crisis, the AMD Radeon RX 580 is ideal.
You don’t need to invest a lot of money in order to make money mining crypto. Until the hash rate generates coins that you can sell and earn enough to cover your electricity bills, you’re already profiting. You’ll be in the black after paying off the GPU for a few months, even without considering the card’s resale value.
1. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti: Best overall GPU for crypto mining
Bottom line: It takes a lot for a GPU to be recommended as the best overall choice, but that’s precisely what the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti manages to achieve. It has a hashrate of around 60MH/s once you’ve optimized everything, and the low 200W TDP makes it easier to manage heat output, as well as enjoy a high level of efficiency.
Hashrate: 60MH/s | VRAM: 8GB GDDR6 | TDP: 200W | Power input: 1x 12-pin PCIe (FE only) or 1x 8-pin PCIe
| Manufacturer | Version | Vendor |
|---|---|---|
| NVIDIA | GeForce RTX 3060 Ti | See at Amazon |
| NVIDIA | GeForce RTX 3060 Ti | See at Best Buy |
| NVIDIA | GeForce RTX 3060 Ti | See at Newegg |
Pros:
- 60MH/s hashrate
- 8GB GDDR6 VRAM
- 200W
- 4,864 CUDA cores
- Affordable RTX 30-series GPU
Cons:
- Awkward 12-pin connector on FE cards
RTX graphics cards like the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti are huge. However, if you want to play games at 1080p on a 1080p panel, a $399 graphics card might be the best option for your PC build. Powered by NVIDIA’s new Ampere architecture, the 3060 Ti changes all of that. When it comes to gaming and mining, this card is unstoppable.
Despite its low price, it outperforms the RTX 2080 SUPER in 1080p and 1440p gaming performance. Incredibly, this will be a huge hit with gamers who aren’t really interested in 4K gaming. In terms of mining, the 2080 SUPER comes out on top thanks to its superior performance and efficiency.
If you’re looking for a steady monthly income with low energy expenditures, this is the best option. There are certain Founder’s Edition cards that feature odd 12-pin PCIe connections, so be careful with those.
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti GPU
NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is not the fastest graphics card in the company’s latest family of GPUs, but it offers fantastic potential returns for the initial investment. It’s also pretty good at gaming too!
There are a few things to consider when selecting a GPU for crypto mining. You may be able to earn more money in the long run if you pay a greater price up front. Or are you concerned that the mining industry will dwindle due to decreasing profits and want to spend as little as possible on a GPU to supplement your income?
To put it simply, the cryptocurrency market is a financial one, which makes it vulnerable to media attention and human emotion. Consider the devastating environmental reports on Bitcoin that came out at the same time as China’s crackdown, which sent the price of the cryptocurrency skyrocketing. The cost of a GPU to mine cryptocurrency should be recouped at the very least if you’re going to spend $2,000 on it.
So we don’t solely propose the most powerful (and priciest) GPUs available today. It makes no sense in the current context, and it’s also awful advise for individuals who are just getting started in the digital currency mining industry. In contrast to gaming, when the greatest GPU you can afford is required, picking a mining GPU is more difficult.
2. AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT: Best runner-up GPU for crypto mining
Bottom line: It’s not just NVIDIA GPUs that are worth buying for cryptocurrency mining. AMD makes some excellent graphics cards like the RX 5700 XT. While it’s not quite as good as our RTX 3060 Ti top pick, this card will still be able to push through a hashrate of 54MH/s with the same 8GB of GDDR6 VRAM.
Hashrate: 54MH/s | VRAM: 8GB GDDR6 | TDP: 225W | Power input: 2x 8-pin PCIe
| Manufacturer | Version | Vendor |
|---|---|---|
| AMD | Radeon RX 5700 XT | See at Amazon |
| AMD | Radeon RX 5700 XT | See at Newegg |
Pros:
- 54MH/s hashrate
- 8GB GGDR6 VRAM
- 225W
- Great value
- Efficient performance
Cons:
- Some instability issues
- Lacks latest-gen AMD features
The RDNA GPUs like the RX 5700 XT from AMD have made a significant stride forward. Because of its 7nm manufacturing technology, it’s so much faster and more power-hungry than even AMD’s earlier Radeon graphics cards. Even though AMD’s RX 5700 XT isn’t the newest and greatest, it’s still an excellent deal for crypto mining.
Just like the RTX 3060 Ti, it’s good enough for 1440p gaming and is excellent at mining. It is in mining that AMD’s GPU shines, though, as it lacks some of NVIDIA’s more gamer-focused features, such as DLSS 2.0 and as much ray tracing. The 3060 Ti has a higher average hashrate, but these cards can be bought for far less money and have a similar average hashrate.
The RX 5700 XT is a good place to start if you want to get into mining.
AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT GPU
You could go for the RX 6800, which costs a little more but is capable of a higher frame rate, but the 5700 XT is just such a good value proposition. If you’re just starting, this is a good GPU to choose.
3. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070: Best GPU for value
Bottom line: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 may be from the previous generation of cards, but it’s still an excellent GPU for gaming and crypto mining. It’s possible to achieve a hashrate of 36MH/s, which isn’t too bad considering the lower cost of these older GPUs, as well as the low power draw.
Hashrate: 36MH/s | VRAM: 8GB GDDR6 | TDP: 225W | Power input: 2x 8-pin PCIe
| Manufacturer | Version | Vendor |
|---|---|---|
| NVIDIA | GeForce RTX 2070 | See at Amazon |
| NVIDIA | GeForce RTX 2070 | See at Newegg |
Pros:
- 36MH/s hashrate
- 8GB GDDR6 VRAM
- 225W
- 2,304 CUDA cores
- Good value
Cons:
- Older generation
In addition to being a terrific GPU for gaming, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 is an excellent choice for affordable mining setups. Depending on the pricing, you’ll be able to get up to 40MH/s for the hashrate, which should bring in a significant amount of passive money.
You can recoup your initial investment if you decide to cease mining with this GPU when the time comes. On the other hand, a gaming PC built today will be capable of running today’s latest PC games, too. Because it has been around for a long time, you can even add water cooling with blocks to your mining setup.
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 GPU
If you can’t get your hands on the RTX 3060 Ti, the RTX 2070 is a great secondary option for value. It may be from an older generation of cards, but it’s still great for crypto mining.
4. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090: Best GPU for mining performance
Bottom line: This is it, the big one. The RTX 3090 is the most powerful GPU from NVIDIA’s RTX 30 series to date. It has everything you need to create one powerful mining rig. I’m talking a hashrate of 121MH/s, 24GB of GDDR6X VRAM, more than 10,000 CUDA cores for gaming. It’s a monster.
Hashrate: 121MH/s | VRAM: 24GB GDDR6X | TDP: 350W | Power input: 1x 12-pin PCIe (FE only) or 2x 8-pin PCIe
| Manufacturer | Version | Vendor |
|---|---|---|
| NVIDIA | GeForce RTX 3090 | See at Amazon See at Walmart |
| NVIDIA | GeForce RTX 3090 | See at Best Buy |
| NVIDIA | GeForce RTX 3090 | See at Newegg |
Pros:
- 121MH/s hashrate
- 24GB GDDR6X VRAM
- 350W
- 10,496 CUDA cores
- Great performance
- Amazing for gaming too
Cons:
- Expensive
- Power hungry
For “greatest performance,” NVIDIA’s RTX 3090 is a no-brainer, but it truly is a class above the rest. When it comes to gaming, pushing the frontiers of 4K (and some even say 8K if you can believe it), and crypto mining, it’s just unbeatable. AMD’s Radeon RX 6000 cards have undeniably reduced NVIDIA’s claim to the GPU throne, but NVIDIA still has the best option.
DLSS 2.0 and 2.1 are two of the most astounding characteristics of this GPU when it comes to gaming. In order to conduct AI rendering in real time, it utilises specialised Tensor cores, which boosts frame rates while simultaneously increasing the quality of the output. If you’re concerned about your game’s performance, then using DLSS is an excellent choice.
The RTX 3090’s mining capabilities are bolstered by a staggering 24GB of GDDR6X VRAM and 10,496 CUDA cores, respectively. Even without electricity, your monthly expenses may easily reach the triple figures (depending on your area).
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 GPU
This is about as good as you can get right now in terms of gaming performance. The same goes for GPU mining. You’ll struggle to find a better option for returns so long as you can afford the initial investment.
- See at Amazon
- See at Best Buy
- See at Newegg
5. AMD Radeon RX 580: Best budget AMD GPU for crypto mining
Bottom line: If you don’t have much of a budget to spare on a GPU for crypto mining, fear not as there are some great cards out there for a low price. The Radeon RX 580 is an old GPU, but it’s still capable of hitting 28MH/s, which makes for a tidy profit. You’ll need a good few months to pay off the cost of the card, but then you’re set for a trickle of income.
Hashrate: 28MH/s | VRAM: 8GB GDDR5 | TDP: 185W | Power input: 1x 8-pin PCIe
| Manufacturer | Version | Vendor |
|---|---|---|
| AMD | Radeon RX 580 | See at Amazon |
| AMD | Radeon RX 580 | See at Newegg |
Pros:
- 28MH/s hashrate
- 8GB GDDR5 VRAM
- 185W
- Affordable
Cons:
- Lower rate of return
- Higher power draw
This graphics card from AMD, the Radeon RX 580, can be used for both gaming and mining, but if you’re simply looking for a little extra cash, this is the card for you. The hashrate will be roughly 28MH/s with an optimum configuration, which isn’t too bad for 185W. (that, like other GPUs, can be dropped considerably).
Having 8GB of GDDR5 memory is ideal for running NiceHash and other crypto mining software. Don’t acquire a lot of them if you think mining profits will stay at present levels for the foreseeable future, because they have a low return.
AMD Radeon RX 580 GPU
Even something like an AMD Radeon RX 580 will be able to earn you some small change each day. It may not be the most capable mining (or gaming) GPU around, but this is a great choice if you’re only playing around with crypto.
6. NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER: Best budget NVIDIA GPU for crypto mining
Bottom line: You don’t need the most powerful GPU to make a little mining crypto, and the NVIDIA GTX 1660 SUPER is a fine example of this. It’s got 6GB of speedy GDDR6 VRAM, a TDP of just 125W, and can comfortably achieve a hashrate of 26MH/s, all for a low price tag.
Hashrate: 26MH/s | VRAM: 6GB GDDR6 | TDP: 125W | Power input: 1x 8-pin PCIe
| Manufacturer | Version | Vendor |
|---|---|---|
| NVIDIA | GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER | See at Amazon |
| NVIDIA | GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER | See at Newegg |
Pros:
- 26MH/s hashrate
- 6GB GDDR6 VRAM
- 125W
- 1,408 CUDA cores
- Affordable
- Low power draw
Cons:
- Lower rate of return
This GPU from NVIDIA, the GTX 1660, is a one of a kind. Although it shares the Turing architecture with the RTX 20 series, it lacks dedicated ray-tracing and DLSS cores and other advanced features. It’s intended to be a low-cost graphics card capable of playing the latest games in 1080p.
The same holds true for the mining industry. If you reside in a location where electricity expenses are high, this is a wonderful option because it has a hash rate of merely 26 MH/s but consumes just 125W of power. The more time you spend running this tiny dog, the more money you’ll earn to spend or save.
The GTX 1660 SUPER’s other notable features include 6GB of GDDR6 VRAM and 336GB/s of memory bandwidth. Excellent value for the money if you can locate one!
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER GPU
You can use an affordable, low-power GPU like the GTX 1660 SUPER and still make some profit each day. It won’t be anything near our other recommendations, but it’s great for starting out.
What about all other GPUs?
As far as bitcoin mining is concerned, GPUs are a great option because of their high hashrates. Here, we couldn’t fit everything, so we’ve narrowed it down to the best graphics cards for various price points.
You’re okay to go as long as the GPU you’re considering purchasing generates more revenue than the electricity required to power the PC. You’ll be able to pay off the card in a few months if you keep it running. You can either stop here and recoup some of your initial investment by selling the card, or you can carry on with passive revenue.
For crypto mining, what is the best type of GPU?
If you’re looking to mine bitcoin, you need a GPU with different priorities than if you’re just playing games. It’s difficult to mine cryptocurrencies on your own, which is why you should join a mining pool.
The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti offers the highest overall performance, while the AMD RX 5700 XT is a good choice if your budget is limited. That is, if you’re able to track down a working GPU. Using both of these GPUs, you can solve the algorithms and generate a passive income.
How to make money mining crypto on a personal computer
If you’re interested in making money from your gaming PC by mining cryptocurrencies, we’ve put up an in-depth tutorial. NiceHash, for example, makes it exceedingly simple to get up and running in a matter of minutes.
