Updated on August 14, 2022
If you’ve got a powerful graphics card, you’ll have a hard time mining cryptocurrencies. Mining these resources will put a lot of strain on your computer’s graphics card for a long period of time. The most costly and powerful GPU may not be the ideal choice for all crypto miners, so we’ve compiled a list of the best mining GPUs to assist you in your search. 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?
It’s not as simple as just buying the most costly graphics card you can find when looking for the finest graphics card for crypto mining. When looking for a new GPU to (hopefully) turn a profit with, there are a number of things to keep in mind. 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.
One example is the product that comes with the highest rating from us. The NVIDIA GeForce 3060 Ti is a great GPU for both gaming and crypto mining. Although it won’t win any awards for the highest hash rate, you can get up and running with it for a fraction of the price. In terms of price/performance, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 is a good pick for gamers on a budget.
However, NVIDIA GPUs aren’t the only ones worth looking at. AMD’s RX 5700 XT is our best bargain GPU, delivering an outstanding hash rate at a reasonable cost. 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.
Making money mining cryptocurrencies doesn’t require a lot of money at all. 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
Powered by NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, this graphics card is a beast. 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. NVIDIA’s new Ampere architecture is at the heart of the 3060 Ti, which changes everything. For both gaming and mining, this is a fantastic card to have.
For 1080p and 1440p gameplay, the RTX 2080 SUPER is outperformed by the RTX 2080 despite its lower price tag. Even if you don’t care about 4K gaming, you’ll likely find this to be very appealing. As for mining, the 2080 SUPER is beaten in both performance and efficiency by the newer 2080.
For a steady monthly income with relatively low energy bills, this is as good as it gets. It won’t win awards for the biggest revenue or the quickest hashrate. There are some Founder’s Edition cards that have odd 12-pin PCIe connections, so be cautious.
.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!
When choosing a GPU for cryptocurrency mining, there are a few things to keep in mind. You may be able to earn more money in the long run if you pay a greater price up front. Or do you fear that the mining scene will fade away with reduced returns, and you’d rather spend a modest amount of money on a GPU to generate a few extra bucks?
There are few things more sensitive to media and public sentiment than financial markets like the cryptocurrency one. Take, for example, the devastating environmental reports on Bitcoin that came out at the same time as China’s price crackdown. If you’re going to spend $2,000 on a GPU to mine cryptocurrency, you’d better make sure you can at least recoup the original investment..
As a result, we’re not suggesting simply the most powerful (and pricey) GPUs on the market at this time. 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 RX 5700 XT is a significant step forward for AMD’s RDNA GPUs. With a 7nm manufacturing process, even the company’s earlier Radeon cards look dated and power-hungry. Again, this isn’t AMD’s newest and greatest, but it’s a wonderful deal for crypto mining anyway.
This GPU can handle 1440p gaming and mining just as well as the RTX 3060 Ti. Even though AMD cards don’t have DLSS 2.0 or the same degree of ray tracing capabilities as NVIDIA GPUs, mining is where this GPU shines. 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
Additionally, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 is a fantastic alternative for mining rigs at a reasonable cost. As long as you can get one for under $200, you can make large passive revenue with a hashrate of up to 40MH/s and an electricity usage of around 225W.
As an added bonus, your GPU may be sold for a profit should you decide to quit mining. However, a gaming PC is capable of running the most modern PC games. Because the technology has been around for a long time, adding water cooling via blocks is a possibility.
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.
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. Extremely powerful in 4K (and some even mention 8K), as well as crypto mining. It’s a game changer. When it comes to high-end graphics cards, NVIDIA still has the upper hand, even if AMD has made inroads with its Radeon RX 6000 series.
In terms of gaming, the inclusion of DLSS 2.0 and 2.1 on this GPU is a major plus. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rendered in real time, raising frame rates and increasing the quality of the images produced. DLSS is the ideal complement to ray tracing, which can be performance-degrading.
An impressive 24GB of GDDR6X VRAM and 10,000 CUDA cores are included in the RTL 3090 for mining. Monthly expenses, including electricity, may easily reach the triple digits for most people (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.
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:
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. At 185W, a hashrate of 28MH/s can be achieved with an optimum design (that, like other GPUs, can be dropped considerably).
When it comes to crypto mining, memory is king, and 8GB of GDDR5 is more than enough to run NiceHash and other mining software. Don’t acquire a lot of these if you expect mining earnings to continue at current levels for a long time to come.
- 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. 185W at 28MH/s isn’t awful for an optimum configuration, but it’s not great either (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 these if you expect mining earnings to continue at current levels for a long time.
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.
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
NVIDIA’s GTX 1660 SUPER is an intriguing, one-of-a-kind graphics processor. Although it shares the Turing architecture with the RTX 20 series, it lacks dedicated ray-tracing and DLSS cores and other advanced features. As a low-cost graphics card, it’s capable of running the latest games at 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 hashrate of merely 26 MH/s but consumes just 125W of power. You’ll earn money whether you spend it or save it if you leave this dog running all the time.
6GB of GDDR6 VRAM and a memory bandwidth of 336GB/s round up the GTX 1660 SUPER’s strong points. 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. For this collection, we couldn’t include every graphics card, so we’ve narrowed it down to a few of our favourite picks.
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 it off 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.
What makes a good GPU for crypto mining?
If you’re looking to mine bitcoin, you need a GPU with different priorities than if you’re just playing games. It’s a lot easier to join a mining pool than to try to mine bitcoins on your own.
Generally speaking, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is the greatest all-around card, but the AMD RX 5700 XT is a worthy choice if you’re on a budget. That is, if you’re able to track down a working GPU. Solving algorithms and generating passive revenue are strengths of these graphics processing units.
How to make money mining crypto on your PC
If you’re interested in making money from your gaming PC by mining cryptocurrencies, we’ve put up an in-depth tutorial. With software like NiceHash, getting up and running in a matter of seconds is a piece of cake.
