A lot of cryptocurrency enthusiasts are looking at ways to mine Ethereum and other cryptocurrencies. Unfortunately, this has caused a shortage of most AMD cards in various countries. For those people who can still get a hold of the following graphics cards, cryptocurrency mining can become quite an interesting venture. Do keep in mind all of the cards mentioned in this article may require some tweaks to achieve the optimal hashrate/power consumption threshold you desire.
- Radeon R9 295X2
Although very few people may have heard of this graphics card before, it is quite a powerful solution to mine Ethereum. With a maximum speed of just above 45MH/s, it is one beastly GPU to mine Ethereum with. The only downside is the steep price – around $575 if you can find it. This card alone is as powerful as two cheaper model cards combined, although those two cards will cost slightly less and be more power efficient. Still, it is an excellent card to use if you have access to cheaper electricity.
- Radeon HD 7990
Once a powerful graphics card for video gaming, the Radeon 7990 has quickly become a favorite among cryptocurrency miners as of late. It is even more expensive – around $629 – than the 295X2, which makes it somewhat less attractive. However, it has a lower power cast compared to the card above, which also impacts its performance a bit. At 36 MH/s, it is a very
competitive card, but perhaps best to pick up second-hand for a lower price.
- Sapphire Radeon RX 470
Similar to its “bigger brother”, the Sapphire Radeon RX470 makes for an excellent Ethereum mining card. With some minor tweaks, it becomes possible to reach 29 MH/s of mining power while drawing 140 watts from the wall. This is yet another card increasingly difficult to find for a decent price, though. A second-hand card may be your best bet for all Radeon cards right now.
- Sapphire Radeon RX 480
One should never discount the previous generation of AMD graphics cards either. The RX 4xx series is quite powerful when it comes to Ethereum mining, although stock availability is becoming a major issue as well. The average Sapphire Radeon RX 480 can generate 27 MH/s of mining power while drawing 150 watts from the wall. Finding one of these cards in new condition for under US$500 is nearly impossible, though.
- AMD Radeon RX 580
Most miners-at-home prefer to buy the latest generation of AMD video cards, for obvious reasons. The cards are cheaper to buy, easy to set up and pack quite a bit of performance. The Radeon RX 580 can mine at a top speed of 29 MH/s, while drawing 150 watts from the wall. Finding one is incredibly difficult right now, though. Their regular price is around $450, but the lack of stock can push its price tag to $800 and more.
- NVIDIA GTX 1070
Many people will be surprised to learn a NVIDIA 1070 card can actually be used to mine Ethereum. If you can get a proper overclocked model, a mining speed of 32 MH/s is certainly within reach. The card also draws just 140 watts from the wall, making it rather energy efficient. For the price of $375, it is quite a cheap card as well, considering you get a ton of performance out of it. NVIDIA is no longer a company just designing gaming cards, that much is certain.
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