GPU for mining: the guide you needed (before it's too late)

If you're new to crypto mining, here's what you need to know about GPUs and why they have become essential.

Why GPUs and not something else?

First, the little story. Before, we mined with CPU (normal processors). But that quickly became lame – too slow, too power-hungry. GPUs are a different universe: thousands of small cores working in parallel instead of a handful of big ones. The result? More simultaneous calculations = faster = better profitability.

The real advantages

Parallel processing: a GPU does what 50 CPUs would do at the same time. It's not marketing, it's just hardware.

Flexibility: unlike ASIC ( those crappy specialized things), a GPU can switch between different mining algorithms depending on current profitability. Bitcoin down? Go mine Ethereum. The market changes? You adapt in 5 minutes.

Energy efficiency: compared to CPUs, it's much better watt/hashrate. This is critical when you look at your electricity bill at the end of the month.

The GPUs that are currently popular

No surprise: RTX 3090, RTX 3080, RX 6800 XT. The thing is, prices have plummeted since 2022. At the time Ethereum transitioned to Proof-of-Stake (POS), miners unloaded their old GPUs onto the second-hand market – golden opportunity if you're patient.

The cheapest way to start? RTX 3060 or GTX 1660 Super. Not super powerful, but it's solid for beginners.

The real problems that we conceal

Expensive electricity = zero profitability. Seriously, check your local kWh price before buying. In Iceland or Canada, it's viable. In France or Germany? You really need to find a good deal.

Heat kills: a GPU mining at 100% generates a furnace. Proper cooling or RIP your hardware in 6 months.

Difficulty = enemy. The more miners there are, the more complex the math becomes, the more your rewards get diluted. It's the classic spiral.

Where is the GPU market at?

Prices have finally plummeted below the MSRP (catalog price) since 2022. Used GPUs are everywhere. This is THE time to buy if you want to get started – don't wait for a new bull run to make them hard to find.

But be careful: the algorithms are evolving. Ethereum killed GPU mining in September 2022. Other cryptos that were running on PoW are gradually transitioning to PoS. Don't just look at profitability today, also look 6-12 months ahead.

Basic setup

Are you wondering which CPU to choose? A Ryzen 5 or i5 is more than enough – the GPU does all the work. Just make sure you have enough PCI slots for all your cards. And the power supply: it needs to be solid, no surprises.

The future?

GPUs are coming with more energy-efficient architectures (smaller factory nodes). But honestly? The crypto industry moves fast. Tomorrow, a new layer of PoS or a revolutionary technology could make all of this obsolete. Bitcoin will always remain on PoW, so there will be mining. Just don't bet your life savings on it.

TLDR: GPU > CPU for mining, it's clear. But check your electricity bill and the available algorithms before buying. Prices are low now, it's a window of opportunity – but it will close when the next hype returns.