Best mining GPU for mining Bitcoin, Ethereum and more

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REASONS TO BUY
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GPUs with the bitcoin logo
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Just like picking out any other gear, finding the best mining GPU can be tough, especially since the requirements for cryptocurrency are a little different than something like gaming.

The ideal graphics cards need power and adequate memory to keep up with the demands of mining. But, they can’t be too expensive, which is why a card like the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Ti and its sibling, the Nvidia RTX 3060, are great picks. Minimizing costs is just as important if you’re mining with one computer, since you won’t be yielding a lot of cryptocurrency at a time.

The world of cryptocurrency has been explosive in the recent past, which is why there’s so much attention on it. Bitcoin, Ethereum and altcoins are gaining more traction, which has led to quite a bit of demand for mining graphics cards.

We’ve collected our top picks for the best mining GPUs 2021 has to offer here, balancing power, efficiency and price. That way, you can make the most out of your mining operation and start making back your initial investment.

For other important components, also check out our guides on the best mining CPU, best mining motherboards and best mining SSDs.

MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 2070

(Image credit: Amazon)

1. MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 2070

The RTX 2070 that is super-charged

Specifications

Core Clock: 1620MHzMemory
Memory: 8 GB GDDR6
Memory Clock: 14 Gbps
Power Connectors: 6 pin + 8 pin
Power Draw: 225W
Outputs: DisplayPort x 3 (v1. 4) / HDMI 2. 0b x 1

Reasons to buy

+
Efficient heat dissipation
+
More CUDA cores
+
1440p gaming with ray tracing

Reasons to avoid

-
Still kind of expensive
-
Limited availability

Boasting a step up in better performance than the previous generation, is the RTX 2070. At a lower price point, it’s easy to offer some compelling reasons to upgrade to the MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 2070 for gaming, design and content creation. Of course, it’s also among the leaders for the best mining GPUs currently. It has a heatsink designed for better heat dissipation, and Zero Frozr technology which can actually stop the fan in low workloads for less noise. It also has top hash speeds of 43.3 MH/s according to MiningCharts.

Read the full review: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070

Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti

(Image credit: Future)

2. Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti

A top dog of the graphics card world

Specifications

Core Clock: 1350MHz
Memory: 11 GB GDDR6
Memory Clock: 14 Gbps
Power Connectors: 8 pin + 8 pin
Power Draw: 260W
Outputs: DisplayPort, HDMI, USB Type-C

Reasons to buy

+
Powerful card
+
Factory overclocked

Reasons to avoid

-
Expensive
-
Next generation cards are already out

Not too long ago, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti was the undisputed king of GPUs. And, it’s still royalty if you want 4K gaming or extremely smooth ray tracing on high settings. As far as how good it is for mining, it can deliver a 32.76 MH/s hashrate for some decent monthly income, making it a solid choice for a mining GPU if you want smooth mining performance. That is, if you can afford that high price that this is a significant barrier to entry.

Read the full review: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti

MSI Gaming GeForce GTX 1080 Ti

(Image credit: Amazon)

3. MSI Gaming GeForce GTX 1080 Ti

Crazy-powerful and frosty-cool

Specifications

Core Clock: 1481MHz
Memory: 11 GB GDDR5X
Memory Clock: 11 Gbps
Power Connectors: One 6-pin, One 8-pin
Power Draw: 250W
Outputs: DisplayPort x 2 / HDMI x 2/ DL-DVI-D

Reasons to buy

+
Titan X-equivalent gaming performance
+
Pushes the limits of Pascal
+
Improved cooling

Reasons to avoid

-
A pricey investment for most

The Nvidia GTX 1080 Ti is still among the most powerful graphics cards out there, even in the face of its successors. It boasts Titan X-equivalent gaming performance and impressive cooling performance with 11 GB of GDDR5X memory. More importantly for those mining for cryptocurrency, this GPU can deliver a 21.63 MH/s hashrate on the KawPow (NBMiner) algorithm, according to BetterHash.net, and generate a healthy monthly income. It isn’t so readily available these days, but for those that can find it in stock, you might even find it on a deal.

Read the full review: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti

ASUS ROG Strix AMD Radeon RX 5700XT

(Image credit: Amazon)

4. ASUS ROG Strix AMD Radeon RX 5700XT

Showcasing what Navi has to offer

Specifications

Core Clock: 1605 MHz
Memory: 8 GB GDDR6
Memory Clock: 14 Gbps
Power Connectors: 1 x 8-pin, 1 x 6-pin
Power Draw: 225W
Outputs: 1.4 with DSC DisplayPort, HDMI with 4K60 support

Reasons to buy

+
Excellent 1440p gaming performance
+
Plenty of forward-looking features

Reasons to avoid

-
No ray tracing
-
Blower-style cooler

One of the best AMD graphics cards we’ve tested in years, the Radeon RX 5700 XT is a total beast when it comes to 1440p gaming. Also, unlike Ray Tracing, it touts many features that are actually usable from day one such as support for up to 6 monitors and Super Alloy Power II components that are aerospace grade. When it comes to cryptomining, it’s even more impressive. It has been reported to deliver a 49.01 MH/s hashrate on the Ethash (Claymore) algorithm, and is capable of generating monthly income almost on par with the 2080 Ti for much less.

Read the full review: Radeon RX 5700 XT

FX AMD Radeon RX 580 GTS XXX Edition Graphics Card

(Image credit: Amazon)

5. FX AMD Radeon RX 580 GTS XXX Edition Graphics Card

An absolute powerhouse

Specifications

Core Clock: 1386 MHz
Memory: 8 GB GDDR5
Memory Clock: 14 Gbps
Power Connectors: 1 x 8-pin, 1 x 6-pin
Power Draw: 150W
Outputs: 3x DisplayPort, 1x HDMI, 1x DVI-D

Reasons to buy

+
Excellent performance
+
Plenty of software features
+
Dual fans

Reasons to avoid

-
No ray tracing

Featuring the latest Polaris architecture, the XFX AMD Radeon RX 580 GTS is a solid choice for gaming. It should also come as no surprise that it’s also among the best mining GPUs out there, combining an affordable price tag with nice profitability. This has been found to generate more than $3 of daily income with a 29 MH/s hashrate, making it an excellent option for crytominers on a more modest budget. 

Read the full review: AMD Radeon RX 580

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Jonas P. DeMuro

Jonas P. DeMuro is a freelance reviewer covering wireless networking hardware.