10 Best Graphics Cards for Bitcoin Mining in 2021

Bitcoin mining

Cryptocurrency mining is a process that allows blockchain networks using Proof of Work the capacity to share the same history of transactions. It is a race where different competitors use powerful hardware to solve a complex mathematical problem. The winner gets to generate the next block on the chain and receive the reward associated with it. Right now, the reward is 6.25 BTC for each new block produced.

As more people and organizations enter the Bitcoin mining space the difficulty increases. The reason is that the average block production time for the Bitcoin network is 10 minutes. So, to keep this average consistent, mining becomes harder as more participants enter the race.

The difficulty of the Bitcoin mining race is measured in the terabytes required to do it. As we can see from the graph below, the mining difficulty has increased steadily since the start of the Bitcoin Network. It will continue to do so, as more people enter the mining space.

This means people need to constantly buy new hardware to keep up. Not only that, but in Bitcoin mining, the process is dominated by Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASIC). These are custom made hardware systems created specifically for crypto mining. As such, they outperformed graphic cards by a considerable margin.

Is it possible to do Bitcoin mining with graphic cards?

The short answer is no. The mining difficulty of BTC is just too high for commercial graphic cards. The Bitcoin network is completely dominated by ASICs, and some people worry this is a source for centralization So, as a small crypto miner what can be done?

There are two options open for small miners in the Bitcoin network. First, joining a mining pool, these are groups of miners that collectibly pool their resources to mine for Bitcoin. The rewards gained by the pool are divided to the members based on how much processing power they added to the effort.

Even in a mining pool graphic cards won’t receive any BTC from the block reward. Instead, they will be awarded Bitcoin from the transaction fees associated with the new block. These can be substantial and worth the investment in hardware.
Second, altcoin mining. Here the miner does not directly do Bitcoin mining instead focuses on other blockchains with a lower difficulty. Once enough altcoins have been accumulated, these are exchanged for BTC. This is a great strategy for small crypto miners as many blockchains actually prevent ASICs from joining to prevent centralization.

Some of the best alternatives to mine are Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash, Raven Coin, Grincoin, and Dogecoin. Of course, there are many more, but the above mentioned networks should be enough to get you started on this path. So, let us look at the list.

1. NVIDIA CMP HX

Perhaps the top current graphics card for Bitcoin mining, the NVIDIA CMP (Cryptocurrency Mining Processor) HX is designed for mining. After graphic cards saw a surge in demand for crypto mining, companies have tried to create a product for this market. Especially since miners are competing with gamers for the same hardware, causing shortages and anger among the public.

This GPU is the most advanced piece of equipment a miner can get outside an ASIC. Sadly, it is not commercially available. It can only be purchased directly from authorized NVIDIA manufactures such as ASUS, Colorful, EVGA, Gigabyte, MSI, Palit, and PC Partner. It is not a gaming GPU, it only works for mining. It is a way NVIDIA is using to separate mining GPUS from those used by gamers.

Pros

• High performance.
• It comes out of the box ready to mine.

Cons

• Expensive.
• Only available directly from manufactures.

2. NVIDIA RTX 3090

The current best graphics card by NVIDIA, the RTX 3090 is the most powerful commercial GPU in the world. It has the following specifications:

• Memory: 24GB GDDR6X
• Memory Clock: 9750 MHz
• Power Connectors: 2x 8-pin
• Power Draw: 350W
  

As a top of the line graphics card, it has one of the best heat management systems on the market. It was created for gaming, so it can endure long periods of use without the risk of damage. Of course, as the current flagship of NVIDIA, it is very expensive.
Not only that, but there is a shortage of RTX 3090 on the market. Very few were produced initially, and now there are only available on the resale market. NVIDIA is still in the process of ordering more from manufacturers, so shortages are expected to continue.

Pros:

• Excellent performance.
• Good heat tolerance.

Cons:

• Expensive.
• Difficult to find in the market.

3. NVIDIA RTX 3080

The second best graphic card from NVIDIA is also a great option for mining. The graphics card has these specifications:

• Memory: 10GB GDDR6X
• Memory Clock: 1440 MHz
• Power Connectors: 2x 8-pin
• Power Draw: 320W

The RTX 3080 is the best commercial card NVIDIA has put out for the general public. Among the top end cards, this one is the most widely produced of the current gen GPU. It has been consistently one of the top sellers for miners and as such for the next iteration the 3080TI NVIDIA will hamper its use for mining.

So, the RTX 3080 is the best option for miners with a budget. The result is a market shortage for these cards as miners and gamers compete with each other in the market. On the resale side, the RTX 3080 can cost up to 60% more than the original price.

Pros:

• Great parallel processing capacity for its price.
• Good heat management.
• Good price from official retailers.

Cons:

• Shortages.

4. AMD Radeon RX 6800

The first AMD product on the list, the Radeon RX 6800 is the best graphics card from AMD. It has the following secs:

• Memory: 16GB GDDR6
• Memory Clock: 1815 MHz
• Power Connectors: 2x 8-pin
• Power Draw: 250W

Its main disadvantage against NVIDIA is the use of GDDR6. But aside from that, the RX 6800 is a great replacement. It consumes considerably less power, and it also has great heat efficiency. Of course, the shortages of NVIDIA have also migrated to the AMD side and people doing Bitcoin mining are buying AMD.

Pros:

• Excellent design.
• Great price.

Cons:

• It uses the last generation’s GDDR.
• Shortages caused by miners.
  

5. AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT

The second best offering by AMD, the RX 6700 XT is another great Bitcoin mining GPU. It has these specifications:

• Memory: 14GB GDDR6
• Memory Clock: 2.32 GHz
• Power Connectors: 2x 8-pin
• Power Draw: 220W

Again, most miners use this graphics card as a replacement for NVIDIA products due to the GDDR6. Yet, this card is already way more affordable than any on NVIDIA. If you are planning to do altcoin mining, instead of directly doing Bitcoin mining, then this is the best option. It will give you more processing power per dollar than any other card in the market.

Pros:

• Excellent price for its specifications.
• Good heat management.
• Low power use for a GPU.

Cons:

It uses the last generation’s GDDR.
Shortages caused by miners.

6. NVIDIA RTX 3070

The third best GPU from NVIDIA and the one that is considered the most affordable at the moment. The RTX 3070 has these specs:

• Memory: 8GB GDDR6
• Memory Clock: 1.73 GHz
• Power Connectors: 1x 8-pin
• Power Draw: 220W

The RTX 3070 is the most affordable of the NVIDIA cards in terms of processing power per dollar. As such, many considered the card with the best returns against investment on the market. For this reason, it has become widely scarce on the market, and there are shortages for it even now.

As with our previous AMD GPU, this card won’t do great for Bitcoin mining directly. Instead, it is a great option for altcoin mining on networks with a lower difficulty.

Pros:

• Great price.
• Good heat management.

Cons:

• It uses the last generation’s GDDR.
• Shortages caused by miners.

7. AMD Radeon RX 5700XT

One of the previous generation AMD cards, the RX 5700 XT is a very well rounded option. It has these specs:

• Memory: 8GB GDDR6
• Memory Clock: 1.605 GHz
• Power Connectors: 2x 8-pin
• Power Draw: 220W

An AMD card from its previous generation, the RX 5700 XT, is a very affordable option. It won’t be able to compete with the top of the line graphics cards out there when it comes to Bitcoin mining, but it will do fine on smaller networks. It is truly one of the most affordable alternatives, and if you are just starting to mine, and don’t want to invest too much, this is a great GPU.

Pros:

• Cheap price. Good heat management.

Cons:

• Not very powerful.
• A little outdated.

8. NVIDIA RTX 3060 TI

The last one of the new NVIDIA graphics cards, the RTX 3060 TI is on the low end of the current generation. It won’t give a great return per dollar invested as the 3070, but it remains a very viable NVIDIA card for Bitcoin mining. It has these specs:

• Memory: 8GB GDDR6
• Memory Clock: 1.695 MHz
• Power Connectors: 2x 8-pin
• Power Draw: 220W

The card has a great refrigeration system that will keep it working even after heavy use. It also has a lower power consumption than the other NVIDIA entries on the list. Of course, as a current gen NVIDIA GPU, it has suffered massive shortages. Many miners have bought it instead of the more powerful 3080 and 3070, so it is very difficult to find at the moment.

Pros:

• Great price.
• Good heat management.

Cons:

• It uses the last generation’s GDDR.
• Shortages caused by miners.
  

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

Another great AMD graphics card that is not very expensive for people just starting. The FX AMD Radeon RX 580 GTS XXX has these specs:

• Memory: 8GB GDDR5
• Memory Clock: 1.386 MHz
• Power Connectors: 1x 6-pin
• Power Draw: 150W

This graphics card is perhaps the most affordable option on the list. It is great to start Bitcoin mining on a small budget, and it has no shortages on the market. So, for anyone beginning, a few of these cards can really be the most sensible option.

Pros:

• Great price.
• Widely available.

Cons:

• It uses two generations old GDDR.
• Not very powerful.

10. MSI GE76 Raider

Due to all the shortages to buy graphics cards, miners are now turning to gaming laptops. The choice is a bit desperate, as the MSI GE76 Raider has a GPU of just 8GB but is way more expensive than a graphics card with the same specs. Yet, many miners are buying these laptops in large quantities and using them for Bitcoin mining.

It is a novel idea, and perhaps once GPU shortages are a thing of the past, it will no longer be viable. But for now, it seems, even gaming laptops will be in short supply.

Pros:

• Market availability. ### Cons:
• Expensive.
• Difficult to set up.

Conclusion

There we have all the best graphics cards for Bitcoin mining currently on the market. Since reaching a new all time high, Bitcoin is again in the news and more people than ever are mining blockchains. GPUs are in short supply and angry games are demanding that companies stop miners from buying the graphics cards from retailers. All the same, shortages are expected to continue all the way to 2022.

A higher Bitcoin price means more people using it, higher fees, and longer confirmation times. Read 6 Prominent Bitcoin Scalability Problems and How They Affect Its Full Scale Adoption for an update on the current technologies addressing the problem.