Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) have surged in value, reigniting interest in GPU mining. With ETH reaching highs of $1,800 and a market cap of $24 billion—over half of Bitcoin’s $46 billion—many are exploring mining as a profitable venture.
This guide compares popular NVIDIA and AMD GPUs for mining efficiency, ROI, and power consumption, helping you choose the best option for your setup.
How to Mine Ethereum
Ethereum can be acquired through:
1. Purchasing on cryptocurrency exchanges
2. Mining with GPUs or specialized hardware
Given the current mining boom, selecting the right GPU is critical for profitability. Below, we analyze top-tier cards from NVIDIA and AMD.
Tested GPUs and Mining Performance
We evaluated six GPUs under identical conditions (Beijing electricity rate: ¥0.5383/kWh). Only card price and power costs were factored into ROI calculations.
Key Metrics:
- Hashrate (MH/s): Computational power for mining
- Power Draw: System wattage during mining
- Daily ETH Yield: Estimated ETH mined per day
- Break-even Period: Days to recoup GPU cost
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Performance Comparison
| GPU Model | Power (W) | Hashrate (MH/s) | Price (¥) | Daily ETH | Daily Profit (¥) | Break-even (Days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radeon RX 580 | 243 | 22.4 | 1,999 | 0.015 | 24.48 | 81.66 |
| Radeon RX 470 | 159 | 24.3 | 1,599 | 0.017 | 27.90 | 57.31 |
| Radeon RX 480 | 171 | 24.4 | 1,999 | 0.017 | 27.87 | 71.73 |
| Radeon RX 560 | 97 | 9.2 | 999 | 0.006 | 10.09 | 99.01 |
| GeForce GTX 1060 | 175 | 22.0 | 1,999 | 0.015 | 24.86 | 80.41 |
| GeForce GTX 1070 | 220 | 25.7 | 2,899 | 0.017 | 28.84 | 100.52 |
Key Findings
- AMD Dominance: RX 470/480 outperform NVIDIA counterparts in hashrate and efficiency.
- Surprise Underperformer: RX 580 trails older RX 470, likely due to unoptimized mining software.
- Best ROI: RX 470 recoups costs fastest (57 days), while GTX 1070 takes longest (100 days).
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FAQ
1. Which GPU is best for Ethereum mining?
AMD’s RX 470 offers the best balance of hashrate (24.3 MH/s) and ROI (57 days).