ETH Mining Guide: Best GPUs and How to Mine Ethereum with Graphics Cards

How to Mine ETH with Graphics Cards?

Ethereum (ETH) remains one of the most popular cryptocurrencies for mining after Bitcoin. Unlike Bitcoin's ASIC-dominated mining, ETH primarily relies on GPU mining. Here’s a step-by-step guide to start mining ETH with your graphics card:

1. Hardware Requirements

GPUs:

• AMD (A-Cards):
  Sapphire RX 470D, RX 470, RX 480 (4GB+ VRAM recommended).
• NVIDIA (N-Cards):
  GTX 1060, 1070, 1080 or higher.

Motherboard:

• PCI-E 1X slots (3–5 slots ideal) with 1X-to-16X risers.
• Ensure adequate power supply (4PIN connectors for stability).

2. Software Setup

• Install GPU drivers and OpenCL SDK (essential for mining software).

• Choose mining software:

  • Single Mining: Focuses solely on ETH (e.g., Claymore, PhoenixMiner).
  • Dual Mining: Mines ETH + another coin (higher power consumption; caution advised).

3. Wallet & Pool Selection

• Create an ETH wallet (e.g., MetaMask, imToken, or exchange wallets like Binance/OKX).
• Select a mining pool (e.g., Ethermine, SparkPool) and input your wallet address.

4. Execution Steps

1. Assemble hardware and connect GPUs.
2. Configure mining software with pool details and wallet address.
3. Monitor performance via pool dashboard (hashrate, temperature).

Best GPUs for ETH Mining

Below’s a performance comparison (hashrate vs. power efficiency):

| GPU Model | Hashrate (MH/s) | Power Draw (W) | Efficiency (MH/s/W) |
|------------------|----------------|----------------|---------------------|
| AMD RX 470 | 28–30 | 120 | 0.23–0.25 |
| NVIDIA GTX 1070 | 25–28 | 150 | 0.16–0.19 |
| AMD RX 480 | 30–32 | 140 | 0.21–0.23 |

Key Insights:

• AMD GPUs dominate in efficiency due to optimized architecture for cryptographic tasks.
• NVIDIA GPUs offer lower power consumption but trade off some hashrate.
• For beginners: RX 470 balances cost, performance, and ease of setup.

👉 Compare mining GPUs on OKX

FAQ

1. Can I mine ETH with 2GB VRAM?

No. ETH’s DAG file exceeds 4GB; 2GB GPUs (e.g., GTX 1050) are obsolete for ETH mining.

2. Is dual mining profitable?

Rarely. Dual mining increases hardware stress and power costs, often outweighing gains.

3. How do I reduce mining downtime?

• Use custom mining OS (e.g., HiveOS) for stability.
• Opt for professional hosting if lacking technical expertise.

4. What’s the ROI for ETH mining?

Depends on electricity costs (~$0.10/kWh) and GPU efficiency. Use calculators like WhatToMine.

👉 Learn about mining ROI

Risks & Maintenance

• Hardware Stress: Mining accelerates wear; ensure proper cooling.
• Regulatory Compliance: Mining legality varies by region; consult local laws.
• Network Upgrades: ETH’s shift to PoS may render GPU mining obsolete—stay updated.

Disclaimer: Mining involves risks. This guide is informational; assess costs/benefits before investing.