Mining is one of the most popular ways to get cryptocurrency. But does it still make sense to mine crypto with a GPU when everybody has moved to ASICs? Yes, there are still cryptocurrencies that are better suited for GPU mining than that of this new equipment. Besides, unlike ASIC miners, graphic cards can mine any algorithm, so you can shift from one coin to another without extra expenditures on new gear. Here are the best cryptocurrencies to mine with a GPU in 2021.
How to choose the right GPU
First of all, you need to choose a GPU. The market is flourishing with a numerous number of video cards and choosing the right one is not an easy task. Here are the most important things you need to consider while choosing a GPU for mining:
- Video card memory capacity – it should be 4GB or more. The general rule is the higher the better. Some cryptocurrencies can be mined with weak GPUs with 1-2 GB but there won’t be much profit (if any).
- Type of memory – video cards with GDDR5 and HBM2 offer good capacity;
- The memory bus width – GPU with a 128-bit bus is less efficient than a card with 256-bit bus width.
- Overclock – not all graphic cards have this feature. Therefore, it is worth knowing in advance whether this feature is available for the GPU you are looking at. With proper overclocking, you can improve performance by 40%. However, an overclock leads to higher electricity consumption, so keep this in mind too.
- Cooling system – the malfunction of video cards is connected with overheat 90% of the time. Therefore, you should choose a GPU with large radiators, thick copper tubes and a high-quality power circuit. This is not something to save on.
- Up-to-date drivers – it’s no secret your software should be up-to-date for the better performance of your little “mining farm.”
Is it still profitable?
Yes and No. It mostly depends on the electricity costs in your location and the price of the altcoin. The most profitable altcoins for your graphic cards can change day after day. You can monitor this on whattomine.com to determine the most profitable cryptocurrency to mine with your GPU and electricity costs.
You are the lucky one if you have cheap electricity (less than $0.1 per hour) and already have GPUs. But if you are only at the beginning of your journey, consider this type of mining as a hobby and self-education process. You will manage to earn just a few bucks a week so don’t expect to get rich or make much profit.
Dogecoin (DOGE)
Although some people may think that Dogecoin is not a serious currency and just an internet joke, it is a great educational tool. DOGE is the most effective solution for people who want to engage in mining and GPU-mining especially. It is one of the easiest cryptocurrencies to mine. Of course, you won’t get rich but it will provide valuable experience for mining beginners.
If you don’t want to buy an ASIC, you better join a mining pool. Mining pools will let you mine coins together with other DOGE miners so you will get your coins much faster.
- Algorithm: Scrypt
- Block time: 1 minute
- Block reward: 10000 DOGE
Monero (XMR)
For the last several years the popularity of Monero has significantly increased in the mining world. It is one of the ASIC resistant cryptocurrencies and used the CryptoNight algorithm which is perfect for AMD video cards. But recently XMR changed its algorithm to the RamdomX protocol so Nvidia GPUs have become more preferable for Monero.
As Monero is fighting with ASICs, GPU mining is still a viable solution here. Especially if you join a mining pool, you can achieve better results and get more profit.
- Algorithm: RandomX
- Block time: 2 minutes
- Block reward: 2 XMR
ZCash (ZEC)
ZCash was ASIC resistant too. Why was? Because since then Bitmain has released special ASIC miners for the ZEC cryptocurrency, so today there’s no point to mine it solo with a GPU. Better join one of the mining pools like Pooling or Minergate.
You can mine ZCash on Nvidia or AMD but the graphic cards by Nvidia give bigger hashrates for ZEC mining than solutions of their “red” competitor.
- Algorithm: Equihash
- Block time: 2.5 minutes
- Block reward: 12.5 ZEC
Aeternity (AE)
Aeternity is a project that connects blockchain and real-world data. The mining of Aeternity AE is done via Cuckoo Cycle, an ASIC resistant algorithm. The mining consists of two parts:
- Key-block mining – increases token amount;
- Including transactions in micro blocks – these are fees paid to miners for transaction maintenance;
The block reward is a dynamic figure which changes over time according to this table. The coin supports GPUs by Nvidia and AMD with at least 4GB RAM.
- Algorithm: Cuckoo Cycle
- Block time: key-block – 180 seconds; micro-block – 3 seconds
- Block reward: dynamic
Bitcoin Gold
BTG is another anti-ASIC cryptocurrency. Despite BTG being based on the same algorithm as ZCash it can resist ASICs. Back in 2018, the BTG team updated the Equihash algorithm to the new Equihash-BTG, so GPU mining is still very much in play. The experts don’t recommend using AMD cards as they don’t perform well. GTX 1050Ti, GTX 1060, GTX 1070, and GTX 1080Ti graphics cards are all good options for mining BTG.
- Algorithm: Equihash-BTG
- Block time: 10 minutes
- Block reward: 12.5 BTG, halving approximately mid-2020
Raven Coin
Raven Coin is a new cryptocurrency launched in 2018. The network is unavailable for ASIC miners thanks to the X16R algorithm, which mixes the X15 and SHA512 algorithm depending on the hash of the previous block. Thus, ASICs don’t threaten the Raven Coin blockchain. The interest in RVN is only growing if we take a look at the mining difficulty chart.
- Algorithm: X16R
- Block time: 1 minute
- Block reward: 5000 RVN
Ethereum
Ethereum mining runs on the Ethash algorithm, which is perfect for AMD GPUs. It works well with AMD 290/290X/390/390X/470/480. ETH requires a good frequency rate and amount of video memory, so you need at least 4 GB VRAM.
However, ETH is switching to a Proof of Stake framework using the Casper algorithm in 2021. So, in the near future, Ethereum mining might not be relevant, but you still have some time to mine Ether.
- Algorithm: Ethash
- Block time: 10-20 seconds
- Block reward: 2 ETH
Store coins on Freewallet
Wondering where to store your hard-mined coins? Try Freewallet: Crypto Wallet for your Android or iOS device. Also, you can use our web version on your PC or Mac.
- Manage 100+ cryptocurrencies in one place.
- Buy BTC, ETH, TRX, BCH, XRP, XLM, BNB right in the wallet with your credit card.
- Seamlessly exchange coins with other cryptocurrencies right in the wallet.
- Make free transactions with other Freewallet users.
- Check the exchange rate of digital currencies in the wallet.
- Protect your money with advanced security protection including 2FA, multisig, and transaction limits. The majority of assets are kept in cold storage, ensuring that your coins won’t be lost or stolen.
Feel free to sign-up with your Facebook, Gmail, email, or mobile number and try Freewallet.
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