Not only graphics processors determine the efficiency of coin mining. A reliable power supply for mining with 6 graphics cards is an essential component of the farm. Carelessness in the choice of equipment will lead to freezing and system failure. This will cause serious damage to the technique. It is important to understand what to pay attention to when buying a device.
What power supply capacity is needed for mining
The operation of a farm based on video cards requires a large amount of electricity. In some cases, it is necessary to connect several power supplies. There are 2 important factors to consider when calculating the power:
- Mining does not take all the resources of the system and does not use the full power of the GPU. Video cards are primarily needed for gaming. They contain many components that are designed to display the image on the monitor. They are idle during coin mining. Only CUDA kernels are engaged in calculating complex mathematical tasks.
- GPU overclocking plays a big role. Changing parameters (for example, core frequency) leads to lower power consumption. A GPU designed for 200W at maximum load can actually consume only 95W. In this case, a farm with 12 graphics cards will consume about 1200 watts instead of 2400 watts.
How to calculate the required power
Before buying a power supply unit, you need to find out how much the mining farm will consume. To do this, you need to:
- Determine the maximum power consumption (TDP) of the graphics processor.
- Sum up the indicators of all devices. For example, NVIDIA RTX 3090 has a TDP of 350 W. If the farm will have 4 graphics cards, the value will be 1400W. The equation should take into account that overclocked GPUs consume 10-60% less power depending on the model.
You can’t run the device at 100%. The equipment may break down. Other components of the farm will also suffer. The optimal load for the PSU should be about 80%. This will slow down the coolers and reduce heat generation.
It is recommended to leave a 20% reserve in case of voltage spikes. System components (CPU, hard disk and others) also consume electricity. This is an additional 250 watts.
The coin chosen for mining plays an important role. WhatToMine and similar tools give a general idea of how much power the GPU will consume in cryptocurrency mining.
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For example, NVIDIA RTX 3090 consumes 260W when mining assets. If you build a large farm with 8 graphics cards, the total TDP value will be 2080W. Adding 250W for system components, the total is 2330W. If you factor in the spare 20% and extra space for scaling the farm, you would need a 3000W PSU in total.
Power Supply Manufacturers Rating
Many miners save money on PSUs. However, low-quality equipment can damage the graphics processor. A reliable and efficient power supply is an essential component of a coin mining farm.
Seasonic
This is the leading manufacturer on the market. The company started developing equipment in the 1980s. It has 40 years of experience behind its products. Seasonic was included in the list of the best power supplies for mining in 2021 and holds this bar in 2023.
It also produces PSUs for popular brands Corsair and EVGA.
The company offers quality and powerful devices. Buyers get a 12-year warranty on their PSUs.
Corsair
The American manufacturer has been creating reliable and efficient devices since 1994. Corsair started with L2 cache memory, then expanded to other PC components. Since it partners with Seasonic, its PSUs are considered to be among the best.
EVGA
This is a well-known brand in the gaming PC industry. Founded in 1999, EVGA started off as a motherboard and graphics card manufacturer but has since expanded to PSUs and many other components. The company is known for quality and affordable products.
be quiet!
The brand lives up to its name: the manufacturers make quiet PSUs for mining farms. They have created Silent Wings fans equipped with different noise reduction features: motors with smooth operation, optimized airflow and anti-vibration decoupling. With these coolers, PSUs from be quiet! achieve a balance between efficient cooling and a quiet process.
Segotep
The brands Seasonic, EVGA and Corsair are at the top of the market. Other companies are not given enough attention. However, there are some little-known brands that make good tech. One of them is Segotep. The Chinese company produces high-quality power supply units that are popular among miners.
How to choose the best model
The graphics processor is an integral component of a mining farm. GPU mines coins by calculating hashes. However, profitability is determined not only by how quickly the installation can solve mathematical problems. Power consumption is an equally important factor. It is necessary to choose a power supply for a mining farm that will ensure efficient mining of assets. More details – in the table.
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| This is an indicator of how efficiently the PSU can convert alternating current into direct current. A 1000W device with 80% efficiency will need 1200W from the mains. The remaining 200 are wasted on heating and are not used to power the farm. | |
| The PSU can break down due to power surges and other problems. With a valid warranty, it is allowed to be replaced. | |
| Video cards need to be powered with raisers. Each adapter will require either a 4-pin Molex cable or a 15-pin SATA cable. To create a complete farm, you need to buy a PSU with enough ports and cables. You should not mix components from different models of power supplies, as they have different ratings and some are even incompatible. | |
| In mining farms, 3 to 6 graphics cards are installed. If the unit is modular, it will allow you to change the power distribution. There are many PSUs that are initially configured to work with multiple GPUs. However, these are usually enterprise or commercial grade products, not consumer grade. | |
| There are 3 types of power supplies: titanium (96% energy efficiency), platinum (94%), and gold (92%). The first type is characterized by higher performance. |
Mining rigs usually work autonomously, without a keyboard, mouse or monitor connected. To monitor the status of the farm, users buy smart power supplies (Smart Power Supply). Smart devices have integrated circuits built into them. They provide remote monitoring and digital control. The operation of the equipment can be monitored online.
Top 5 models of power supplies for mining in 2024
There are many devices available in the market. However, not every one of them provides reliable and stable power to the video card for mining. It is worth considering that some PSUs are more suitable for gaming computers.
Seasonic PRIME TX-1000
This is one of the best power supplies for 2023. The main reason for its popularity is its high build quality. The PRIME TX-1000 is a fully modular PSU with 94% efficiency at 50% load. The unit offers a power output of 1000 watts. It is a very quiet model with a noise level of 15 dB.
The PSU also has a powerful fan. There are 2 modes: S2FC and S3FC. They allow the device to support uninterrupted cryptocurrency mining. The cost in Russia is on average ₽40 thousand.
Corsair HX Series HX1200.
This is a power supply with a voltage regulation function and a modular set of cables. But its main advantages are its 1200W power and quiet operation.
TheThe HX Series delivers up to 91% efficiency at 230V. The model has an FDB cooler with zero-wear mode and 8 PCIe connectors for GPUs. The developers have provided a 10-year warranty. The cost is ₽30 thousand.
EVGA SuperNOVA 1600 T2
The PSU is designed specifically for mining farms and powerful computers. It is a modular design with protection against overloading and voltage fluctuations.
The SuperNOVA 1600 T2 delivers a stable power supply of 1600W with up to 94% efficiency. This model also delivers up to 133A + 12V. It is bought for mining farms with 3-6 graphics cards. The cost is on average ₽85 thousand.
As of January 2023, it is difficult to find such a model in Russia.
Dark Power Pro 12
This PSU is designed for stable power supply of up to 1500W with an efficiency of up to 94.7%. It provides high-end performance thanks to its fully digital control and frameless cooler concept. The Dark Power Pro 12 delivers up to 125A on a single + 12V combo bus.
This PSU has a modular design and a virtually inaudible 135mm fan. It supports up to 10 graphics cards. In standby mode, the PSU consumes less than 0.1W. The hardware comes with a 10-year warranty. The price is ₽30k.
Segotep GP1350G
This modular design unit is created for cryptocurrency mining and supports 8 PCIe slots for GPU. Up to 6 graphics cards can be connected to it.
The PSU is equipped with LLC Pro resonator (regulates the output voltage) and delivers up to 104A on the combined + 12V bus. The fan (104mm) cools the case at full load and maintains performance. However, users complain of very loud operation. The cost is ₽30 thousand.
List of the best server PSU models
This is an alternative to conventional power sources. Such models are designed for GPU servers. These are “supercomputers” – high-performance devices that process information 100 times faster than conventional computing systems. The most popular ones are NVIDIA A100 and H100. Installation of such equipment requires a more serious construction than just a frame for a farm.
Server PSUs for mining have pros and cons. They are listed in the table.
| Pros | Minuses |
|---|---|
When choosing, you need to take into account several factors. The most important of them are:
- Efficiency. The higher the value, the less energy the equipment will use. The indicator is calculated in terms of how much AC input power is needed to produce a given amount of output power. If 180 watts requires 200 watts of power, the efficiency will be 90% (180/200 = 0.9). The residual 20 watts is heat, which must also be considered. Cooling equipment will be required to dissipate it.
- Suppression of voltage ripple. This can cause instability in the operation of the mining installation or even put it out of operation.
- Overload protection. If the PSU has this feature, it will shut down when the current draw exceeds its capacity.
HP 1200W Power Supply
The power output of this unit is 1200W with a 240V plug. Platinum certification ensures stable power supply to your graphics card for mining. The cost is an average of ₽28k.
Intel Common Redundant Power Supply 1100W
This is a server PSU with 1100W of power at 240V. The device has protection against overload, short circuit, line voltage rise and fall.
The unit is compatible with Intel R1304/R2312/R2000 systems. It is cooled by two fans (both 40 mm) and provides hot-swappable units (Hot-Plug). In Russia, the price is about ₽30k.
The Hot-Plug feature allows to activate and deactivate the PSU while the server is running without de-energizing.
Cleaning and maintenance
As the PSU fan runs around the clock, dust clogs the chassis and reduces the performance of the equipment. This leads to overheating or malfunction.
To avoid breakdowns, you need to clean the coolers periodically. Experienced miners advise to do this weekly.
If the dust is on the plastic surface, you can use alcohol, cotton swabs or antistatic wipes. If the PSU is dirty inside, it should be blown out with a can of compressed air. However, sooner or later a more thorough cleaning will be required. In this case the unit will have to be opened. It is not recommended to do this yourself. You can damage the components of the equipment. It is better to contact a service center.
Frequently Asked Questions
📢 Is it safe to buy a PSU on Avito?
It may turn out to be defective. It is better to buy equipment from official suppliers.
🛒 Do I need to add fans to the unit?
Usually, internal coolers are sufficient. However, some units require additional cooling. It is recommended to study the reviews for a particular model.
📌 How to change video card parameters?
The editorial staff has prepared step-by-step instructions for overclocking the graphics processor.
✨ Can I use 2 PSUs?
Yes. Miners synchronize them with special cables.
⚡ How do I know if the power supply is compatible with my server?
This is checked through utilities. For example, HPE has created the HPE Power Advisor program for HPE.
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Author: Saifedean Ammous, an expert in cryptocurrency economics.
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