How to mine on a 3 GB card in 2024

You should also take into account that some operating systems take a lot of video memory. For example, Windows 10 consumes about 0.5 GB.

In Linux installations, there are no such problems. This OS reserves 120 MB.

However, miners are able to get around the increased video memory consumption on Windows 10. If the processor has a built-in GPU, you can enable it and use it as the main video card for Windows.

How to choose a cryptocurrency for mining

To determine the coins for mining, you need to use special services (Minerstat, Investoon) or utilities (GPU-Z). The GPU should have 200-300 MB more memory than the DAG. For example, ERG has a file size of 2.766 GB as of March 3, 2023, and will reach 3 GB on August 19, 2023. The ERG coin will not be able to be mined on a 3GB card.

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DAG increases every 30 thousand blocks (60 thousand for Ethereum Classic) by 8 MB. At the same time, the block generation time depends on the asset: Pegascoin – 32 sec, Expanse – 21 sec. This means that PGC reaches 30k blocks 1.5 times faster than EXP.

The DAG size prediction can be calculated independently. The algorithm is as follows (using EXP as an example):

1. The current block generation time is 21 seconds.
2. It takes 630 thousand seconds or 7.2 days to change an epoch.
3. As of March 3, 2023, the last EXP block is 7,432,675. The current epoch is 247 and the DAG size is 2.93 GB.
4. When the 7,680,000 block is reached, the epoch will change to 256 and the DAG will increase to 3GB. This will take approximately 9 weeks to complete.

List of current cryptocurrencies in 2024

There are not many profitable coins left for mining on a 3 GB card. The table summarizes some of them.

How to start mining on 3GB cards

Mining digital assets requires more than just buying equipment. You also need to choose a wallet, software and a mining pool. The last step is to customize the bat file.

Creating a digital wallet

There are many different vaults on the market. Each has a unique set of features and benefits. Some wallets are designed specifically for certain operating systems such as Windows, iOS, or Android. Others are more universal and can be used on any device. Regardless of which wallet a miner chooses, it is important to ensure the security of private keys and passwords. This will help protect assets and regain access to them in the event of a tech breakdown.

There are such types of wallets:

• Mobile. They offer additional functions: currency exchange, rate monitoring, transactions with QR codes.
• Desktop. Such a program does not need to be installed. Users work with the storage through the browser.
• Web wallets. Such software is downloaded as a browser extension. Usually they allow you to create several addresses and support a large number of assets.
• Hardware. This is the safest type of storage, since it connects to the Internet only when making transactions.

Any wallet can be set up. The algorithm of actions on the example of the desktop version of Exodus:

1. Open the official website.
2. Select the type of wallet and click on Download Exodus.
3. After the installation is complete, launch the program.
4. Click on Create New Wallet.
5. Copy the recovery phrase. It should be saved in a safe place.
6. Click on Next.
7. Enter the words from the seed phrase and confirm the action.
8. Set a password to enter the vault.
9. Select coins and click Next.
10. To get a public address, which will be needed to connect to mining, you need to open the Wallet tab in the left vertical menu.
11. Click on a coin and then click on Receive.

If you need to add other assets to the vault, you need to go to the Wallet section and click on Add Asset. The system will then prompt you to select a blockchain.

Choosing a program for mining

Now you need to download software for mining cryptocurrencies. There are several free programs: T-Rex, CGMiner, Bminer, XMRig and others. The software for money usually has more complex functionality that requires technical knowledge. Beginners can consider simple and convenient programs such as MinerGate or NiceHash.

Choosing a pool for mining

Users pool the power of their equipment to increase the chance of earning rewards. There are many mining pools on the market. When choosing, you need to pay attention to the total hash rate, commissions and withdrawal limits. The table lists the platforms that allow you to mine on 3GB cards in March 2023.

Configuring the bat-file

Now you can move on to connecting the hardware to the pool. Instructions on how to configure Ergo asset mining in NBMiner software:

1. Unzip the archive with the mining program.
2. In the folder, find the file start_ergo.bat.
3. Right-click on it and select “Edit”.
4. Notepad will open. In it you need to add the pool configuration. It can be found in the service’s documentation or next to the name of the coin being mined. Example configuration: nbminer -a ergo -o stratum+tcp://address:port -u account_name.worker_name -log. In the address:port line you should enter the address of connection to the pool. It is necessary to choose the one closest to the physical location. After that, account_name and worker_name should be replaced with the subaccount name and the name of the broker.
5. Save the changes and close Notepad.
6. Run the file.

Hardware synchronization will start. The process usually takes a few minutes.

The connection status will be displayed in the pool control panel or in the program itself.

Whether it is worth buying a 3 GB card for mining

Such GPUs are gradually becoming irrelevant for mining digital assets. As of March 2023, there are not many tokens left that can be mined on a 3 GB graphics card. They practically do not bring profit. To mine popular cryptocurrencies such as Ethereum Classic or Ravencoin, it is better to buy a 4 GB GPU.

ETC DAG file size will reach 4 GB only in 2025, a RVN – in July 2023.

Frequently Asked Questions