How to choose a processor for video card mining

Processor for mining

To mine cryptocurrency, you need a powerful farm. Although the main load is taken by graphics devices, the processor for mining on a graphics card is also important. When choosing one, you need to consider price, compatibility and other parameters.

The importance of the processor for mining on a graphics card

This is the basic part of the farm for cryptocurrency mining. The CPU is the device in a computer that executes machine instructions. It also keeps the operating system running.

Until the CPU processes an instruction, the computer will not do even simple calculations. Although the CPU is not involved in mining, it also determines the efficiency of the farm.

The CPU is necessary because it transfers information between the graphics devices and HDD (SSD), RAM. If it is fast, the miners and other programs will not lag. The profitability of the farm will be greater due to minimal downtime.

Top processors for cryptocurrency mining in 2024

Users do not consider the fastest CPUs to be the best, but those devices that have a good value for money. Spending a lot of money on expensive Intel models with hash rate from 5000 H/s is not worth it. To choose a CPU for mining on video cards, you need to evaluate the compatibility and cost of the equipment. Efficiency and other criteria play a smaller role.

ModelFrequency (in GHz)ManufacturerNumber of coresSocketPrice (in rubles)
FX-4300
3,8
AMD
4
AM3+
2500
FX-4350
4,2
AMD
4
M3+
2800
A6-9500E
3
AMD
2
AM4
1390
Core i3-10105F
3,9
Intel
4
LGA 1200
5500
Celeron G6900
3,4
Intel
2
LGA 1700
3500
Core i3-12100F
3,3
Intel
4
LGA 1700
7000

These are productive and inexpensive devices that will be suitable for mining on video cards. It is not worth buying more powerful CPUs. They will not give a hash rate increase, but will consume more electricity.

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Choosing a CPU for cryptocurrency mining

To make the computer work quickly and does not hang during the mining of coins, a simple device is enough. Basically, the CPU has a minimum load. It is not difficult to figure out which processor is better for mining on video cards. The main thing is to take into account the compatibility with the motherboard.

How to choose a processor for video card mining
Processor with an integrated graphics card

You should not buy parts with integrated graphics cores. They occupy a part of PCI-E, because of which miners can connect 2-4 video cards less. If you have already bought a CPU, then the core is turned off in the BIOS. Then the image output will fall to external graphics devices, and the chip will heat up less.

Compatibility with motherboard

It means the socket of both devices – the interface for data exchange. Manufacturers AMD and Intel produce processors and motherboards of several generations, which are incompatible with each other. When buying them, you need to check the interface standard, otherwise the CPU will not fit.

Intel and AMD produce processors with different sockets. If the characteristics indicate LGA, you need a device of the first manufacturer. If AM is indicated, AMD is needed.

It is impossible to visually determine compatibility, as the interfaces are identical in appearance. To pick up the processor, you must first find out the version of the motherboard. To do this, you can look at the top of the device and rewrite the inscription on it.

How to choose a processor for video card mining
AMD A10 characteristics

On the assembled farm with Windows, you can find out the model through the msinfo32 command. Also the socket is looked at in CPU-Z.

Version

Processors of the new generation are more powerful, but this is not the characteristic you should look at. Buy top-end CPUs with 4 cores and more makes sense if the miner plans to mine cryptocurrency not only on video cards. Otherwise, the equipment will work only 10-20%. AMD produces such devices:

  • Athlon – inexpensive CPUs that will be suitable for mining with 4-5 video cards in a rig.
  • Ryzen 3 – has a medium price and works well with 10 graphics cards or more, and can also mine a little to recoup power costs.
  • Ryzen 5 – a disadvantageous option. It’s almost as good as version 3 in performance, but is more expensive for the price.
  • Ryzen 7 and Threadripper are powerful devices with high hash rate, especially after overclocking.

The last two AMD models perform well in Monero mining. With a power consumption of 150W, they can mine up to $0.73 per day. The main thing is to increase the number of GHz in the settings.

Intel makes many different CPUs, including powerful devices for servers. However, for a video card farm, three modern versions will do:

  • Core i3. These are inexpensive models for budget mining. They consume a little electricity, sold at a price of up to 7-8 thousand rubles. When using such a CPU, you should not load the computer with other tasks, except for mining cryptocurrencies.
  • Core i7 and Core i9. Like Ryzen 7, this is a powerful equipment for games. The devices have a frequency of up to 5.7 GHz, so they work well in multitasking mode. They are also worth using for dual-mining.

If the budget is limited, it is worth considering older and inexpensive Celeron models. They can support the work of a farm with 6-8 video cards.

Cost

Having determined which processor is needed for mining on a video card, users always look at the cost of devices. Taking expensive options, as a rule, does not make sense. They will simply increase the payback period, but will not affect the hash rate.

Cheap Intel Pentium G4400 for 3200 rubles is close to more expensive i3 processors of the same manufacturer in terms of efficiency. At the same time, it has 2 cores and works with motherboards equipped with 16 lines to connect 12 video cards.

For budget mining, you should buy an A6-9500E from AMD or a Celeron G6900 from Intel. They support modern sockets, so it is easy to find the right board in stores.

In search of a CPU, it is desirable to look at models without a built-in cooler for cooling. If the device does not mine cryptocurrency, thermal paste is enough to control the temperature. If there is a fan, you will have to spend 20-30% more money. The exception is powerful CPUs that will also mine cryptocurrencies.

Hashrate

In the case of farms on graphic devices, the performance of the “stone” does not matter. It does not participate in the mining of cryptocurrencies, so the stability of the processor is more important for miners. The part must cope with the launch of the operating system, programs and at the same time require minimal power consumption.

For reference. Previously, CPUs were often used for mining even Bitcoin, but they are inferior to video cards in terms of performance. Now they are used to mine coins with the RandomX algorithm, which is created specifically for CPUs.

If a miner wants to earn cryptocurrency not only on a video card, it is worth considering top-end CPUs from AMD and Intel. Examples:

  • Core i9 12900K – 9135 H/s.
  • Threadripper 3990X – 54 Kh/s.

It is worth noting that Intel loses to the competitor in mining, which can be seen when comparing the two devices. However, they are cheaper. Core i9 costs 42-44 thousand rubles, and Threadripper – 400 thousand rubles and above.

Revenue per month

Given that CPUs are not usually used for mining on a farm with video cards, it is difficult to calculate the income. This can be compared to determining the profit from the wheel in a truck.

If the user plans to mine cryptocurrency in dual mode, then here it is easy to predict the profit. To do this, it is necessary to find out the hash rate of the device, power consumption and calculate in the calculator. You need to specify one of the coins with the RandomX algorithm. Possible income per month:

  • Core i3-12100F – -$0.08 with a hashrate of 2363 H/s.
  • Threadripper 3990X – $0.74 at 54 Kh/s.
  • Core i9 12900K -$0.41 at 9135 H/s.

Less powerful CPUs are mostly not profitable due to low hash rate. You can see from the example above that even top-end hardware does not guarantee profitability.

Payback

It is possible when mining cryptocurrencies in parallel. Most Intel processors do not pay off due to too much power consumption with low hash rate. Even Core i9 runs at a disadvantage in 2023. Mining is profitable only on AMD, but the payback period turns out to be very long. For example:

  • Threadripper 3990X – 7680 days.
  • Ryzen 7 3700X – 6933.

To reduce this period, you should mine in regions with inexpensive electricity – Irkutsk, Novosibirsk. Here the costs can be reduced by 2-3 times compared to Moscow.

Results

CPU is an important part of a computer, but in mining it performs a service function. Therefore, you can save money on it. There is no point in taking top-end parts that work at 20-30% of maximum performance.

For budget cryptocurrency mining, you should choose Intel, because in stores there is a greater assortment of motherboards with LGA-sockets at different prices. However, using them for profit is not recommended.

Frequently Asked Questions

πŸ“’ What is dual mining?

It is the parallel mining of two coins on the same farm. Users work with ETC and Monero, for example, to achieve 100% performance from the rig and pay off the equipment faster.

πŸ“Œ Is it possible to mine Bitcoin alone?

Technically yes, but it’s not recommended. Due to the small hash rate, the chance to create a block will be less than 0.05%, so income will be periodically missing.

πŸ”₯ Will cryptocurrency mining harm the CPU?

Yes. The lifespan will be shortened due to the increased load. To protect the hardware from damage, you need to put an extra fan.

πŸ”” Why is the CPU constantly loaded at 100% without mining?

The problem is caused by viruses on the PC. You need to check your computer and remove dangerous programs, and set up a connection only to the pool so that hackers have no ways to infect the rig.

⚑ Do I need to register a company to mine coins?

No. This is only required for miners with an income of 2.4 million rubles or more per month. If the profit is less, users are self-employed. However, paying taxes is mandatory, otherwise the Federal Tax Service will issue a fine.

πŸ“£ What is a raiser for?

It is bought to connect more than two graphics adapters to the motherboard to put them not closely, but at a distance from each other.

✨ What coins are mined on the processor?

Any cryptocurrency with RandomX, Scrypt, CryptoNight algorithms will do.

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Author: Π‘Π°ΠΉΡ„Π΅Π΄Π΅ΠΉΡΡŒΠΊΠΈΠΉ аммус, an expert in cryptocurrency economics.

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