Is the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti the best GPU for Bitcoin mining?
Is the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti the best GPU for Bitcoin mining?
GPU Bitcoin mining has been surpassed for most people
Mining Bitcoin is a harder task than it used to be. Unless you're going to build a serious rig with a lot of GPUs in it, it's not really worth the time.
Using a single GPU to process the algorithm for Bitcoin won't be profitable, as the return is so low, especially compared to the cost of buying the GTX 1080 Ti, and the power to run the machine its attached to.
Other cryptocurrencies can be mined with GPUs, but for Bitcoin, other methods are required. The time it takes to mine Bitcoin would far exceed the life of the graphics card.
An ASIC miner doesn't require a PC
One of the more accessible ways for folks to jump in and do a little home mining is with an ASIC miner. These don't require a PC and are a self-contained unit with a dedicated power supply, built purposely for mining using the SHA-256 algorithm.
The miner will have a simple web interface you can interact with on your regular PC, but for the purposes of mining, it can just sit there doing its own thing.
Your returns will vary depending on the power of your miner, of course. The better the hash rate, the more you'll be paying.
An ASIC miner is around the same cost as a GTX 1080 Ti
A beginner ASIC miner like the AntMiner S9i with a power supply is around the same price as a GTX 1080 Ti. The difference is you'll get better returns, and have lower overheads since you're not powering an entire PC. ASIC miners are much more power efficient.
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It's a fairly small unit, too,
There's also the simple fact that this is a really intensive process, and a dedicated miner won't be taking up any of the resources on your PC. By contrast, mining on your personal PC is going to take its resources away from work or gaming.
Our pick
A lot Better than a GTX 1080 Ti.
This ASIC miner is built to mine currency like Bitcoin, and is not only better suited to the task than a graphics card but is power efficient and around the same price.
Richard Devine is a Managing Editor at Windows Central with over a decade of experience. A former Project Manager and long-term tech addict, he joined Mobile Nations in 2011 and has been found on Android Central and iMore as well as Windows Central. Currently, you'll find him steering the site's coverage of all manner of PC hardware and reviews. Find him on Mastodon at mstdn.social/@richdevine