Yes, guys, I noticed that the question about choosing a graphics card for mining is once again relevant. It's been over a year since the release of the RTX 50 series and RDNA 4, and many are still figuring out what to pay attention to. Let's figure it out together.

The new flagship models are truly impressive. The RTX 5090 delivers about 216 MH/s on Ethereum Classic, consuming approximately 575 W. This beast, but it should be ideal for serious farms. The RTX 5080 is more balanced — 130 MH/s at 360 W power consumption and a price around $1000. A good choice if your budget is limited.

From AMD, the RX 9070 XT looks interesting. Priced at $2000 , it delivers 215 MH/s on ETC and consumes only 304 W. Now that’s an excellent price-to-performance ratio! If you want to save on electricity, the regular RX 9070 consumes 220 W at 180 MH/s.

Honestly, I’m not in a rush to throw away old cards. The RTX 4090 can still keep up — 127 MH/s on ETC, and you can find it on the secondary market for $1200-1500. The RTX 4070 Ti is also a decent mid-range option for those who don’t want to overpay. The RTX 3080 is already a relic, but on the used market, it’s a real find.

For beginners, I recommend looking at budget options. The RTX 3060 Ti for $200-250 or the RX 6600 XT for $150-170 are great starting points. Yes, the power is lower, but so are the expenses. There’s always demand for mining GPUs in this price range.

One important thing — after Ethereum switched to PoS in 2022, the market changed completely. Miners flocked to Ethereum Classic, Ravencoin, Kaspa. Difficulty skyrocketed, and ROI decreased. Now it’s stabilized, but you need to calculate using tools like Whattomine or NiceHash.

Before buying, definitely calculate ROI. Take the cost of the mining GPU, add electricity expenses in your region, check current network rewards — and you’ll understand if it makes sense. I’ve seen guys estimate by eye and then regret it for two years.

New equipment is more expensive but comes with a warranty. Used is cheaper and faster to recoup, but there’s a risk of getting a defective card. Personally, I buy proven models on the secondary market. The main thing — before purchasing, ask for photos of the working card and request the $600 hours of operation $400 .

If you’re serious, remember about cooling and power supply. Mining GPUs heat up like crazy. Poor cooling — and the card will degrade before your eyes. The power supply must be reliable, with a margin of capacity.

In general, the choice depends on your budget and goals. For professionals — new series; for beginners — proven classics on the secondary market. The main thing — calculate the numbers before investing.