John Chad, Bachelor Degree in Computer Science & Computer Engineering.
Russel Collins
Ravencoin is an emerging cryptocurrency that has been steadily gaining popularity over the past few months. It’s currently ranked in position 40 on Coin Market Cap (CMC).
Ravencoin was first released back in 2016 by developers who were working together under the name “RVN” but changed their minds due to market fluctuations. Nowadays its development team consists of individuals from all around the globe.
Today we’ll be going through some important things you need to consider before making any purchase decisions related to GPUs.
The goal here isn’t necessarily to show which card or brand is better than another, rather this should help inform users about what they should look out for when buying a new GPU based on certain parameters such as budget, power consumption, availability, etc… However, we will still name a few decent cards along with where to get them.
First, let’s talk about one thing most people aren’t aware of – there is no single “Best” Card. Every situation is different depending on user requirements, so instead of giving general recommendations, I’m providing guidelines on what type of GPU will work best if you have specific needs regarding budget, power usage, and availability. Hopefully, this helps!
Before we go into that, there are always some GPUs that are generally good choices regardless of whatever coins you are mining, these are usually low ROI GPUs while also being relatively easy to find available.
Top 3 Best GPU For Mining Ravencoin
| GPU | Our Opinion | Check Price |
|---|---|---|
| RTX 3060 TI | ROI of 170-200 Days assuming you bought it at MSRP. Likely not the case but still great card if you can get at a decent price. |  |
| RTX 3060 | Like the 3060 TI, it's slightly cheaper and the hashrate difference isn't that high nor are the earnings, another great choice if u can get one at a good price. | |
| RX 470 | There are obviously better cards than the RX 470, however, not only is it a very cheap card but its ROI is also incredibly low and can be found available anywhere at quite cheap prices. One of the lowest to ROI if not the lowest, making it most likely the most efficient & budget mining card for Ravencoin | |
Now we’ll talk about each specification you should think about before deciding which GPU to get.
Price
The cheapest way to get started would be to buy a used/refurbished GPU, however, this can pose several problems.
First, finding someone selling refurbished hardware can sometimes take hours upon hours, especially during busy times like Black Friday and Christmas when more people want to sell products quickly.
Second, not only do you risk getting scammed or receiving faulty parts, but also paying too much compared to retail prices for both pre-built systems and used devices.
Thirdly, even though there may be great deals available, you may end up spending hundreds of dollars more in total just because you didn’t know enough about the process of buying a computer.
So, my recommendation would be to follow our guide detailing how to build your own PC for less money.
We generally suggest going for AMD & NVIDIA cards, there are some other not as well-known brands that produce cards but these are the mainstream ones and the ones we recommend everyone to go after.
Both brands offer high-quality GPUs that range between $200-$800+ for reference clock speeds ranging from 860MHz to 1100Mhz respectively. However, there are other variables that come into play when comparing them against each other.
About AMD & NVIDIA
Since AMD produces far fewer units than NVIDIA, they tend to charge higher prices while allowing consumers to make slightly smaller down payments. On top of that, since NVIDIA is known to release new technology faster than AMD, they often find themselves competing with newer models on shelves long after launch day.
As a result, retailers have less incentive to discount older stock because there’s nowhere else to send it.
In order to combat this issue, try searching Amazon Marketplace for good deals on either brand.
You might be able to snag a deal. Also, keep an eye out for sales and promotions offered by major online stores such as Walmart, Best Buy, Target, Fry’s Electronics, Microcenter, Newegg, TigerDirect, and B&H Photo Video. These sites usually run frequent coupons and discounts that could potentially shave thousands of dollars off the final price tag.
Lastly, check out Reddit communities like /r/amdgpudriver and /r/nvidiafordeals. There are plenty of threads posted daily that list deals and promotional codes that could give you big savings.
Power Usage
When deciding which GPU to purchase for your next mining rig, remember that maximum GPU wattage limits vary wildly from device to device. Most modern desktops are limited to 75W whereas dedicated gaming PCs can easily exceed 300W. Keep this tip in mind whenever selecting a GPU. Typically, the larger the number, the better the product. However, this isn’t entirely true because bigger numbers also means greater heat production so choose wisely. Don’t worry though, this won’t cause damage unless running near 100% load 24/7.
This graph shows us two main points: 1) Generally speaking, the larger the number, the better the product 2) Heat generation increases proportionally with increased output. That being said, manufacturers typically place a max limit on power consumption somewhere around 80%, 90%, or 95%.
Another note worth keeping in mind is that peak operating frequencies differ significantly amongst GPUs.
Take Nvidia’s RTX 3070 Super versus the RTX 2080 TI for instance.
Although the latter offers a slight boost in performance, the former features double the memory bandwidth yet costs nearly half as much.
Of course, this difference comes with tradeoffs. Namely, the RTX 2070 Ti consumes approximately 60 watts more than the RTX 3070 Super despite having identical base core clock speeds.
Why is this? Simply put, most software requires additional processing overhead resulting in wasted energy.
Fortunately, with the advent of Maxwell architecture came improvements that allowed Turing GPUs to operate efficiently without sacrificing speed.
Lastly, keep in mind that GPU temperature rises drastically during intensive tasks. When performing CPU-intensive operations, it’s common to reach temperatures exceeding 70 degrees Celsius. Likewise, if you regularly perform demanding 3D applications, expect GPU temps to climb above 50ºc. At this rate, any fan attached to the heatsink may become saturated causing audible noise.
To prevent this, install a third-party app called MSI Afterburner. With this program installed, you can control GPU fans directly via the command line. Alternatively, you can manually adjust internal settings or use preset profiles created by others.
Availability
Now that you’ve learned everything you need to know about pricing, power consumption, and types of GPUs, hopefully, this information helped you decide which path suits your personal preferences best.
Still, don’t forget to search for coupon codes. Many popular merchants now reward customers who visit their website multiple times a week with free items or cashback incentives.
Be sure to join mailing lists, forums, social media accounts, and RSS feeds to receive notifications of upcoming sales and promos.
Additionally, don’t forget to compare vendors’ shipping policies and delivery estimates. Sometimes companies provide incorrect tracking info which causes delays. Not only does this negatively impact customer satisfaction levels, but it creates unnecessary stress on buyers.
Other important details to consider include warranties, return policies, warranty service locations, and local support options.
In summary, when considering a GPU, always start by determining your budget, followed by power demands, desired functionality, and finally which platform you wish to utilize. Then, select whichever brand fits your specifications best according to the aforementioned guidelines. Remember, everyone’s needs are different, so don’t rush into a hasty choice. And lastly, never hesitate to ask questions.