Which graphics card to choose for mining in 2025-2026: full GPU ranking

The market for cryptocurrency mining graphics cards is constantly evolving. We have prepared a comprehensive overview of which graphics card is best for mining right now, comparing performance, prices, and actual electricity costs. Let’s analyze which GPU is worth considering for professional farms and beginners.

Graphics Cards 2025: The New Generation for Mining

In 2025, manufacturers released several powerful solutions for cryptocurrency mining. This completely changed payback calculations and opened new opportunities.

NVIDIA RTX 5090 — Maximum Power

The flagship graphics card of the RTX 50 series offers an unprecedented amount of video memory (32 GB GDDR7) and a 512-bit bus. With a nominal power consumption of 575 W, this card provides:

  • Ethereum Classic: up to 216 MH/s
  • Ravencoin: about 96 MH/s
  • Kaspa: approximately 2.0 GH/s
  • Bitcoin (via NiceHash): about 5 GH/s

Is it worth buying: RTX 5090 is a choice for professional operations requiring maximum performance. The downside is the price around $2000 and energy consumption, which require quality cooling and a reliable power supply. It can pay off in a few months under favorable conditions.

NVIDIA RTX 5080 — Balance of Price and Power

A more affordable option in the RTX 50 series with 16 GB of memory shows:

  • Ethereum Classic: ~130 MH/s
  • Ravencoin: ~60 MH/s
  • Kaspa: ~1.3-1.4 GH/s
  • Bitcoin: ~4.2 GH/s

Power consumption — 360 W, price — about $1000. RTX 5080 will be a good compromise between performance and costs for growing farms.

AMD RX 9070 XT and RX 9070 — Competitors to NVIDIA

New AMD cards based on RDNA 4 architecture offer an interesting alternative:

RX 9070 XT:

  • Performance: 215 MH/s (ETC), 95-100 MH/s (Ravencoin), 1.07 GH/s (Kaspa)
  • Power: 304 W
  • Price: approximately $600

RX 9070 (basic version):

  • Performance: 180 MH/s (ETC), 80 MH/s (Ravencoin), 0.90 GH/s (Kaspa)
  • Power: 220 W
  • Price: around $550

AMD wins in price/performance ratio, especially on algorithms with intensive data exchange.

Proven Graphics Cards from Previous Generations

Older models remain relevant. On the secondary market, you can find powerful solutions at attractive prices.

NVIDIA RTX 4090 — Benchmark for Professional Mining

Released in 2022, but still one of the best for cryptocurrency mining:

  • 24 GB GDDR6X memory, 384-bit bus
  • Hashrates: 127 MH/s (ETC), 65 MH/s (RVN), 2.0 GH/s (Kaspa)
  • Power: 450 W
  • Price: new $1500-1600, used about $1200

RTX 4090 is ideal for large farms, requiring good cooling.

NVIDIA RTX 4070 Ti — Mid-Level Choice

Released in 2023, shows 65 MH/s on Ethereum Classic with only 285 W consumption. New price — $750-800, used — about $500. A versatile choice for mixed operations.

NVIDIA RTX 3080 and RTX 3060 Ti — Proven Classics

Models from 2020 are still in demand on the secondary market:

  • RTX 3080: 10 GB memory, 95-100 MH/s (ETC), ~$400 used
  • RTX 3060 Ti: 8 GB memory, 60 MH/s (ETC), ~$200-250 used

Suitable for home farms and beginners.

AMD Radeon: From Powerful to Economical

RX 7900 XTX (2022): 24 GB, 101 MH/s (ETC), 355 W, $800-900 new

RX 6800 XT (2020): 16 GB, 65 MH/s (ETC), 300 W, $300-350 used

RX 6600 XT (2021): 8 GB, 32 MH/s (ETC), 160 W, $150-170 used — the best choice for budget home setups.

How Mining Works on a Graphics Card

Cryptocurrency mining involves solving complex mathematical problems in the blockchain network. The GPU processes these tasks, and for each found block, the owner receives a reward in cryptocurrency.

You can mine with a single graphics card or combine several GPUs into a “rig” to increase capacity. When expanding operations, this is called a “farm” — a set of equipment in one location.

Miners work either independently or join pools — groups of miners sharing rewards. Programs like BFGMiner or Bitminer are used to manage computations.

How to Calculate Income and Payback

A key point: the payback period of a graphics card depends on three factors — the card’s cost, electricity prices in your region, and current network profitability.

Tools for calculations:

On Whattomine, input GPU specs, select an algorithm, and electricity cost — the service shows potential earnings per day/month.

NiceHash offers an integrated profit calculator, allowing comparison of different GPUs and directly seeing which cryptocurrency is most profitable to mine on your hardware.

On average, modern graphics cards pay for themselves in 2-6 months depending on price and energy consumption. For expensive cards like the RTX 5090, payback can stretch to 8-10 months.

Impact of Ethereum Migration on the Mining Market

On September 15, 2022, a pivotal event occurred — Ethereum transitioned from Proof-of-Work to Proof-of-Stake. This reshaped the entire GPU mining market.

Igor Rylnikov from EMCD noted that miners lost their main income source and massively switched to Ethereum Classic, Ravencoin, and Kaspa. This led to a sharp increase in network difficulty and nearly halved profitability.

By late 2022, the secondary market was flooded with used graphics cards. The payback period for older models increased to 7-8 years — many became unprofitable.

Stanislav Pankov from TTM Academy added: after Ethereum’s migration, top profitable algorithms constantly change. Now, the most important factor is the GPU chip’s power, not memory speed.

Which Cryptocurrencies Are Profitable to Mine Now

On a graphics card, you can mine:

  • Ethereum Classic (ETC) — Ethash algorithm, requires 4-6 GB memory
  • Ravencoin (RVN) — requires a lot of memory
  • Kaspa (KAS) — growing network, attractive profitability
  • Bitcoin via NiceHash (SHA-256) — indirect mining through pools
  • Dogecoin — old, stable network
  • BEAM and Ergo — less popular but stable

Decide what to mine right now via Whattomine, depending on current network parameters and prices.

Pros and Cons of Mining on a Graphics Card

Advantages:

  • Affordable start — used cards from a few thousand rubles
  • Wide choice of equipment and cryptocurrencies
  • GPUs are interchangeable, easy to replace failed units
  • Quick payback (2-6 months) under favorable conditions

Disadvantages:

  • Need to understand hardware, cooling systems, connections
  • Requires a workspace with good ventilation
  • Equipment heats up and makes noise
  • Scaling up involves electricity costs
  • Regular maintenance and monitoring are necessary

Where to Buy Mining Graphics Cards

New equipment:

  • Pros: warranty, maximum performance
  • Cons: high price, long payback period

New graphics cards are sold by manufacturers and official dealers. In Russia, major electronics stores.

Used graphics cards:

  • Pros: low cost, quick payback, wide selection
  • Cons: no warranty, risk of hidden issues

Look for used equipment on Avito, OZON, and other marketplaces. Check seller reputation and request testing before purchase.

Quick Guide: Which Graphics Card to Choose

For a professional farm: NVIDIA RTX 5090 or RTX 4090 — maximum performance
For a growing operation: NVIDIA RTX 5080 or AMD RX 9070 XT — balance of price and power
For an average miner: NVIDIA RTX 4070 Ti or AMD RX 6800 XT used — good compromise
For home and beginners: NVIDIA RTX 3060 Ti used or AMD RX 6600 XT — low power, affordable price

Before buying, calculate payback using Whattomine considering your electricity rate and future plans.

ETC-0,87%
RVN-1,37%
KAS-0,88%
BTC-0,4%
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