Is mining really that bad on GPU if temperatures are correct ?

[Edern]

Hey there,

 

With the recent surge in crypto prices I wanted to try out mining, so I downloaded NiceHash QuickMiner (which if I understood correctly mines Ethereum using the DaggerHashimoto algorithm) and ran it for most of yesterday on my RTX 2060.

I enabled the "lite optimization preset" which seems to undervolt the card and overclock the memory (GPU memory is running at around 7GHz according to NiceHash) to maximize the mining efficiency. I closely monitored temperatures because I know heat is horrible for GPU and after a bit of fan tweaking in the utility included with NiceHash I managed to get the average temperature down to 60°C and the hotspot temperature under 73°C.

However I've read that controlling temperatures might not be sufficient to preserve the GPU's lifespan, since overclocking the memory combined with the fact that Ethereum mining is apparently very VRAM intensive might wreck the card, which worried me to the point I stopped mining for the time being. Is this true, and if so, to what extent ? How long would it take for mining under such conditions to damage the card ?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

[Analog]

Not sure what the price of electricity is where you live, but mining on a single card, especially an RTX 2060 is probably not all that profitable. Regarding the temperatures, unless the card is overheating and you have some adequate case airflow it should be fine.

[Edern]

4 minutes ago, Analog said:

Not sure what the price of electricity is where you live, but mining on a single card, especially an RTX 2060 is probably not all that profitable. Regarding the temperatures, unless the card is overheating and you have some adequate case airflow it should be fine.

Seems to be profitable according to https://www.nicehash.com/profitability-calculator/nvidia-rtx-2060. Wasn't sure about their objectivity but the values they give for one day line up pretty well with what I've made yesterday.

[Helpful Tech Witch]

5 minutes ago, Analog said:

Not sure what the price of electricity is where you live, but mining on a single card, especially an RTX 2060 is probably not all that profitable. Regarding the temperatures, unless the card is overheating and you have some adequate case airflow it should be fine.

I keep seeing this "mimimg on a single card isnt profitable", but my 4gb  480 still profits me in eth.

[Analog]

7 minutes ago, HelpfulTechWizard said:

I keep seeing this "mimimg on a single card isnt profitable", but my 4gb  480 still profits me in eth.

It all depends how much the electricity costs where you are located. In my region electricity is expensive so it makes little sense when mining on one card. I do have friends that make decent money when mining, but they own several dozen machines especially built for for that purpose. 

 

8 minutes ago, Edern said:

Seems to be profitable according to https://www.nicehash.com/profitability-calculator/nvidia-rtx-2060. Wasn't sure about their objectivity but the values they give for one day line up pretty well with what I've made yesterday.

 

I don't believe that 3 USD a day profitable in any way, but if you think otherwise, then go ahead. 

[Helpful Tech Witch]

20 minutes ago, Analog said:

It all depends how much the electricity costs where you are located. In my region electricity is expensive so it makes little sense when mining on one card. I do have friends that make decent money when mining, but they own several dozen machines especially built for for that purpose. 

 

if 3$ isn't profitable, how much is your electricity? Its like 15c/KWh for me

[Edern]

20 minutes ago, Analog said:

It all depends how much the electricity costs where you are located. In my region electricity is expensive so it makes little sense when mining on one card. I do have friends that make decent money when mining, but they own several dozen machines especially built for for that purpose. 

 

 

I don't believe that 3 USD a day profitable in any way, but if you think otherwise, then go ahead. 

I agree that it isn't a lot, but it's still much more than the electricity cost, and since I'm currently still a student every little bit counts as profitable lmao. Unless it's killing the card of course, but from what you've said above as long as I keep the temperatures down I should be fine right ?

[ItsBT513]

On 3/17/2021 at 6:05 AM, Edern said:

Hey there,

 

With the recent surge in crypto prices I wanted to try out mining, so I downloaded NiceHash QuickMiner (which if I understood correctly mines Ethereum using the DaggerHashimoto algorithm) and ran it for most of yesterday on my RTX 2060.

I enabled the "lite optimization preset" which seems to undervolt the card and overclock the memory (GPU memory is running at around 7GHz according to NiceHash) to maximize the mining efficiency. I closely monitored temperatures because I know heat is horrible for GPU and after a bit of fan tweaking in the utility included with NiceHash I managed to get the average temperature down to 60°C and the hotspot temperature under 73°C.

However I've read that controlling temperatures might not be sufficient to preserve the GPU's lifespan, since overclocking the memory combined with the fact that Ethereum mining is apparently very VRAM intensive might wreck the card, which worried me to the point I stopped mining for the time being. Is this true, and if so, to what extent ? How long would it take for mining under such conditions to damage the card ?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Could u please mention the tweaking you did in nice hash to get the Hotspot temp down to 73? I'm in an eerily similar situation to you as a student with an RTX 2060 looking for some extra cash and I started this week with nicehash but my Hotspot temp is around 78 on lite which has me worried. 

Thanks alot and good luck with mining!