Buying GPU(s) for mining - need input

[aubryscully]

Just got into mining zCash on my personal rig (gtx 1060 6gb) about a week ago, and I want to expand. I already have spare parts to build a system apart from the GPU, and I want to buy one or two to have a second rig.

 

I have the opportunity to buy a secondhand 1070 strix for $350 or 2x used rx 580s for $250 a piece or even a brand new card (im based in the US if it helps). Which route should I go? Power cost is negligible and if the rig turns out reliable, I have a place i can store it that has free power.

 

Thanks for the help

[3rrant]

1 minute ago, aubryscully said:

Just got into mining zCash on my personal rig (gtx 1060 6gb) about a week ago, and I want to expand. I already have spare parts to build a system apart from the GPU, and I want to buy one or two to have a second rig.

 

I have the opportunity to buy a secondhand 1070 strix for $350 or 2x used rx 580s for $250 a piece or even a brand new card (im based in the US if it helps). Which route should I go? Power cost is negligible and if the rig turns out reliable, I have a place i can store it that has free power.

 

Thanks for the help

RX 470 480 570 580 are the best choice generally speaking.

[aubryscully]

16 minutes ago, ErrantNyles said:

RX 470 480 570 580 are the best choice generally speaking.

How much worse is a 4gb 580 than an 8gb one?

[kerradeph]

If I recall correctly, the memory is fairly insignificant for mining. Although you might want to wait on someone else to confirm that. 

[COUPER MILLAR]

3 minutes ago, kerradeph said:

If I recall correctly, the memory is fairly insignificant for mining. Although you might want to wait on someone else to confirm that. 

It depends on the mining algorithm. Ifi remember right Ether is memory hard and dose better with the 8gb cards,where as something like LBRR does not benefit at all form increased VRAM.  

[3rrant]

14 minutes ago, aubryscully said:

How much worse is a 4gb 580 than an 8gb one?

 

12 minutes ago, kerradeph said:

If I recall correctly, the memory is fairly insignificant for mining. Although you might want to wait on someone else to confirm that. 

It's very important, up to a point. Some currencies like ethereum requires a large pool of memory to be addressed to do that job, about 2.5GB and it will increase over time.

 

However, generally speaking, you need to check the required DAC size RIGHT NOW of the currency you're interested in, and 4GB are probably the best "go to" if you intend to use it for the next 2-3 years without problem. 8GB are not needed, and futureproof on this is totally useless with this size, so don't consider it unless you're paying the same of the 4GB model (because you can sell it better as used in the future).

[aubryscully]

5 minutes ago, ErrantNyles said:

 

It's very important, up to a point. Some currencies like ethereum requires a large pool of memory to be addressed to do that job, about 2.5GB and it will increase over time.

 

However, generally speaking, you need to check the required DAC size RIGHT NOW of the currency you're interested in, and 4GB are probably the best "go to" if you intend to use it for the next 2-3 years without problem. 8GB are not needed, and futureproof on this is totally useless with this size, so don't consider it unless you're paying the same of the 4GB model (because you can sell it better as used in the future).

I found a dude thatll sell 4gb 580s to me for under $200 a pop. Am i crazy, or isnt that a super good deal?

[3rrant]

3 minutes ago, aubryscully said:

I found a dude thatll sell 4gb 580s to me for under $200 a pop. Am i crazy, or isnt that a super good deal?

If the cards work, it's a great deal.

[FlatBrokeRacing]

1 hour ago, aubryscully said:

I found a dude thatll sell 4gb 580s to me for under $200 a pop. Am i crazy, or isnt that a super good deal?

Its a decent deal yes.

 

My thoughts and general consensus is this.

 

Nvidia > Easy to setup, easy to overclock, generally stable, better resale down the road, better on some currencies than AMD but not many

 

AMD > Harder to setup, drivers are a pain, need to bios mod for best results, generally more power hungry, can be less stable, better at mining most coins with less initial investment, can be more power hungry.

 

as for what cards to get. imho 4gb cards are more than enough right now for a long time, ether is at less than 2.5gb for dag file right now, and in all honesty probably will never see a dag file close to 4gb before switching to POS.  My thoughts on the cards is basically this, what ever you can get the best DEAL on.