Why Mining does NOT damage Graphics Cards

[Spiritzz]

Hello everyone; while I realize this is possibly being posted in the the wrong place; this is where I feel it deserves to be. I've mentioned this on a few posts but I don't feel like I'm being heard.

Ever since the beginning of the mining revolution, myself and my brother invested a lot of time and money to build a mining rig of our own (A simple, 6x 1060 6gb rig). Before doing so we researched everything from the power use per hour to the effects the constant load has on the cards. What I found back then is something that has frustrated me immensely in the past year in reading peoples negativity towards buying second hand cards - so, I thought I should try set the record straight; not because I want to sell anything to you, but because it just seems right.

Sure, there are several factors/ elements that will permanently damage ANY graphics card; such as:

• Water damage
• Constant overheating (very hot temps on cards like 1080ti's - eg. 85-90 degrees for weeks at a time) - this causes BLATANT artifacts from my experience, and can easily be tested by running a benchmark for a few minutes
• Insane overclocking can damage older cards (Newer ones too, but it's hard to ruin a card this way, since they can just return to previous state.Voltage and heat are the real killers. (Was it OVERVOLTED?)
• Messing with BIOS (Just ask if this has been altered, as this is the only real big one where they can catch you) - again though, if the card functions roughly according to factory spec, doesn't overheat, or been clearly disassembled (check the paint on the screws on the shroud) - then you're probably good)

The way to play it safe is to just make sure you have a good look over the card, make sure it doesn't do anything funny during testing (remember to check the fans and ports too!) and finally make sure you at least get a few months or even a year's worth of warranty.
You can also ask the seller to show you where their rig was set up, and give the room a scout for things like crazy amounts of dust or heat as though you've walked through a portal into the nether realm. Go with your gut.

If you ask me, now is the time everyone should be buying these cards.

Added bonus: If you REALLY think a card from 3 more or less years has broken down, you can always check the thermal paste on the GPU once the warranty is OVER. It's just as easy as replacing it on your CPU - just make sure you watch a good video to guide you for your specific model - and not use too much thermal paste.

Here are a few sources that might further help support my argument:

1. (This is a brilliant video from arguably one of the most reputable YouTubers in the segment.
2. Will Mining Cryptocurrency Damage My GPU?

Keep in mind how it was and is obviously in miners best interests to extend the life of their cards. Most people would rather NOT modify BIOS or run them crazy hot or pour water over them, simply because they want them to last a long time. Heck, some people (like us) even keep all the boxes for the items in good condition for the next buyer. Don't judge a book by its cover guys. These cards are likely identical to the same cards you're willing to spend twice the amount of money for.

 

[ScuBaLlama]

This should be a more relevant place to post this : Smack Talk

 

[Flex]

^^^

 

[WideAwak3]

Hello everyone; while I realize this is possibly being posted in the the wrong place; this is where I feel it deserves to be. I've mentioned this on a few posts but I don't feel like I'm being heard.

Ever since the beginning of the mining revolution, myself and my brother invested a lot of time and money to build a mining rig of our own (A simple, 6x 1060 6gb rig). Before doing so we researched everything from the power use per hour to the effects the constant load has on the cards. What I found back then is something that has frustrated me immensely in the past year in reading peoples negativity towards buying second hand cards - so, I thought I should try set the record straight; not because I want to sell anything to you, but because it just seems right.

Sure, there are several factors/ elements that will permanently damage ANY graphics card; such as:

• Water damage
• Constant overheating (very hot temps on cards like 1080ti's - eg. 85-90 degrees for weeks at a time) - this causes BLATANT artifacts from my experience, and can easily be tested by running a benchmark for a few minutes
• Insane overclocking can damage older cards (Newer ones too, but it's hard to ruin a card this way, since they can just return to previous state.Voltage and heat are the real killers. (Was it OVERVOLTED?)
• Messing with BIOS (Just ask if this has been altered, as this is the only real big one where they can catch you) - again though, if the card functions roughly according to factory spec, doesn't overheat, or been clearly disassembled (check the paint on the screws on the shroud) - then you're probably good)

The way to play it safe is to just make sure you have a good look over the card, make sure it doesn't do anything funny during testing (remember to check the fans and ports too!) and finally make sure you at least get a few months or even a year's worth of warranty.
You can also ask the seller to show you where their rig was set up, and give the room a scout for things like crazy amounts of dust or heat as though you've walked through a portal into the nether realm. Go with your gut.

If you ask me, now is the time everyone should be buying these cards.

Added bonus: If you REALLY think a card from 3 more or less years has broken down, you can always check the thermal paste on the GPU once the warranty is OVER. It's just as easy as replacing it on your CPU - just make sure you watch a good video to guide you for your specific model - and not use too much thermal paste.

Here are a few sources that might further help support my argument:

1. (This is a brilliant video from arguably one of the most reputable YouTubers in the segment.
2. Will Mining Cryptocurrency Damage My GPU?

Keep in mind how it was and is obviously in miners best interests to extend the life of their cards. Most people would rather NOT modify BIOS or run them crazy hot or pour water over them, simply because they want them to last a long time. Heck, some people (like us) even keep all the boxes for the items in good condition for the next buyer. Don't judge a book by its cover guys. These cards are likely identical to the same cards you're willing to spend twice the amount of money for.

THANK YOU. so tired of explaining this to noobs. EHWHWHWH WAS THE CARD MINED WITH?
yes so what you goofball, my miners were in a higher end cooler environment than my high end gaming pc at much lower temps.
Fortunately sold all my cards long ago so..... just tired of people not doing research yet we are buying high end GPUs because we want to play fortnite.

 

[Morne Jordaan]

In all fairness I honestly would say a Miner card is a way better buy over a Gamer card.

as I know from gaming your card runs max 100% usage where everything is stressed to the max and OC'ed , where the miner he just runs it standard plain and most mining programs dont even push more then 70% usage on the card.

Also Linus I think made a vid on this as well.(EDIT - oops just saw the video is from Linus )

 

[Spiritzz]

This should be a more relevant place to post this : Smack Talk

I understand but the majority of the people that have an issue with mining GPUs will never even look in Smack Talk.

 

[necris]

just putting it out there, but mining pre dates the 1060's by a few years.
i do agree that mined cards in this day and age are generally better kept than most gaming cards with a higher chance of undervolting and underclocking than the damaging latter. especially if coming from a mining farm where they were cooled and kept safe to maximise returns

 

[PancakesZA]

It's not the gpu's that fail, it's almost always the fans that fail.

 

[rinners]

A lot of "ifs" here, and I'm sure there's a thread on this in the forum already.

Mining can damage cards, unless they are set up properly and cooled properly. I think the OPs statement is a bit too general. Maybe his cards were treated well and then perhaps they're good, but I recently bought a card what was mined and eventually gave a memory issue, whether the problem came from mining or it was just a coincidence I can't say, all I know is mining uses the memory much more than it would in gaming (ie only for x hours a day vs 24/7)

 

[SILTECH786]

Bits be tripping has over 500 mining gpus which still plays games after hours not 1 failed him

If a gpu fails while gaming whats the first excuse a supplier will use "was it Mined with " motherfuckers dont know their Job spec , components are sold with warranties intact for a reason !

 

[rinners]

It's not the gpu's that fail, it's almost always the fans that fail.

Saw issues with strix fans and a zotac fan, that were mined with. I think they are similar fans, that straighr blade design. The MSI fans seemed to just run and run in my experience.

 

[Areola Grande]

Lol GPU mining.

#neverforget

 

[Kuga]

It's not the gpu's that fail, it's almost always the fans that fail.

Sounds about right.

I've sold close to 600 GPU's to clients, I think 3 have come back for fan warranty. I myself have had to RMA 2 GPU's the past 2 weeks or so, for a fan failing on each card.

 

[HK-Kid]

Asking if a card is mined is similar to asking the mileage on a vehicle before purchase... Its the buyers prerogative.

 

[PancakesZA]

Saw issues with strix fans and a zotac fan, that were mined with. I think they are similar fans, that straighr blade design. The MSI fans seemed to just run and run in my experience.

You can include Gigabyte in there as well. I've owned a few mined gpu's and only one of them had no issues. The others all suffered from fan issues (3 Gigabyte cards)

 

[SILTECH786]

Asking if a card is mined is similar to asking the mileage on a vehicle before purchase... Its the buyers prerogative.

FACT

 

[Kuga]

You can include Gigabyte in there as well. I've owned a few mined gpu's and only one of them had no issues. The others all suffered from fan issues (3 Gigabyte cards)

Those 2 fan 1060's are the one's I had to RMA.. :?

FACT

Pffffffffft

 

[Enigma]

i know a lot of miners that have run their cards at excessive voltages and clocks without suitable cooling as well, so i wouldn't make blanket statements extolling the virtues of mining cards.

I do however think that there is a negative attitude or animosity towards miners selling their cards because of how they created the pricing bubble that forced the average gamer to face high prices and stock availability issues.

kinda like a big f you...again, might be wrong, just my observation

 

[PancakesZA]

Those 2 fan 1060's are the one's I had to RMA.. :?

These were 1080's and a 1060.

 

[rinners]

Asking if a card is mined is similar to asking the mileage on a vehicle before purchase... Its the buyers prerogative.

Exactly, but open road mileage is better than city driving mileage

 

[ScottulusMaximus]

100% fan usage for months on end... Pass

 

[Skiddz]

I think the better question will be how hard was it mined with...and not if it was mined with.

24/7 at 70% or 8 hours a day at 110% or where over the limit is in afterburner?

 

[Kuga]

I think the better question will be how hard was it mined with...and not if it was mined with.

24/7 at 70% or 8 hours a day at 110% or where over the limit is in afterburner?

Any miner worth his salt would never mine at 110% power. That is just stupid and extra electricity wastage which leads to reduced profits.

 

[Spiritzz]

100% fan usage for months on end... Pass

Uh, certainly not always. At least in our case.

 

[WideAwak3]

it has to be said. an idiot or noob new to mining will bugger up the gpu.

they overclock the cards way to far without pulling back the power limiters, intead they increase it to get maximum hash rate and leave it there. and the cards run hot as balls.

Those mining cards i agree you shouldnt touch. cards with too much dust and wear, also a big nope. dude had the cards running in some shed with no floor on the ground in his little DIY wooden box. so it has to do with knowledge of the previous owner and the card must still be in very good condition.

Fans can be replaced mostly and is covered by warranty. so buy the card with one broken fan at a massive discount, send in for warranty and get a brand new sealed card. you score big time. happened a few times with clients that bought 1080, and 1080ti's from me when i stopped mining. and they are all quite happy till now months after that happened.

 

[Skiddz]

Any miner worth his salt would never mine at 110% power. That is just stupid and extra electricity wastage which leads to reduced profits.

Exactly, but the ones that does not know? Run it like that and see he/she is not making profit an sells it.

 

[abramsjj]

It's not the gpu's that fail, it's almost always the fans that fail.

I bought a mined card and it worked perfectly except that the fans made an annoying sound when it was between 60-75%, which it only did in one game. It was still within warranty so took it in and I got a replacement.
My 2c. I would not buy a mined card if there isn’t a warranty.
Edit: this could have been a defect from the beninging 😆.

 

[Spiritzz]

it has to be said. an idiot or noob new to mining will bugger up the gpu.

they overclock the cards way to far without pulling back the power limiters, intead they increase it to get maximum hash rate and leave it there. and the cards run hot as balls.

Those mining cards i agree you shouldnt touch. cards with too much dust and wear, also a big nope. dude had the cards running in some shed with no floor on the ground in his little DIY wooden box. so it has to do with knowledge of the previous owner and the card must still be in very good condition.

Fans can be replaced mostly and is covered by warranty. so buy the card with one broken fan at a massive discount, send in for warranty and get a brand new sealed card. you score big time. happened a few times with clients that bought 1080, and 1080ti's from me when i stopped mining. and they are all quite happy till now months after that happened.

This is the thing, have a look where the cards are, and if you've got some warranty left why not exploit it?

 

[thePridge]

100% fan usage for months on end... Pass

Ja obviously that's going to cause issues. The cards I mine with I run at 50 to 60% fan speed. I also undervolt and am busy setting up even better cooling than I currently have.
PUBG puts way more strain on my GPU than mining with it... it runs hotter and harder when jamming PUBG... which sometimes is a 6 hour mission. lol.

 

[Spiritzz]

I bought a mined card and it worked perfectly except that the fans made an annoying sound when it was between 60-75%, which it only did in one game. It was still within warranty so took it in and I got a replacement.
My 2c. I would not buy a mined card if there isn’t a warranty.

Personally, nor would I. I have a 1080ti and it's 100%. Only reason I bought it though was because it's still in warranty.