Cryptocurrency mining has become an industrialized business in many respects. However, despite the concentration of hashing power, increasing difficulty, and diminishing returns, it can still be profitable for amateur miners to mint coins—arguably the most honest way to earn some digital cash. Here is a comprehensive guide on how to build a mining rig at home.
Is It Too Late to Start Mining?
The reduced market capitalization of digital assets compared to last year's all-time highs has inevitably affected the profitability of cryptocurrency mining. Yet, many other factors influence the outcome: electricity rates, regulations, hardware prices, and even climate. While major manufacturers like Bitmain and Bitfury produce ever more efficient ASIC chips, home mining is not dead. Many altcoin developers strive to maintain ASIC resistance, and electricity costs remain low in regions such as parts of Russia (under $0.04 per kWh). For enthusiasts worldwide, at-home mining is still a viable way to supplement income.
Setting Up a Home Mining Rig with GPUs
Catering to the crypto community, Decenter—a Russian platform supported by experts—recently published a guide covering the basic steps to becoming an amateur miner. Below are the key hardware recommendations:
Rig Frame: Choose an aluminum frame. It is more rigid than wood, non-flammable, and a good conductor of electricity, ensuring all components are properly grounded.
Motherboard: It should support 4 to 8 GPUs with at least 4 PCI-E slots. Popular motherboards are based on P45, P43, and P35 chipsets, such as the Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS3L and Asus P5Q Deluxe. A budget-friendly option is the Z270-based Gigabyte GA-Z270P-D3 (supports 6 GPUs, under $100). For AMD fans, the Gigabyte GA-970A-DS3P supports 5 GPUs.
Processor: For Z270 platforms, a Celeron G3900 (~$40) suffices; for P45/P43/P35 rigs, a Core 2 Duo E7300 (~$15); for AMD 970A, an Athlon X3 445 (~$10). Multicore processors like Intel Core i3/i5/i7 are better for mining Cryptonight algorithm coins like Monero.
RAM: At least 4GB is needed, with DDR3 being cheap (~$5/GB). Ensure motherboard compatibility as newer models may not support DDR3. DDR4 costs ~$40-$50 for a 4GB stick.
Storage: Hashing power is not affected by storage speed or size. Any 50GB HDD will suffice; a used one costs $10-$15. Check for bad sectors before purchasing.
Power Supply: The PSU must be 80 Plus certified (Bronze or Gold recommended). Aerocool KCAS 600W units cost around $45; Corsair Gold 750W start at $100.
Video Cards: GPUs are the most critical component. Nvidia cards are easier to tune and have fewer cooling issues but consume slightly more power; AMD GPUs are harder to resell. For Equihash coins like Zcash and Bitcoin Private, Nvidia GTX series work well. For Ethereum and Ethash coins, AMD RX580 achieves over 30 Mhash/s, while the 6GB GTX 1060 only reaches ~22 Mhash/s. Current popular GPUs: Nvidia GTX 1050 Ti (15-16 Mhash/s, 190 Sol/s, $180-$210), GTX 1060 6GB (20-22 Mhash/s, 310 Sol/s, $350-$400), GTX 1070 (32 Mhash/s, 470 Sol/s, $550-$600), GTX 1080 Ti (50 Mhash/s, 750 Sol/s, $900-$1,000); AMD RX560 (14-15 Mhash/s, 120-130 Sol/s, $150-$180), RX580 (30-31 Mhash/s, 290 Sol/s, $380-$400), Vega 64 (43 Mhash/s, 400 Sol/s, $850-$1,000).
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