According to recent reports from CryptoComLearn and other tech outlets, Nvidia is set to launch a dedicated mining graphics card sooner than previously anticipated. The new GPU, manufactured by Inno3D, is based on the gaming GeForce GTX 1080 Ti but heavily customized for cryptocurrency mining, featuring cutdown specifications and no video output.
Key Specifications: Pascal Architecture for Mining Efficiency
The leaked card is identified as the P102-100, which sports 3,200 CUDA cores running at a base clock of 1582 MHz. It comes with 5GB of GDDR5X memory on a 320-bit interface clocked at 11 Gbps, delivering a memory bandwidth of 400 GB/s. The cooler design is Inno3D's Twin X2 dual-fan, five-heatpipe solution. Notably, the card lacks a mining frame bracket; instead, a standard PC bracket is included as an accessory. Power is supplied via two 8-pin PCI-E connectors, with a maximum thermal design power (TDP) of 250W. The bus interface is limited to PCIe Gen1 x4, emphasizing its mining-only nature.
Performance: ETH ~47 MH/s, Competitive on ZEC and XMR
Inno3D has provided reference hashrates for several major cryptocurrencies: Ethereum (ETH) ~47 MH/s, Zcash (ZEC) ~660 Sol/s, and Monero (XMR) ~879 H/s. The company notes that these figures are for reference only, as real-world performance may vary depending on drivers, mining software, and system configuration. The GPU is optimized for Ethash coins, making it particularly attractive for Ethereum miners.
Market Context: Nvidia's Shifting Strategy and Growing Competition
The crypto mining boom of 2017 saw over 3 million graphics cards purchased by miners, totaling $776 million in sales. In response, AMD announced production increases, while Nvidia was rumored to be preparing a new Volta-based “Turing” mining GPU. However, recent reports suggest Nvidia has postponed the Turing launch until at least July, possibly scrapping it altogether amid market volatility and regulatory concerns. Meanwhile, hardware maker Asrock is expected to enter the mining GPU market in April with AMD-based cards.
Against this backdrop, Inno3D is bringing the P102-100 to market earlier than expected, leveraging the mature Pascal architecture as a cheaper alternative to the yet-to-arrive Turing cards. Last year, Nvidia already released two dedicated mining cards (P106-100 and P104-100) through partners like Inno3D. The new P102-100 continues that tradition, offering miners a reliable and cost-effective option. Industry observers believe this move signals Nvidia's continued optimism toward the crypto mining sector, at least in the short term, fueling further competition among GPU manufacturers.