Are you considering diving into the world of cryptocurrency mining with your 6870 graphics card? If so, you’ve come to the right place. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore everything you need to know about mining Ethereum (ETH) with your 6870 GPU, including its performance, efficiency, and potential profitability.
Understanding the 6870 GPU
The AMD Radeon HD 6870 is a popular graphics card released in 2011. It features 1120 stream processors, 56 texture units, and 32 ROPs, making it a solid choice for gaming and, more recently, cryptocurrency mining. With a clock speed of 900 MHz and a memory clock speed of 1050 MHz, the 6870 offers a decent balance between performance and power consumption.
ETH Mining Performance
When it comes to mining Ethereum, the 6870’s performance is quite impressive. According to various sources, the card can achieve a hash rate of around 18 MH/s, which is quite competitive compared to other GPUs in its price range. This means that your 6870 can contribute significantly to your mining operation, especially when combined with other GPUs.
Here’s a breakdown of the 6870’s performance compared to other popular GPUs for Ethereum mining:
| GPU | Hash Rate (MH/s) |
|---|---|
| NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 | 30-35 |
| AMD Radeon RX 580 | 25-30 |
| AMD Radeon HD 6870 | 18-20 |
Power Consumption and Efficiency
One of the most important factors to consider when mining Ethereum is power consumption. The 6870 has a TDP (Thermal Design Power) of 194 watts, which is relatively high compared to newer GPUs. However, its efficiency is quite good, with a power draw of around 130 watts at full load. This means that your electricity costs will be relatively low, especially when compared to more power-hungry GPUs.
Profitability
Now that we’ve covered the performance and efficiency of the 6870, let’s talk about profitability. To determine whether mining Ethereum with your 6870 is worth it, you’ll need to consider several factors, including the current price of ETH, your electricity costs, and the cost of your hardware.
Here’s a simple formula to calculate your potential profitability:
Profitability = (ETH price per day ETH mined per day) – (Electricity cost per day + Hardware cost per day)
According to Coinwarz, the current price of ETH is around $2,000. Assuming you can mine 0.06 ETH per day with your 6870, your potential profit would be:
Profitability = ($2,000 0.06) – ($0.15 24 + $0.10) = $120 – $3.60 = $116.40
Keep in mind that this is just an estimate, and your actual profitability may vary depending on several factors, including the current price of ETH, your electricity costs, and the efficiency of your mining rig.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the AMD Radeon HD 6870 is a solid choice for Ethereum mining, offering a decent balance between performance, efficiency, and power consumption. While it may not be the most powerful GPU for mining ETH, it can still contribute significantly to your mining operation and provide a decent return on investment. Just be sure to do your research and consider all factors before diving into the world of cryptocurrency mining.
