Comprehensive Guide for Home Miners Using ASIC Miners and GPU Mining Rigs Mining cryptocurrency at home, especially in Pakistan, can be a ...
Comprehensive Guide for Home Miners Using ASIC Miners and GPU Mining Rigs
Mining cryptocurrency at home, especially in Pakistan, can be a profitable venture if done correctly. In this guide, we will include the latest hardware such as the Radeon RX 580, discuss the differences between non-LHR and LHR cards, analyze ASIC miners like the Antminer S19+, and calculate the costs and power consumption for an 8–12 card GPU mining rig. Additionally, we’ll provide information on internet requirements, services like Nayatel and PTCL, and essential websites and OS for mining.
1. Latest GPU and ASIC Mining Hardware
Latest GPU Cards
Radeon RX 580
- Hashrate: ~30 MH/s (Ethereum)
- Power Consumption: ~185W per card
- Price: ~PKR 40,000 – 55,000 (used market in Pakistan)
- Best For: Ethereum Classic (ETC), Ravencoin (RVN), Flux (FLUX)
Nvidia RTX 3060 (Non-LHR)
Nvidia RTX 3070 (LHR/Non-LHR)
- Hashrate (Non-LHR): ~60 MH/s (Ethereum)
- Hashrate (LHR): ~30 MH/s (Ethereum)
- Power Consumption: ~220W
- Price: ~PKR 150,000 – 170,000 (new)
Difference Between LHR and Non-LHR Cards
- LHR (Lite Hash Rate) cards have been artificially limited by Nvidia to reduce their mining efficiency for Ethereum and similar coins, affecting the hash rate.
- Non-LHR cards do not have this limitation and perform at full capacity for mining.
- Unlocking LHR: Software like NBMiner and T-Rex Miner can partially unlock LHR cards, allowing up to 70% of the original hashrate.
- Non-LHR cards are better suited for mining but are more expensive and harder to find in the market.
ASIC Miner Example: Antminer S19+
- Price: ~PKR 170,000 (USD 600)
- Hashrate: 99 TH/s
- Power Consumption: 3250W
- Best For: Bitcoin (BTC)
- Monthly Electricity Consumption:
- 3250W x 24 hours/day x 30 days = 2,340,000 Wh or 2340 kWh/month
- Cost in PKR: 2340 kWh x PKR 35 (average rate) = PKR 81,900/month.
2. Building a GPU Mining Rig (8–12 GPUs)
Components Required for an 8–12 Card Mining Rig
Motherboard:
- ASRock H110 Pro BTC+ (Supports up to 13 GPUs)
- Price: ~PKR 40,000 – 55,000
- MSI Z170A Gaming Pro Carbon (Supports 8 GPUs)
- Price: ~PKR 35,000 – 45,000
- Price: ~PKR 35,000 – 45,000
- ASRock H110 Pro BTC+ (Supports up to 13 GPUs)
Graphics Cards:
- 8 x Radeon RX 580 (~PKR 50,000 each)
- Total: PKR 400,000 for 8 cards
- 12 x Radeon RX 580 (~PKR 50,000 each)
- Total: PKR 600,000 for 12 cards
- 8 x Radeon RX 580 (~PKR 50,000 each)
Power Supply Unit (PSU):
- Two 1200W Power Supplies for 8 GPUs
- Price: ~PKR 30,000 – 35,000 each (Total ~PKR 60,000 – 70,000)
- Two 1200W Power Supplies for 8 GPUs
RAM:
- 8GB DDR4 (~PKR 6,000)
Storage:
- 256 GB SSD (~PKR 5,000)
Risers:
- PCIe Risers (One per GPU)
- Price: ~PKR 1,500 each (Total ~PKR 12,000 for 8 cards, ~PKR 18,000 for 12 cards)
- PCIe Risers (One per GPU)
Frame/Chassis:
- Mining Frame for 8 GPUs (~PKR 10,000 – 15,000)
Power Consumption for an 8–12 Card Mining Rig
8 x Radeon RX 580 Mining Rig:
- Total Power Consumption: 8 x 185W + motherboard (~200W) = ~1680W
- Monthly Electricity Consumption:
- 1680W x 24 hours/day x 30 days = 1,209,600 Wh or 1210 kWh/month
- Cost in PKR: 1210 kWh x PKR 35 = PKR 42,350/month.
12 x Radeon RX 580 Mining Rig:
- Total Power Consumption: 12 x 185W + motherboard (~200W) = ~2420W
- Monthly Electricity Consumption:
- 2420W x 24 hours/day x 30 days = 1,742,400 Wh or 1742 kWh/month
- Cost in PKR: 1742 kWh x PKR 35 = PKR 60,970/month.
3. Internet Requirements for Mining
Mining rigs and ASIC miners don’t need a high-speed internet connection but do require stable connectivity to avoid downtime.
PTCL
- 10Mbps Connection: PKR 4,300/month
- 20Mbps Connection: PKR 5,600/month
- 50Mbps Connection: PKR 7,400/month
Nayatel
- 10Mbps Connection: PKR 3,999/month
- 20Mbps Connection: PKR 4,999/month
- 50Mbps Connection: PKR 6,999/month
Both PTCL and Nayatel offer reliable fiber optic connections, but Nayatel is preferred in areas where available due to better stability and customer support.
4. Cooling, Dust, and Humidity Solutions
Mining rigs generate significant heat, and controlling the environment is crucial, especially in Pakistan where temperatures can soar.
Cooling Solutions
- Air Conditioning: Required to keep temperatures in check.
- Cost for a 1.5-ton AC: ~1500W/hour, ~PKR 18,900/month if used for 12 hours/day.
- Fans and Ventilation: Industrial fans can help, but AC is still recommended in hot areas.
Dust and Humidity Precautions
- Air Filters: Use dust filters on air intake fans.
- Dehumidifiers: Keep humidity below 50% to prevent hardware corrosion.
- Weekly Cleaning: Use compressed air to blow dust off components.
5. Best Mining Locations in Pakistan
To choose the best location for mining in Pakistan, consider electricity reliability, climate, and internet connectivity.
Ideal Locations
- Islamabad
- Cooler climate, good internet (Nayatel), and relatively reliable electricity.
- Peshawar
- Moderate temperatures, less expensive electricity, and good fiber internet services.
- Northern Areas (Murree, Gilgit-Baltistan)
- Excellent natural cooling but challenging internet access.
- Quetta
- Cooler temperatures but may require electricity backup solutions (e.g., solar).
6. OS and Mining Software Requirements
Operating Systems
- HiveOS: Most popular mining OS for managing both ASICs and GPU mining rigs.
- Website: hiveos.farm
- Cost: Free for up to 4 rigs, then ~USD 3/month for each additional rig.
- SimpleMining OS (SMOS): Another popular Linux-based mining OS.
- Website: simplemining.net
- Cost: ~USD 2/month per rig.
Mining Software
- NBMiner: Best for unlocking LHR Nvidia GPUs.
- PhoenixMiner: Popular for Ethereum mining with AMD GPUs like RX 580.
- CGMiner: Commonly used for Bitcoin mining with ASICs like Antminer.
ASIC Online Registration Websites
- AntPool: antpool.com
- F2Pool: f2pool.com
- Slush Pool: slushpool.com
- BTC.com: btc.com
7. Coins Worth Mining
Current Valuable Coins
- Bitcoin (BTC): Most profitable with ASIC miners like Antminer S19+.
- Ethereum Classic (ETC): Profitable for GPU miners like the RX 580 after Ethereum’s switch to Proof of Stake.
- Ravencoin (RVN): Best for LHR cards and AMD GPUs like RX 580.
- Flux (FLUX): Profitable for both AMD and Nvidia cards.
Conclusion
Mining cryptocurrency in Pakistan can be lucrative, provided the initial investment and ongoing costs such as electricity and cooling are managed carefully. GPU mining rigs, though versatile, require more setup and can be affected by Ethereum’s move away from Proof of Work. ASIC miners like the Antminer S19+ are more efficient but also come with higher power consumption.
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