DON'T Buy a Used Mining GPU! - $h!t Manufacturers Say
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Thanks World of Tanks for sponsoring today's video! Use invite code TANKMANIA at tanks.ly and get the Excelsior Tier 5 tank, 250,000 credits, 7 days premium access plus 3 rental tanks for 10 battles each Between scalpers and cryptocurrency miners, its been really tough to buy a graphics card. But soon, we could see a flood of used mining GPUs hitting the market- possibly at some pretty attractive prices. But should you buy a second hand GPU that's been used for crypto mining? Buy ASUS TUF RTX 3080 OC GPU Amazon: geni.us Newegg: geni.us B&H: geni.us Buy MSI GAMING Z RTX 2070 GPU Amazon: geni.us Newegg: geni.us Buy Gigabyte RTX 2070 Gaming OC GPU Amazon: geni.us Newegg: geni.us Buy Nvidia GTX 1060 Founder's Edition GPU Amazon: geni.us Newegg: geni.us Buy ZOTAC GTX 1060 Mini GPU Amazon: geni.us Newegg: geni.us Purchases made through some store links may provide some compensation to Linus Media Group. Discuss on the forum: linustechtips.com ► GET MERCH: lttstore.com ► AFFILIATES, SPONSORS & REFERRALS: lmg.gg ► PODCAST GEAR: lmg.gg ► SUPPORT US ON FLOATPLANE: floatplane.com FOLLOW US ELSEWHERE --------------------------------------------------- Twitter: twitter.com Facebook: @LinusTech Instagram: @linustech TikTok: @linustech Twitch: twitch.tv MUSIC CREDIT --------------------------------------------------- Intro: Laszlo - Supernova Video Link: youtube.com iTunes Download Link: itunes.apple.com Artist Link: soundcloud.com Outro: Approaching Nirvana - Sugar High Video Link: youtube.com Listen on Spotify: spoti.fi Artist Link: youtube.com Intro animation by MBarek Abdelwassaa @mbarek_abdel Monitor And Keyboard by vadimmihalkevich / CC BY 4.0 geni.us Mechanical RGB Keyboard by BigBrotherECE / CC BY 4.0 geni.us Mouse Gamer free Model By Oscar Creativo / CC BY 4.0 geni.us CHAPTERS --------------------------------------------------- 0:00 Intro 1:55 Background Info 3:15 Test Setup 4:10 Test 1 (10 months) 4:49 Test 2 (18 months) 7:12 Test 3 (4 years) 7:56 Conclusion 8:13 Buying Tips 10:48 Outro
The video investigates whether buying a used mining GPU is a smart move by testing several GPUs that have been used for crypto mining against equivalent cards with minimal usage. The host explains the setup and motivation, noting how prices for GPUs spiked due to miners and how a flood of used mining GPUs could hit the market after a downturn. The testing methodology is laid out: three GPUs with long mining histories are paired against near-identical reference cards in a straightforward bench setup that measures clock speeds and temperatures until a stable point is reached. The results show that degradation is not straightforward and that modern boost behavior can mask or mimic differences in baseline performance. The host emphasizes the importance of physical condition, particularly the cooler and dust levels, in determining a card’s real-world performance, and cautions buyers to inspect heat sinks and cooling systems before purchasing secondhand GPUs. The video Concludes with buying tips that balance price against remaining lifespan and performance, arguing that a well-maintained used mining GPU can be a risky yet potentially viable deal if proper inspection and expectations are set. The sponsor segment with World of Tanks is included, alongside a note that performance results should be interpreted in the context of boost clocks and cooling, and that the broader takeaway is to weigh risks rather than fear mongering about used hardware.
Topics · technology · computer_hardware · cryptocurrency · consumer_electronics
Questions answered
- What factors determine whether a used mining GPU is worth buying?
- Key factors include the card’s physical condition (especially the cooler and dust buildup), whether it has been regularly cleaned, the remaining lifespan relative to the warranty, and the observed boost clocks under load compared to a like-new reference card.
- Does mining usage necessarily degrade GPU performance over time?
- Performance degradation is not straightforward; boost clock behavior and cooling can mask or mimic degradation. The video finds no consistent, dramatic performance loss across tested cards, but emphasizes that bad cooling can cause significant slowdowns.
- What practical steps should a buyer take before purchasing a used mining GPU?
- Inspect the cooling system for dust and heat sink integrity, verify operating temperatures and boost performance, ask for maintenance history if available, and compare price against a like-new card to determine potential savings vs risk.