LinusTechTips shared a new video recently showing the advantages of buying second-hand GPUs right now, even if the cards were used for mining. The video's goal was to disprove the growing ideology that mining cards are bad purchases altogether and show how mined GPUs can be in as good, or even better condition compared to used gaming GPUs.
For testing, LinusTechTips bought a plethora of used graphics cards last year, that were desirable for mining purposes at one point in time. Models range from AIB partner model RTX 3060s, all the way to RTX 3080 10GB cards, as well as AMD's Radeon RX 5700 XT GPUs. All models were compared against lightly used counterparts LTT had in its possession.
With these GPUs, LinusTechTips used Kombuster to test GPU clock speeds and silicon quality, then used several triple AAA games running at 1080P, 1440P, and 4K to verify GPU performance. Any GPU that was operating 3% under the reference cards was considered a faulty card.
Overall, nearly all of the 19 cards passed, including all of the used RTX 3070s, RTX 3080s, most of the RTX 3060s, and most of the RX 5700 XT GPUs. The only issues the outlet had had was with two cards, a Gigabyte Eagle RTX 3060 OC and a Sapphire Pulse RX 5700 XT.
The 3060 was a complete failure, featuring incredibly low clock speeds due to temperatures surpassing 100C. Linus went so far as to test the VRAM reliability of the card, and it failed the test completely. The RX 5700 XT was not nearly as bad, only failing the Kombustor test by having 3% or worse clock speeds compared to LTT's reference RX 5700 XT model. But in gaming, the GPU performed perfectly, with effectively identical performance compared to all of the other RX 5700 XTs that were tested.
LTT doesn't explain the reasoning behind the clock speed issues in Kombustor, but it may simply be that the Sapphire Pulse model has a reduced power target, which was only visible in Kombuster and not the gaming tests. This wouldn't be surprising considering the Sapphire model ran the coolest out of all the RX 5700 XTs.
Besides these two cards, all other GPUs performed flawlessly and were effectively performing as well as when they were new. Again, it's worth noting that all these GPUs were probably used by miners at some point in their life cycle.
So, at least according to LTT's testing, it appears that buying a second-hand mining GPU isn't as dangerous and dodgy a proposition as it might appear to be. Still, make sure wherever you're getting the card from has a return policy in case it arrives with performance issues.
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There is definitely some merit to LTT's testing, but keep in mind the sample size is pretty small. And we've also heard some counterarguments directly from Nvidia's partners regarding mining GPU degradation. Graphics card manufacturer Palit claims that 24/7 mined GPUs could have reduced performance by around 10% per year. We don't have the details to back up Palit's claims, but it's definitely something to consider.
Either way, it is always best to make sure you know as many details as possible about the graphics card you're looking into buying before jumping into a purchase. It's impossible to verify how well-treated a used GPU was in its previous home, and whether or not it will retain the same performance as when it was brand new - whether or not it was used as a mining card.
For our take on whether or not you should buy a used GPU, check out our guide here.
Aaron Klotz is a freelance writer for Tom’s Hardware US, covering news topics related to computer hardware such as CPUs, and graphics cards.
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PlaneInTheSky mined GPUs can be in as good, or even better condition compared to used gaming GPUs
https://i.postimg.cc/g2QR8dQb/e02e5ffb5f980cd8262cf7f0ae00a4a9-press-x-to-doubt-memes-memesuper-la-noire-doubt-meme-419-238.jpg
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PEnns Gamers will be spending way more time using these cards on a daily basis. And I doubt LInus' "tests" are anything approaching gamers OCing / playing X hours per day using those used cards.
If he really wanted something resembling real tests, he should have given those cards to gamers and waited a month or so and THEN he should have given us a real verdict!
There was a time when I respected this guy's opinion.....
And yes, TH article on using used cards is still very relevant, way more than TL's.
Should You Buy a Used Graphics Card?
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Does anybody even watch that channel? Linus is for little kids
I would never listen to anything he says he’s just a paid advertiser
personally, I detest technology channels. I would rather spend my time watching lectures from the big thinkers in the world.
anything regarding technology I can figure out myself and I don’t need some bearded wonder yakking at me on YouTube.
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Friesiansam Admin said:
Palit claims that 24/7 mined GPUs could have reduced performance by around 10% per year. We don't have the details to back up Palit's claims, but it's definitely something to consider.This wouldn't have something to do with them preferring you to buy new, would it?
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setx Surprisingly good conclusion for LTT (that I've never considered anything close to respectable). I also strongly believe that mining can't do videocard and bad and usage conditions there are likely better than that of the "gamers". Buying used card isn't any worse than gray channels of new cards.
PEnns said:
If he really wanted something resembling real tests, he should have given those cards to gamers and waited a month or so and THEN he should have given us a real verdict!"1/3 of cards died but let's blame the miners, not the gamers" – you want conclusion like that?
Mandark said:
personally, I detest technology channels. I would rather spend my time watching lectures from the big thinkers in the world.Regrettably, it seems those channels are the ones who put most effort in 'research'-reviewing the hardware nowadays. Sites like Tom have completely degraded to re-printing official marketing slides.
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gg83 Ltt was literally paid by the big mining companies to schill used cards. Period
Not sure if that's how you spell It
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DavidLejdar A mining GPU may sure be still fine to use. I.e. 3 years of constant use still is how much it was used though, and from the sample more than 10% already showing the wear, that sounds like a lot. At least to me it doesn't seem good value paying "just half price" for something that may be done for in a few months, to then end up having paid full price anyhow when getting a 2nd used GPU, which may not last long as well.
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Vu_Qu_Huy setx said:
Surprisingly good conclusion for LTT (that I've never considered anything close to respectable). I also strongly believe that mining can't do videocard and bad and usage conditions there are likely better than that of the "gamers". Buying used card isn't any worse than gray channels of new cards."1/3 of cards died but let's blame the miners, not the gamers" – you want conclusion like that?
Regrettably, it seems those channels are the ones who put the most effort into 'research'-reviewing the hardware nowadays. Sites like Tom have completely degraded to re-printing official marketing slides.
Yeah, Linus spent 10k on buying those cards and Tom's just like "Sample is too small". The point of the video that I love is to reduce and reuse if you can.
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hotaru251 idk.
still a gamble.
Linus bought what? 17 gpu and 1 was damaged. thats a 5.8% rate.also I personally like knowing I have a warrenty should anything happen to my gpu (as it saves you a lot of $ if it does happen)
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Vu_Qu_Huy PEnns said:
Gamers will be spending way more time using these cards on a daily basis. And I doubt LInus' "tests" are anything approaching gamers OCing / playing X hours per day using those used cards.If he really wanted something resembling real tests, he should have given those cards to gamers and waited a month or so and THEN he should have given us a real verdict!
There was a time when I respected this guy's opinion.....
And yes, TH article on using used cards is still very relevant, way more than TL's.
Should You Buy a Used Graphics Card?
Yes, he could have done that but it was clearly explained in the vid that the GPU lifespan can be determined right now "When it works, it will work normally and when it doesn't work, it really doesn't work" . It would't be too different from having a new card sitting on a shelf the same amount of time and would fail afterward. He even tested himself with the Arc770 for a month and you thought the guy would't want to give his employees a free chance of having 3060? the guy is still the same since 7 years ago, still testing products, talking about cool electronics, and expanding his company to do better things.
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